On the same second as the pole-setter in timed practice the Dane missed a clean run through the wide turn one in the Qualifying race but was soon on the move from an early ninth place, a series of spectacular passes on the fast sweeping track in the foothills of the Patagonian Andes lifting him to fourth on the penultimate lap of the twenty-minute-plus-two-lap race.
 
Mikkel Haarup: “Same like the previous weekends we’re a little bit slow to build at first, especially that one-lap sprint in practice, but then we get into the flow and on this track here today you saw that my fitness and the speed of bike are right up there. We’ll be looking for an even better start tomorrow and from there I feel we can make top-three. It’s a heavy trip to come here – you’re already a little exhausted just from the travelling; it’s way over twenty-four hours – but it’s a big trip and I just love this venue so it’s worth it. “
 
F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s Kevin Horgmo was also in scintillating form as he gated fourth and sliced his way past the 2020 world champion to second already on the opening lap of the Qualifying race before a single slip, which saw him slither to earth unscratched, left him temporarily at the back of the pack. Settling down quickly he moved back to twelfth by the end of the race to earn a mid-gate starting position for each of tomorrow’s GP motos.
 
Ben Watson used the smooth explosive power of the Kawasaki Racing Team KX450-SR to race top-six through the opening laps of MXGP Qualifying but, riding in pain from a two-week-old knee injury, was eventually pushed back to fourteenth at the finish. F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s MXGP rider Jed Beaton was eliminated on the first lap when he was involved in a mid-air collision; he was unhurt but was unable to continue as the bike had been damaged in the impact.