The French teenager emerged fifth from the first turn and remained there through the first lap as a slippery surface urged initial caution before advancing to fourth on lap two. Lapping consistently at the same speed as the leader he pulled back the riders ahead to make a decisive pass for third on lap six. Maintaining his pace he was on the rear wheel of second at the finish to claim the first eight points of his championship campaign and an excellent third gate-pick for tomorrow's two GP motos.
 
Mathis Valin: "Last year I had a lot to learn but I'm coming in with more experience this year and am now more concentrated. This isn't my favourite surface and it took me time to settle down on the track this morning but I have learnt not to put pressure on myself and earnt fifth gate-pick in Timed Training. I had a good start in the Qualifying race but I was a little cautious on the first lap; I soon found my flow however to move into fourth. I ran out of time to pass Guillem for second after catching him but I have a good pick for tomorrow and that was important because the key here will be the start."
 
Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP's Romain Febvre displayed a breathtaking pace as he opened his defence of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship title to recover strongly from an incident twenty metres out of the gate of the Qualifying race when a rival cut aggressively across the Frenchman, pushing him into his teammate Pauls Jonass to ruin both of their starts. Recovering brilliantly he was already seventh by the end of lap one and continued to push, pressurizing a fellow multiple-time champion to advance into the top-six a lap later before executing an exhilarating outside pass to move into fifth on lap six. He closed down the two riders ahead before running out of time to make a final move.
 
Romain Febvre: "I got squeezed by Adamo on the start so I was last at the first turn. My speed was OK and we learnt a few things today for the future. The track is new and it's not making any ruts so we don't have so many options to pass but hopefully I can get a better start tomorrow."
 
KRT teammate Pauls Jonass, who had already confirmed his pace this year by posting fourth-fastest time in Timed Training, also recovered well from the start incident in Qualifying to establish himself in eighth within a lap. Continuing to push he took over seventh mid-moto and maintained that position to the finish.
 
Pauls Jonass: "I showed good speed in both practices and again in the Quali race, but unfortunately I locked bars with Romain on the start straight. My feeling was good and I soon got to eighth, not too far from the guys in front, and then I got seventh when Tim tangled with a lapper. The track was really fast in the morning but it started getting bumpier by Qualifying so there could be more opportunities for passing tomorrow."
 
Kay Karssemakers confirmed his ever-growing confidence by placing his DRT Kawasaki amongst the factory riders to post tenth-fastest time in MX2 Timed Practice, but his excellent getaway in the Qualifying race was ruined at turn one when the defending champion ran into the rear wheel of the KX250 and dragged the Dutchman to the ground. Unperturbed by the setback the youngster chased decisively through the pack to claim twelfth at the chequered flag.