The earlier scheduling for the fourth MXGP Grand Prix of Qatar saw the riders of all three classes – MXGP, MX2 and WMX – heading out into some late afternoon sunshine for free and timed practice and on a dry layout with hardly any alterations compared to the 2015 edition of this eye-catching event. The speed and inconsistency of the surface – grippy hard-packed mud mixed with deeper ruts and holes – caused some set-up headaches. Team Suzuki (Strijbos and Townley) experimented with engine character while the likes of Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki were still finding the optimum config with new suspension components that left MX2 debutant Vsevolod Brylyakov describing it as the softest he’d ever used after the first free practice.

Perhaps amid concerns of dust the track was watered before the Qualification Heat and ensured that new Riders’ Liaison Rui Goncalves was already fielding complaints and feedback from corners of the paddock; the gripes concerning the slick nature of the dirt on the first laps and the skating effect on the jump take-offs.

The thirty-two permanent stanchions that bathe the off-road course in a blanket of bright never cease to impress and were called into full beam for the two Heats (WMX relying on a Timed session for the gate order). HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev translated his practice speed into a wholly dominant outing to Pole Position; the Russian unchallenged in a stellar day for Honda by going 1-2-1 in the three outings and teammate Gautier Paulin topping the second period.

Paulin’s case was curious. Eagled-eyed Youthstream journalist Nikki Scott spotted the Frenchman favouring his hand on the CRF450RW bars and when asked if the Motocross of Nations winner was carrying an injury the word from within the team was that GP had crashed in the U.S. in his last training session under Aldon Baker’s watchful gaze but had told the Honda crew that the ailment was no big deal. Paulin was part of a busy six-rider tussle for the last slots in the top five and eventually came home sixth. It will be curious tomorrow to see if this mysterious condition will affect his motos.

World Champion Romain Febvre miscued his start but rallied strongly to pass Tony Cairoli and hound the rear wheel of MX2 World Champ Tim Gajser who had been predictably strong. Gasjer might be a rookie in MXGP – oh, the irony against Febvre – but he has demonstrated the speed around this jumpy course to be in-line for a fantastic debut podium result. Yamaha teammate Jeremy Van Horebeek was one of the riders noticeably on the move but a crash in the last laps before the pitlane dropped him back by five positions.

Ben Townley was another faller after missing a gear and stalling the Suzuki. Spaniard Jose Butron again was a fixture at the front of the field in the opening stages after his customary bright start and new KTM rider Glenn Coldenhoff demonstrated he is not far off his illustrious teammate’s speed by running to fifth.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Clement Desalle rode minimal laps with his still-recovering arm fracture. The Belgian will circulate for points tomorrow; something he is guaranteed due to the lowly gate numbers in MXGP – a factor caused by late injury cases as well as the elitist nature of the premier class of Grand Prix.

MX2 was firmly in control of Red Bull KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings who massaged a comfortable distance over Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Dylan Ferrandis; the only rider to beat him in a moto at Losail. Herlings is going for four in a row in Qatar and only the blob of mud that temporarily obscured almost half of his vision and allowed the Frenchman to close to within 1.5 seconds is the type of incident that will stop him tomorrow. Suzuki’s Jeremy Seewer beat Kemea Yamaha’s Benoit Paturel in the closest race of the day for fourth while Pauls Jonass’ thumb was sufficiently strong enough to ride to a lonely third.

A thought spared for Thomas Covington who looked set for a top five finish until his Husqvarna coughed and Wilvo Virus Performance KTM’s Adam Sterry went to hospital to have a broken left wrist set after casing the notorious jump that claimed Max Anstie (unable to get out of the gate at the front today) last year.

MXGP had been shunted along the pitlane to make way for the locked garages full of MotoGP freight (the final 2016 test is here next week) and the girls into temporary tenting at the end of the row. The mild inconvenience could not dent an upbeat air around the paddock. Suzuki’s garage infrastructure the pick of the bunch while some of the teams’ propensity for a professional image while essentially working out of freight meant areas like the Rockstar Husqvarna was spotless and immaculately ordered.

WMX saw New Zealander Courtney Duncan creating a lot of buzz (she who defeated the men in a recent national MX2 event) and was fastest in Free Practice but Livia Lancelot was the pace-setter among the girls with World Champ Kiara Fontanesi second on her new CRF250R.

More tomorrow…there will be a OTOR MXGP special this coming Tuesday.