— FIM MX1/MX2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 13 SUNDAY AUGUST 19 MATTERLEY BASIN, GREAT BRITAIN
— Weather: Sunny, clouds, humid / Temperature: 25 degrees C / Attendance: 35,000
The British track of Matterley Basin, one of the most spectator-friendly circuits on the schedule and one of the favourite tracks among many riders, has made history this weekend hosting the MXGP Festival, four days full of racing with 338 riders divided into ten classes. The day started this morning with a unique an emotional parade headed by Dave Thorpe and followed by all the riders who were taking part in the MXGP Festival.
The MX1 and MX2 classes were the main races of the day and Antonio Cairoli and home rider Tommy Searle were the ones who conquered the first step of the podium. However, the UEM EMX riders were also a main attraction for the 35000 spectators present at Matterley Basin, especially the 65cc and 85cc classes. The youngest winner was Xylian Ramella on his 65cc KTM and Davy Pootjes was the 85cc European Champion also on a KTM.
In the UEM EMX125 class Tim Gajser could not win the race today, but he won the overall in the end. Second on the podium was Magne Klingsheim, and home rider James Dun, who was the winner of the second race, was on the third step of the rostrum.
Home rider Mel Pocock had a disappointed weekend, as he missed the podium for three points. The winner of the UEM EMX250 class was Maxime Desprey after winning the two heats, Damon Graulus was second and Stefan Olsen was third overall.
MX1
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli had a perfect weekend at Matterley Basin, winning not only the qualifying heat yesterday, but also dominating the main races with superb authority today. The five times World Champion confessed that he was impressed by the excellent job the organizers had done to make such event come true and to keep the track in outstanding conditions until the end.
Second overall was his teammate Max Nagl, who obtained his first podium finish of the season after his comeback from his back injury. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider had two great starts and he managed to keep on riding with the front group in both heats. However, Nagl admitted that he still missing some fitness in order to keep his initial speed and rhythm and try to fight for the overall victory.
Kawasaki Racing Team’s Gautier Paulin was back on the podium this weekend thanks to his 4-3 result. The French had not been on the podium since the MXGP of Portugal and he actually admitted that he had not been feeling really well lately. However, Paulin said that since the previous Grand Prix in Loket he is feeling much better and he is now ready to be fighting again for the top three positions in the MX1.
Fourth overall was Ken De Dycker, who missed the podium this weekend for only two points. In the first race the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider did a really good start but he made several mistakes during the heat and he dropped from second to third in the very last laps of the first moto. In the second one he also made a mistake when he was riding fifth and moved down to eighth; finally he managed to cross the finish line fifth.
Xavier Boog made another excellent performance this weekend and this time he finished fifth overall after being fifth and seventh in today’s races. The Kawasaki Racing Team rider started second behind Cairoli in the first heat and he managed to keep a good rhythm and he crossed the finish line fifth. In the second race things were not that easy for Boog, but he was able to obtain a solid seventh place.
Clement Desalle had a tough weekend at Matterley Basin; yesterday he had a big crash during the qualifying heat and today he had to face the main races with a swollen right hand. The Belgian finished sixth in the first race and eleventh in the second one, so he obtained an overall sixth place.
His teammate Tanel Leok had a mechanical problem on his Suzuki yesterday, so he did not have the best position at the starting gate. However, he rode really well today and despite finishing eleventh in the first race, his eighth position in the second heat gave him the seventh overall place.
Kevin Strijbos rode two consistent motos and ended eighth overall, ahead of Rui Gonçalves and Davide Guarneri.
Both Rui Gonçalves and Evgeny Bobryshev had a very difficult first race, where they both crash on lap one. The second race was completely different and while Golçalves had an amazing start in third and made a lot of pressure on Cairoli who was riding second, Bobryshev had also a good start. In the end Bobryshev was fourth and Gonçalves sixth, and they finished thirteenth and ninth respectively of the Grand Prix.
Shaun Simpson was only able to finish twelfth overall at his home Grand Prix and Christophe Pourcel was fifteenth.
