World MX2 champ Maxime Renaux took victory in his first MXGP race by holding off a charge from Tim Gajser in the sun-kissed qualfying race at Matterley Basin. The French factory Yamaha rider took the holeshot and was hounded right to the flag by the HRC man. And both were followed home closely by Jeremy Seewer. Jorge Prado was initially in the leading group but drafted back in the moto as low sunlight made it hard to see.

Renaux said: “I had a big boy on my back pushing! It’s great to start the career on my 450 like this is great. It’s really good.”

British factory Kawasaki rider Ben Watson held 20th for most of the moto but finished 19th. Mathys Boisrame, standing in for injured Jeffrey Herlings in the Red Bull KTM squad, crashed hard and failed to finsish.