Ray Archer was in good form with his lens’ around the compact and flat course here around an hour outside the capital city of Riga. Monster Energy Yamaha’s Zach Osborne slipped off through his own accord on the first corner of the MX2 qualification heat and was knocked on the head by at least two bikes but dashed back to 16th.

Many riders grumbling about the high speed and shallow soil that barely covers a slippery hard-pack. Others, like World Champion Tony Cairoli, love the place and the Sicilian feels the terrain is softer compared to previous editions of the event. 2012 is the fourth Latvian Grand Prix. Past winners: Cairoli (2009), Desalle (2010), Cairoli with a 1-1 (2011).

Clement Desalle is struggling with a cold, Tanel Leok with the set-up on his factory Suzuki. Gautier Paulin isn’t so sharp from the start and Evgeny Bobryshev set a wild pace in practice but paid for it during the Heat race with a crash that sent him into the track fencing (but unhurt). Christophe Pourcel looked to have hurt his upper leg in a first corner melee that also involved Xavier Boog and the Frenchman’s brother. CP pitted but rejoined the fray.

Jeffrey Herlings was a country mile ahead in the MX2 sprint but a faulty Mousse ceased his path to a fifth pole position and allowed Jeremy Van Horebeek (tipped to be Cairoli’s MX1 team-mate in 2013) to grab his second of the campaign. Tommy Searle was out of sorts and off the pace and needs to find some reserves so as to not lose precious championship points tomorrow.

Rumours in the paddock include: Anthony Boissiere parting company with TM, Rui Goncalves has been offered a Gas Gas Enduro ride for 2013, Alessandro Lupino could become a Kawasaki CLS rider, Jake Nicholls has signed for KTM again in 2013, Tommy Searle is likely to stay green in some form or another, Blake Baggett will ride the final Grand Prix of the year at Teutschenthal in Germany (although KTM bosses hinted in Sweden that Roczen is unlikely to ride at the event).

Lastly that Max Nagl will no longer be a works KTM rider after 2013 after a difference of opinion with motorsport director Pit Beirer on the configuration of the team for the future. Machinery through a satellite team is possible for the 24 year old who has racked up ten years in orange.