MX1 Race 1 top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 40:25.134; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:15.529; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:25.647; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:31.712; 5. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:35.562; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:40.016; 7. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +0:40.614; 8. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Honda), +0:44.173; 9. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:46.476; 10. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Honda), +0:47.368;
MX1 Race 2 top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 41:00.780; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:10.508; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:24.624; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:32.799; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:37.732; 6. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:40.465; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:41.367; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), +0:42.135; 9. Davide Guarneri (ITA, KTM), +0:50.894; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:51.464;
MX1 Overall top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 38 p.; 4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 30 p.; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 25 p.; 7. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), 23 p.; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 23 p.; 9. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 22 p.; 10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, KTM), 21 p.;
MX1 Championship top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 542 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 487 p.; 3. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 452 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 440 p.; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 404 p.; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 342 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 336 p.; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), 300 p.; 9. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 295 p.; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 242 p.;
MX1 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 592 points; 2. Kawasaki, 543 p.; 3. Suzuki, 501 p.; 4. Honda, 381 p.; 5. Yamaha, 364 p.; 6. TM, 58 p.;
MX2
Team Floride Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit’s Tommy Searle accomplished one of his dreams this weekend, which was winning a home Grand Prix in front of his crowd. Searle admitted that he was very surprised with his starts today, as he managed to take two holeshots, which made him led both heats from the beginning. The British rider did two incredible races, keeping Herlings behind him and crossing the finish line first in both heats.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings was a little bit disappointed today, because he crashed during the last lap of both heats when he was about to overtake Searle. However, as the gap Searle and Herlings had with the rest of the group was so big, the Dutch rider was able to cross the finish line second in both motos. Herlings was second overall, but he admitted that he was very satisfied with his riding, as his speed was almost the same as the one of Herlings’.
Monster Energy Yamaha’s Zach Osborne obtained his second podium in a row this season after finishing third overall in the British Grand Prix. The American did not have a really good start in the first heat, but he reached the third position easily at the beginning of the race and he comfortably rode in such place during the whole heat. In the second moto Osborne had also a really good start and he rode fourth from the beginning until the end of the race.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek had a really good qualifying race yesterday, but today he could only finish fifth in the first race, as he had started down in sixteenth. In the second heat everything went much better and after a great start in second, he was overtaken by his teammate Herlings and Van Horebeek managed to keep such position until the chequered flag.
Home rider Jake Nicholls could not fight today for the top three positions as he would have liked it, but he finished fifth overall. This weekend the Nestaan JM Racing KTM rider was riding with the 2013 KTM bike and he crossed the finish line fourth and fifth, being two points behind fourth classified Van Horebeek.
Arnaud Tonus started really well in both heats – around the tenth position – taking into account that he could not finish the qualifying race yesterday and he was one of the last ones in choosing the gate this morning. The Swiss rider made an incredible recovery and he finish sixth in both races, and he ended sixth overall also of the Grand Prix.
Dylan Ferrandis rode fourth during most of the first moto, but Nicholls and Van Horebeek overtook him by the end of the heat. In the second race the French talent obtained a seventh position, which gave him the overall seventh place.
Jordi Tixier was back racing this weekend after the heavy concussion he had received on his head during the warm up of the Czech Grand Prix and he obtained a ninth overall position, ahead of Glenn Coldenhoff.
José Butrón was eleventh and Julien Lieber, who rode with the Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe team this weekend, obtained one of his best results this season, finishing twelfth overall.
Home rider Max Anstie got a DNF in the first race due to some mechanical problems, but in the second one he crossed the finish line tenth, which gave him the overall thirteenth.
Michael Leib could not finish any of the races today on his comeback to the MXGP after his injury.
Joel Roelants, who was transferred to the hospital yesterday after the crashed he suffered during the pre-qualifying practice, was taken back home today, as they could put in place his dislocated hip.
MX2 Race 1 top ten: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 40:01.109; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:19.662; 3. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:58.635; 4. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +1:03.394; 5. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +1:04.164; 6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:12.725; 7. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:13.663; 8. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:21.581; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:23.778; 10. Romain Febvre (FRA, KTM), +1:30.775;
MX2 Race 2 top ten: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 40:56.885; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:18.401; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:32.793; 4. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:41.410; 5. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +0:45.486; 6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:47.190; 7. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:15.940; 8. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:26.441; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +1:40.749; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), +1:48.081;
MX2 Overall top ten: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 50 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 38 p.; 4. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 34 p.; 6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 30 p.; 7. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), 28 p.; 8. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Kawasaki), 26 p.; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 21 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 18 p.;
MX2 Championship top ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 572 points; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 521 p.; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 475 p.; 4. Joel Roelants (BEL, Kawasaki), 367 p.; 5. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 359 p.; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 340 p.; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), 274 p.; 8. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), 261 p.; 9. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 257 p.; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Husqvarna), 221 p.;
MX2 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 615 points; 2. Kawasaki, 591 p.; 3. Yamaha, 384 p.; 4. Honda, 298 p.; 5. Suzuki, 253 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 228 p.; 7. TM, 19 p.;
— HRC Report
Rui Goncalves defied shoulder pain to finish in the top ten at a sun-kissed Matterley Basin for the British Grand Prix and round thirteen of sixteen in the 2012 FIM Motocross World Championship. Antonio Cairoli claimed victory in front of 35,000 spectators at the sweeping venue near Winchester, but it was Honda World Motocross team’s Goncalves who was the highest rider on a CRF450R with ninth place overall.
