The Dutch Grand Prix, the sixteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, takes place this weekend at Motorsportpark Gelderland Midden of Arnhem, a sandy circuit that hosts the Dutch MXGP round for the fourth consecutive year and home race for the Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team.

On the soft, particularly treacherous and technical terrain, Andrea Bonacorsi achieved the ninth-fastest time in both free and timed practice sessions, ahead of his teammate Calvin Vlaanderen, who was 15th in the morning practice session and 12th after the timed session. At the start of the qualifying race, aboard his Desmo450 MX, Bonacorsi got off to a good start, taking eighth place and battling with his rivals throughout the race, while Vlaanderen was 13th after the first lap. Both Red Bull Ducati Factory MXGP Team riders battled through the increasingly deep potholes and ruts, finishing 10th and 14th respectively, the positions they will line up with for Sunday’s two heats.