The opening day of the French Motocross Grand Prix gifted an healthy French crowd with their home rider Gautier Paulin’s first qualifying heat win in the MX2 class.

Paulin won after a thrilling battle with countryman Marvin Musquin as Tony Cairoli pulled away to take victory in the MX1 qualifying, with French Xavier Boog finishing a solid second.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX1’s Cairoli took his second pole position of 2010 under a hot French sun at St. Jean d’Angely. The Italian got rid of holeshotter Josh Coppins already at the opening lap and rode his own moto to pull away from the rest of the field.

Kawasaki Racing’s Boog was something like nine seconds behind the Italian but a second place finish meant the best qualifying result for the French, moving to the MX1 class only this year.

Boog is now seventh in the championship, 92 points from leader Cairoli, and thinks a podium finish is possible tomorrow.

Completing the top three was Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1’s Clement Desalle, who worked his way up to third after a so and so start. Desalle finished ahead of teammate Steve Ramon as the duo battled for third.

LS Motors Honda’s Davide Guarneri rounded off the top five as Nagl crashed in the final lap and handed him the position. As the German did not finish the race due to a broken left collarbone, Anthony Boissiere secured a sixth place finish ahead of David Philippaerts.

Kevin Strijbos dropped down to an eventual eighth after a start in the top three while French Kawasaki riders Sebastien Pourcel and Nicolas Aubin completed the top ten.

After taking the holeshot, Coppins dropped down to 13th as he stalled the bike at lap two.

Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross’ Paulin finally made it to his first pole of the season and there was no better venue than his home grand prix in St. Jean.

Paulin took a good start and closed the gap from leader Marvin Musquin to pass and take the lead himself. A crash then allowed Musquin by but the works Yamaha racer fought back to take the lead again and win his first Lovemytime MX2 Pole Position Award of the season which he started only in Spain due to a leg injury.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Musquin took second after battling it out with Paulin. The championship leader looks forward to tomorrow but knows Paulin and many other rivals will be looking for victory on the hard pack French course.

Teammate Jeffrey Herlings took the holeshot but was a distant third. The Dutch, so far the only rider capable of beating Musquin, dropped down to the bottom of the top five but a late recovery paid him with the third position.

Kawasaki CLS’ Steven Frossard recovered from a bad start and managed to take a fourth place. The French, who is third in the
championship since the USA Grand Prix, will be looking for more tomorrow as he showed he has the speed to keep up with the leaders if he manages to get a good start.

Shaun Simpson was fifth with Roczen being a disappointing sixth as he struggled to recover.