Matterley Basin was a prospect that was both daunting and rewarding. The fast leaps in the natural dip just outside of Winchester were made from a terrain that was hard-pack yet already rutted and rough. The terrain punished the smallest mistake, but also allowed plenty of line choice and overtaking possibilities. The MXGP Festival (four days of action, ten classes and more than three hundred riders) ensured a hectic racing fixture.
Goncalves experienced contrasting thirty-five minute and two lap motos. The Portuguese was one of several riders to crash on the third corner of the opening sprint. The former GP winner had to kick the front end of his bike into shape and then set off after the disappearing pack. Rui was already restricted in his possibilities after a fall in practice on Saturday meant ‘999’ was racing with a weak left shoulder. He still managed to come back to fourteenth. In the second moto Goncalves ran as high as third for half of the distance but the consequences of his injury – and a small mistake – saw him drop back to sixth.
Also sampling outrageous fortune was team-mate Evgeny Bobryshev, who classified thirteenth overall. The Russian slipped off during the first race and although he was able to recover ground and positions a damaged seat eventually forced him into the pit-lane and out of the moto. ‘777’ gained valuable confidence with an excellent recovery in the second sprint. ‘Bobby’ pushed up from sixth spot to overtake Goncalves and secure fourth. It was his best moto result of the season so far.
Jonathan Barragan scored eighth and thirteenth positions to end the day with eleventh overall. The LS Honda representative posted his sixth top ten finish of the year with his run in the first moto.
In the MX2 class Gariboldi Esta’s Max Anstie guided his CRF250R to thirteenth position in front of his home fans. The Brit was confirmed as Team Great Britain’s third and final representative for the 2012 Motocross of Nations on Saturday (where he will ride a 2011 factory CRF450R). He is seventh in the MX2 points table.
In the MX1 championship standings Goncalves is still the top CRF450R runner in ninth place and just five points from moving into eighth. Evgeny Bobryshev is eleventh and Barragan thirteenth.
Round fourteen of the 2012 FIM Motocross World Championship will take place in two weeks time in the Dutch sand of Lierop for the Grand Prix of Benelux.
Rui Goncalves: Race Result: 13th / 6th Championship position: 9th “It went OK today. At the beginning of the first moto I was taken-out and went down hard. The bike was all bent and it took me some time to get going again. I was struggling a bit with my shoulder since crashing in the first practice. We did all we could to try and race and it was difficult. I tried my best. The guys were pretty far away after my crash so I put my head down and rode as hard as I could. The second moto start was better and I was good in the beginning, but my shoulder is not how it should be and I was getting cramps in my back to compensate for putting my force onto the right side to protect it. I made a mistake and went down. I could finish sixth and I cannot be too made about this. I will take the positive parts of the weekend and try to move forward.”
Evgeny Bobryshev: Race Result: DNF / 4th Championship position: 11th “I’m happy to end the day like that and results like that give some motivation and a bit of a lift. In the first race I had a bad start and the crashed. The track was slippery and being in the pack meant it was difficult to see the lines for the roost. I lost the front wheel and then I was coming back but the seat came off and I had to stop because it was too dangerous to ride like that. I’ve been waiting for a second moto like that for a long time. I was a bit slow in the beginning but in the middle of the race I found the lines and the rhythm. I need to improve the first parts of my motos but fourth place was OK and now I’m looking to Lierop.”
Jonathan Barragan: Race Result: 8th / 13th Championship position: 13th “The first race was pretty good and I started well, but it was the opposite in the second. I was actually around third place, but had to shut off the gas around the first corner and lost a lot of ground. I had a good rhythm in the first race, but didn’t feel good or physically sharp in the second. It was hot today and the track was tricky, but not that bad, I liked it.”
