CAIROLI, HERLINGS, GAJSER AND PRADO – ARCO WINNERS

It is a circuit that many might not enjoy, with its tight, technical layout, but there are four men, who love the Arco De Trento facility. While the Crossdromo "Il Ciclamino" is loved by the fans, with thousands and thousands of Italian and Slovenian spectators sitting back and enjoying the close battles from the past.

What stands out though, since Trentino returned to the MXGP calendar back in 2013, is that four men have dominated the MXGP class. It all started with Antonio Cairoli taking the win in 2013, his first at a circuit that would bring so many of his highlight reels over the next decade.

Cairoli would add wins in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021. The win in 2017 came after a poor start and he worked his way through the field, passing all his rivals in the same corner, lap after lap. And then the moment in 2019, when he went head-to-head with Tim Gajser, again, bringing the Italian and Slovenian fans into a frenzy.

Gajser of course has a long list of victories at Trentino, his first ever Grand Prix victory in the MX2 class in 2015, followed by wins in the MXGP in 2019, when as mentioned above, he battled hard with the legendary Italian. Gajser added two wins in 2020, during the COVID rescheduling and then won again in 2021.

Jeffrey Herlings, like Cairoli started his successful Arco de Trento relationship in 2013, winning the MX2 class, then winning again in MX2 in 2014 and 2016. When he moved to the 450 class, the Flying Dutchman also won in 2018 and 2021.

The final of the legends of the last 15 years, is World MXGP champion, Jorge Prado, who like Herlings has three wins in MX2 (2017, 2018 and 2019) and two in MXGP, which came in 2023 and last year.

While three of these legends, Cairoli, Gajser and Herlings will all race this coming weekend, it is hard to really know who takes the victory. Gajser would have to be the favourite, going by the fact he is the leader in the MXGP points standing and is in brilliant form, but never count our Cairoli or Herlings, one coming out of retirement on the Ducati factory machine and the other, coming back from another injury.

Whatever happens, expect thousands and thousands of Italian and Slovenian fans to bring the place into hysteria. No matter who wins in the MXGP class, we can be sure the MX2 boys will also put on a show, as that class in 2024 is just sizzling hot.

Winners At Trentino

1987 Massimo Conti 125cc

1991 Donny Schmit 125cc

1994 Billy Liles 500cc

2013 Antonio Cairoli MXGP – Jeffrey Herlings MX2

2014 Clement Desalle MXGP – Jeffrey Herlings MX2

2015 Max Nagl MXGP – Tim Gajser MX2

2016 Antonio Cairoli MXGP – Jeffrey Herlings MX2

2017 Antonio Cairoli MXGP – Jorge Prado MX2

2018 Jeffrey Herlings MXGP – Jorge Prado MX2

2019 Tim Gajser MXGP – Jorge Prado MX2

2020 Tim Gajser MXGP – Ben Watson MX2