— Yamaha Report
Monster Energy Yamahas Zach Osborne was able to celebrate a second successive MX2-GP podium finish after confirming third position overall at a stuffy Matterley Basin and in front of 35,000 spectators for the British Grand Prix.
Once again the Matterley Basin bowl (hosting its third FIM Motocross World Championship event) was a rutty and tricky but spectacular track for the Grand Prix stars to get their teeth into. Osborne flew to third position in the qualification heat on an equally hot Saturday of action for what was the thirteenth round of sixteen in the campaign.
The Americans impressive pace was a good sign for the two 35 minute and 2 lap motos on Sunday. Osborne worked hard to reduce a six second gap to the rear wheel of Jeffrey Herlings and second position in the first race but was not able to get close enough to the Dutchman to affect the duel for the lead. In the second race another solid but lonely run to fourth spot made sure of his second trophy in a row.
Arnaud Tonus made his Grand Prix return after recent wrist surgery and although a crash on Saturday meant a lowly gate slot for Sundays races the Swiss was consistent across the board to collect two sixth positions and the same ranking in the MX2 classification at the end of the day. Tonus dealt with a slightly stiff back but was encouraged that the recent surgery on his wrist seemed to have relived some of the discomfort he had been experiencing in the middle phase of the season.
Michael Leib entered his first meeting on the YZ250F since recovering from Epstein-barr virus. The American had not seen GP duty since June and the enforced break clearly showed in his stamina levels to last the motos. The Californian attempted both races but did not have the condition to make the chequered flag.
On Saturday Kiara Fontanesi wrapped up her first FIM Womens World Championship with first and third positions in the motos on her YRRD-equipped YZ250F. Her remarkable 100% podium record that includes four overall GP victories from the seven rounds held so far and fourteen motos without dropping out of the top three means she was able to confirm the crown with a 72 point advantage and just 50 left to win with the final round in Germany next month.
A second corner crash for Mel Pocock in the first of the two European MX2 motos on Friday left the Briton with a lot of work to do. The twenty year old dashed back from dead-last and some distance behind the pack to finish a noteworthy tenth. In front of a bumper crowd on Sunday Pocock took second place to earn fourth overall and miss the podium for the first time this season. The current British Championship leader still holds the red plate after five rounds of seven in the series with a 34 point gap over Stefan Olsen and races in Holland and Italy to go.
The Grand Prix of Benelux will constitute round fourteen of the FIM Motocross World Championship and will take place through the rough sandy ripples of Lierop on September 2nd.
Zach Osborne: It was a great weekend for me and I gelled with the track straightaway. In the first moto I didnt get such a good start but I closed down a five or six second gap to Jeffrey. I have only done three GPs and it is hard to come back on these guys when they have already done more than twenty-five motos. Im happy with the result I had this weekend and Im continuing to build my fitness and come back to a good level.
Arnaud Tonus: I made a mistake on Saturday and had a bad crash. I hurt my back a bit and felt lucky to be able to ride today. I felt good with my arms and that was a positive thing, especially as I didnt have much preparation time for this race. I had two consistent motos and it was hard to get a good jump out of the gate with the position I had. Anyway, the rhythm came back to me today and I was strong at the end of the motos. I will keep on working and hope to be better and better each GP.
Michael Leib: I underestimated myself coming back to the GPs early. The plan was to get through the weekend and finish both motos and that wasnt the case and it was a bit more than I expected. I need to crack down and follow my original goal of being able to do well in Italy and Germany. This is not the start I wanted so I just have to put it behind me. My fitness will be better just from the riding I did anyway and it would have been pointless pushing through the limits after the sickness Ive had.
Mel Pocock: Obviously Im gutted. I wanted to win here. I was taken out by Olsen in the first moto and it was a hard track to come back from that far down. I was also getting some arm-pump which is really weird. Basically I wasnt myself this weekend and thats disappointing because I had such amazing support. Anyway looking at the bigger picture I got some more points with second place in the second moto and now we go to Lierop and I consider myself more of a sand rider.
The FIM Motocross World Championship sizzled under some surprising English summer sunshine for the British Grand Prix and round thirteen of sixteen in the series. In front of his home fans Monster Energy Yamahas Shaun Simpson had to deal with some average starts to finish 12th overall.
Matterley Basin is regarded as one of the most popular circuits on the schedule thanks to its natural layout in the Matterley bowl, spectacular jumps and flowing trajectory. The soil was rutty and hard and therefore increased the technical difficulty of the track. Simpson rode very well on Saturday to secure sixth position in the gate for the two 35 minute and 2 lap GP motos on Sunday.
Sporting a brand new Scottish flag helmet design especially for this meeting the former British Champion couldnt replicate his prowess out of the gate and around the Matterley curves on raceday. He was luckless to be hit to the ground on the third corner of the first moto and recovered from near-last to 13th position. In the second outing a mid-pack getaway saw the Brit working his way up to 10th.
Twenty two year old Kristian Whatley made his debut with the team in the UK and steered the spare factory YZ450FM. In what is initially a wild-card appearance the Brit was holding down a position just outside the top ten when he crashed and injured his shoulder. Whatley was able to complete the moto for two points in nineteenth and made an attempt at the second race but lasted only a lap.
Simpson is tenth in the world and the MX1-GP premier class that has seen eight different riders walk the podium in 2012. He is 53 points from being able to move into ninth spot.
Matterley Basin was the site of the only event in the FIM Veterans World Cup and thanks to new champion Darryll King and runner-up Mats Nilsson the YZ450F was present on the top two steps of the podium.
The fourteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place in two weeks with the Grand Prix of Benelux at the sandy Lierop circuit in Holland.
Shaun Simpson: Somehow Saturday seems to be so easy! I make good starts and ride a good pace but then its more of a struggle on Sunday. Maybe the tracks are changing and Im not adapting quick enough. I couldnt get out of the gate today and I tried two different approaches this afternoon without success. It was frustrating to have to battle the whole moto and keep pushing forward and eat roost; nobody sees how difficult that is to do for two motos every week and how much it takes out of you and affects your whole week. Overall it was an exciting event for me and Im just gutted that it was under-par. I honestly thought I could get near the fight for the podium after Saturday but I was quite a way from it today. All I can look forward to now is Lierop and the next round. It will be sandy and a few people will be struggling so I know I can make the difference skipping on top of those bumps. I want to have a strong finish to the season.
Kristian Whatley: This morning went well and I was pretty happy after practice. I didnt get such a good start in the first moto but came through and was just outside the top ten after five laps. I made a mistake on a jump and slid-out. I hurt my shoulder and pulled the clavicle, something similar to what I did in the British Championship. I was at the back but rode to nineteenth or something. I did what I could but my shoulder was killing me. I had a go at the second moto but couldnt pull around the turns or go through the braking bumps. There were some good signs but it could be a couple of weeks before Im back to normal.
— Suzuki Report
Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 endured a tough meeting under sweltering sunshine at Matterley Basin for the British Grand Prix and the 13th round of 16 in the FIM Motocross World Championship, but Clement Desalle was able extend his advantage with second place in the MX1 standings with sixth overall nursing a hand injury while team mate Tanel Leok was seventh.
Both Desalle and Leok faced a technical and challenging surface in England in front of 35,000 spectators with the naturally-set layout of Matterley Basin mixing a range of demands; from big jumps, long and deep ruts, off-camber turns and plenty of line choice. The event was also home to the MXGP Festival with 10 classes from amateur to the FIM Women’s World Championship in action.
Desalle started from seventh position in the gate and with some pain in his right hand after a tumble in qualification. Desalle – who was also dealing with a family bereavement – made two good starts and rode to sixth place in the first moto but felt the discomfort from his injury more severely in the second half of the next race where he bravely continued to the finish line for 11th spot. Desalle was sixth in the final classification but nine positions ahead of Christophe Pourcel, which means he holds a margin of 35 points in the MX1 table over the Frenchman.
Leok was second and first fastest in the two practice sessions on Saturday and was unfortunate to suffer a technical problem that placed him down in 31st on the start line for the motos. The determined Estonian scored 11th in the first moto but was more effective on the bumpier mud in the second outing. Leok should have picked up a top six or seven position but a small crash dropped him down to eighth. The experienced racer is eighth in the MX1 championship.
Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 will make the short journey back to its Lommel base in Belgium before preparing for a hectic period in September with Grands Prix in the Netherlands, Italy and Germany to bring the 2012 campaign to a close.
Clement Desalle: “On Wednesday my aunt died and it was really not good for my head coming here. I’ve lost my grandfather and my aunt in the last two months and a half and both were very close to me…the sort of people that I could say anything to. Talking about motocross…I felt good on Saturday and was having fun on the track but then I made a small mistake and jumped too far on the step-up. It was a big crash and I had a lot of pain in my hand. I went to the medical centre and there was nothing broken but I needed some attention and help. My starts were good in the motos and I think this was the only good part of the weekend. I felt OK in the first parts of the races but in the later stages it was difficult and painful through the braking bumps and on the landings of the jumps. The second moto was really hard and at the end I was looking at the clock by the finish every lap and hoping it would go down. To have pain and crash is part of the job and I just tried to do my best. I will go for physio now on Tuesday and hope everything will quickly get better.”
Tanel Leok: “I didn’t have the best start position obviously and I found the track was too flat in the first moto. There were not so many lines like there were on Saturday and I couldn’t make the passes like I wanted. I changed my start slot in the second moto but the ground was not so well prepared. I have to say my riding was better in the second and I was chasing and passing people. I just made that small mistake which made me lose two positions but I tried to fight back. The results were not the best but I was happy with my riding.”
The British Grand Prix at Matterley Basin was a busy event for Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe as the team fielded four riders in four different categories. 13th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship was also the fixture for the MXGP Festival that saw 10 classes and over 300 riders in action over four days. From this melting pot of racing and talent Julien Lieber made an encouraging start on the factory RM-Z250 in the fiercely-competitive MX2 class and raced to a best moto finish of 11th.
Matterley Basin was fast, tricky, rutted and an excellent surface for racing with plenty of effective overtaking choice and different lines as 35,000 spectators enjoyed stuffy but bright conditions and were part of a historic meeting as part of the inaugural MXGP Festival.
Lieber was drafted into the team for the British Grand Prix and will remain on the RM-Z250 for the remaining rounds in Holland, Italy and Germany with Petar Petrov and Harri Kullas both on the injury list. The Belgian made an excellent start in the first moto and was running in the top five, finally passing the chequered flag in 11th. A crash while in second place on the first lap of the second moto limited his possibilities and he came home in 16th for 12th overall.
Also gunning a RM-Z250 was Jeremy Seewer. The Swiss was negotiating the fifth round of seven in the European MX2 series and after a satisfactory fifth position in the first moto on Friday afternoon was luckless on Sunday. Seewer collided with another rider and was robbed of his front brake. He had to charge back from the rear of the pack and his efforts were rewarded with one point for 20th position. Seewer keeps fifth place in the standings and is just 13 points from the top three.
Jorge Zaragoza was contesting his first Grand Prix and European 125cc two-stroke meeting on the RM125 since breaking his arm in France in May. The talented Spaniard was struggling a little for peak race speed and fitness and experienced a second moto mistake that proved costly. The sixteen year old was 13th overall and nevertheless gained valuable race mileage in preparation for his world championship attempt next week.
Brian Hsu captured a decent third position in his first moto on the RM85 for the European 85cc Championship but any designs on a final podium slot slipped away in the second race on Sunday when a crash on the first lap left him at the rear of the field. The teenager pushed up to 19th to salvage two points.
The FIM Junior World Championship at Sevlievo in Bulgaria is the next major appointment for the team this coming weekend and will see Hsu and Zaragoza both pushing for major honours. Seewer will be racing his RM-Z250 alongside Lieber at Lierop (Holland) for the Grand Prix of Benelux in two weeks time. Round 14 of the FIM World Championship will also entertain the penultimate outing for the European MX2 collective.
Julien Lieber: “I am very happy because the bike is very, very good. I made three good starts through the weekend. I was fifth for more than half of the first moto but got a little bit tired at the end. My start was even better in the second race but I crashed out of second in the waves section. I fought back but made another mistake and just saw the race out from there. The Suzuki is really strong and very light and it feels easy to throw it into the corners and over the jumps.”
Brian Hsu: “I was pleased after the first race. I felt good on a tough track but it was really special to be here with all the GP guys. My gate pick was not the best and I needed better from the qualification. The second moto was just bad luck. I lost the front wheel and I hope Jorge [Prado] is OK as he was following me and got caught up with the bike.”
Jorge Zaragoza: “Honestly I think the meeting went quite well but obviously I am still not 100% strong. I rode quite fast and set good lap-times but I need to get sharper. I really like Sevlievo in Bulgaria and I’m really motivated to go there. I think a top-five finish would be very good considering my shape at the moment.”
— KTM Report
Red Bull KTM’s Tony Cairoli renewed his affection for the Matterley Basin circuit on Sunday when he wrapped up decisive wins in both MX1 motos of the British GP to further extend his lead in the 2012 World Championship. The Italian now has a 55-point lead over Clement Desalle as he edges closer to a possible sixth world title.
Teammate Max Nagl was an impressive second overall finishing with a 2-2 result to underline he has made an excellent return to racing after a prolonged injury break.
Cairoli scored his 51st GP career victory on his light and agile KTM 350 SX-F on the hard pack terrain of the Matterley circuit. He launched himself out of the gate in the opening moto and settling down to deliver a master class by leading the opening race right to the flag. It was Nagl who stole the holeshot in the second MX1 moto when he powered his KTM 450 SX-F into the lead at the first corner. But Cairoli slipped into the lead by the end of the first lap and the Italian then left no doubt as to his intentions for the rest of the race.
At the end of a day that he clearly enjoyed, Cairoli admitted he responded well to the British fans. “I like to race in England. I have a lot of fans and they cheer like crazy all the time, so for me it is nice to come here. And also the tracks they work really well, and they are always fun to ride on. It’s amazing that it’s my 51st GP so I’m pretty happy about that.”
Nagl also said he was happy to be on the podium after his injury problems. “I liked the track a lot because there were always deep ruts and that’s what I prefer.”
Ken de Dycker, the team’s other factory rider had a solid 3-5 result at Matterley and finished overall fourth after admitting he missed the start in the opening moto and also had a small crash. Looking forward to the next race at Lierop, de Dycker said it would be physically hard riding in the sand. “But its going to be nicer,” he said. “A lot slower, looking for lines so I’m looking forward to that!”
It was not the weekend that Jeffrey Herlings would have wished for and he had to concede a rare defeat to his rival Tommy Searle who had the significant home advantage. In fact Herlings’ two motos were almost mirror images of one another. He slotted his KTM 250 SX-F in behind Searle in the opening race but the Briton doggedly hung onto his lead, urged on by the partisan crowd throughout the race. The final minutes of the moto was a nail biting affair while Herlings jockeyed for position and looked for an opportunity to slip by the British rider. Then Jeffrey made an uncharacteristic mistake and the moment of opportunity was gone.
With all still to play in the second moto Herlings did not have his best start and it was teammate Jeremy van Horebeek that had the advantage behind Searle who once again grabbed the holeshot. Van Horebeek kept second place warm for several laps until Herlings put his head down and went after Searle. Herlings closed down the gap to less than a couple of bike lengths then just as he set himself up to make the challenge he made another mistake and the race and GP went to his biggest rival. Jeffrey’s second place cost him six points of his significant championship lead as he heads for the sands of Lierop where he will have benefit of the home crowd support.
Herlings: “It’s a shame I didn’t win here but I only lost six points on Tommy and now the next races are in Lierop and that’s like my own back yard. I’ll be ready for that and I’m sure I can win both motors there and add to my 51-point lead and hopefully Jeremy (van Horebeek) will also be between me and Tommy and help me to extend that points gap.”
Teammate Jeremy van Horebeek wrapped up his day with a 5-2 result for the two motos for overall fourth. “My first heat was not so good at the start and I made a mistake in the first lap and was right back in the field. I managed to work my way back to fifth but it cost me a lot of energy so I was very tired after about 20 minutes into the second moto and had to back off the speed.” Jordi Tixier is still recovering from a big crash in Loket where he was badly concussed but managed to finish with a 9-12 for overall ninth. Van Horebeek and Tixier are third and sixth in the championship points after the thirteenth round.
In what was billed as a Festival of Motocross, KTM also celebrated rider and manufacturer titles in European Championships in EMX65 with Swiss rider Xylian Ramelia, in EMX85 with Davy Pootjes of Netherlands, and in the EMX125 with Tim Gajser of Slovenia.
— Kawasaki Report
The Brit holeshot both motos on his Team Floride Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit in front of a large enthusiastic home crowd and remained cool throughout both 40 minute races to defy every challenge which series rival Jeffrey Herlings could throw at him. In the end Searle’s frustrated rival fell on the final lap of each race as he desperately sought a way past the smooth-riding Englishman.
It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for the team as Searle’s partner Joel Roelants suffered a dislocated hip during Saturday practice when another rider landed on him; the Belgian must now rest and will miss the remainder of the series.
The enthusiastic young French duo of Dylan Ferrandis and Valentin Teillet made it three Kawasaki’s in the first eight after each of the Team Rockstar Bud Racing Kawasaki riders put in two solid rides. Ferrandis was seventh in both races to advance to eighth place in the series standings, while Teillet, who missed several GPs through injury earlier in the season, has now moved up to 14th after chasing his teammate home in both motos.
The festival of racing in England was a great success for Kawasaki in the MX2 class as Maxime Desprey of the NGS junior division emulated Searle to follow up his moto victory two weeks earlier in the Czech Republic with a double win in the European championship round in England. The maximum points score has moved the French teenager to third in the series.
Tommy Searle: “The pressure to win always makes it tough to do it at home, but I didn’t want to let anyone down. Jeffrey closed up in both motos, but I knew I couldn’t lose it for the fans ! It’s a long shot for the title, but a win like today is a big consolation. I could hear his engine at times, and the fans told me that he was close, but I just rode my own race. I didn’t know until halfway round the last lap of race two that he had fallen, but then the party could begin !”
Dylan Ferrandis: “The track was very good – we never had such a nice one this season so I enjoyed racing here. My first start was great and I was fourth for most of the race, but in the last few laps I was passed by three rivals and that was a little bit disappointing. I battled with Tonus and Tixier all through the second race to score another seventh position. It’s my best GP since Sweden, and now I will go training with the team in the sand to prepare for Lierop.”
Valentin Teillet: “On Saturday I had a good feeling with the track and was always in the top ten of the training sessions, but I crashed on the third lap of the qualification race so I didn’t have a good gate pick for the GP. I got a good start in the first race and finished eighth, but I got pushed out at the first corner in race two and I had to fight hard for another eighth position. I didn’t make any mistake today and that’s positive, particularly as the track was rougher than on Saturday.”
Maxime Desprey: “In Loket I made a mistake in the second heat, and I wanted so much to win both races here. I got two good starts and took the lead after a few corners. The track was really nice and I felt comfortable, especially on the big jumps and I focused on my lines to win both races. I’ve no chance for the title so I am just taking it race by race and will try to win as many races as possible to finish the season in the first three of the series.”
The Frenchman’s results had fallen below his usual very high standards during the mid-season GPs, but he returned to the podium in style with two strong rides at the demanding British grassland track. He advanced from sixth to fourth in the first moto and charged to a third place finish in race two to secure his first podium finish since June and mover back into serious contention for a series medal.
Teammate Xavier Boog also had his second consecutive strong GP finish as he finished fifth overall to move significantly closer to the rider ahead of him in the series; he now trails sixth in the championship by just six points.
Team CP377 Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit had an unfortunate GP. Championship challenger Christophe Pourcel hurt his neck and shoulder during practice and had to defy great pain to salvage as many points as possible, whilst elder brother Sebastien also lost the chance of a greater points haul when he damaged the bike in a crash during the opening moto.
Gautier Paulin: “It’s great to be back on the podium, and I want to dedicate it to my team who remained strongly behind me even when I was not getting the results which we expect. My last podium was in Portugal and that was a long time ago; we have had some tough GPs but we found some solutions, even though it’s never easy to recover during the season. I’m having again fun on the bike, and a couple of good starts helped me to achieve this podium; the track this weekend was almost perfect and it was nice to race the same event as the young kids of the European series.”
Xavier Boog: “I’m happy to score my second top five result in a row. I got a great start in the first race but it took me some time to find my rhythm and I lost two positions before I settled down, then Gautier passed me and I finished fifth. The second start was not as good, but I had a good rhythm and was able to pass Leok and Desalle during the last few laps to finish seventh. I have close the gap on Strijbos in the championship, and now the goal for the next three GPs will be to pass him for sixth in the series, even if I know that Lierop will not be easy.”
Sébastien Pourcel: “I was only fifteenth on the starting grid as I crashed at the start of the qualifying race, and from this gate it was not easy to have a good start. I was thirteenth in the first race but then I crashed twice and damaged the handlebars. The second race was better for me and I was eighth at mid race but in the last fifteen minutes I felt tired and lost several positions.”
Christophe Pourcel: “On Saturday the track was slippery on some places and I crashed twice; my neck was painful, but also a muscle under the shoulder blade and today I had even more pain. I was completely at the outside on the gate and it was impossible to get a good start, but in the first heat I made some good passes to finish ninth. The second start was worse, the pain was stronger and the goal was just to finish the race and score some points for the series.”
