World MX – Round Four – Sevlievo (Bulgaria)
A fantastic Grand Prix of Bulgaria took place today under mixed weather conditions, with sun and rain showers falling throughout the whole day, making the track more slippery for the second heats. The event was attended by 27000 spectators enjoying the show on this incredible venue, which won the best organizer awards in 2006 and 2007.
MX1 Championship leader David Philippaerts kept the red plate by winning this fourth Grand Prix of the season while Tommy Searle won the MX2 overall with team mate Tyla Rattray getting the red plate back. The two mounted on an all KTM podium which was completed by Shaun Simpson.
MX1
Championship leader David Philippaerts of Yamaha Monster Motocross took his first victory of 2008 and second career MX1 win today courtesy of two solid moto’s. With Philippaerts winning moto one, AXO KTM Silver Action’s Jonathan Barragan was on route to win the final heat and take the overall; he crashed and ended second on the podium. The eventual second heat winner was GPKR’s Sebastien Pourcel, who was handed victory by Barragan; yesterday’s Lovemytime Pole Position Award winner was third on the podium ahead of Teka Suzuki WMX1’s Steve Ramon and Honda Martin Racing’s Marc de Reuver, who rounded off the top five ahead of Josh Coppins.
Top five overall:
1. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 47 points
2. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 40 p
3. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 38 p
4. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 36 p
5. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), 36 p
MX1 RACE 1
Mackenzie took the holeshot and starred in the opening laps before dropping down to an eventual fifteenth because of arm pump. Philippaerts snatched the lead from the Brit in the opening lap to lead the pack for the remaining 19 laps. The Italian took a dominant victory from Barragan, who was one of the quickest in the final laps of heat one. Though the Spaniard stalled the bike when he was chasing De Reuver for second, losing time before making it to the runner up spot. De Reuver eventually let Barragan by to take third, which is his best result of the season so far. Coppins battled it out with Ramon for the fourth place and slammed all the doors the Belgian tried to use to move past. In the final laps Coppins came dramatically close to De Reuver, chipping away at the four second gap to arrive at the flag with a gap of just one and a half second. Ramon rounded off the top five while Pourcel crashed twice and finished eighth.
Top five:
1. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 40:07.606
2. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), +0:05.616
3. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), +0:06.650
4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:08.084
5. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:14.351
MX1 RACE 2
Barragan dominated the final moto as he took the lead after a brief battle with Philippaerts; once he moved past, Barragan pulled away with the lead showing all his speed on the Bulgarian course, which is one of his favourites. The Spaniard made a mistake with two laps to go, crashing and handing the win to Pourcel who earned his podium spot. Barragan rejoined the race and battled it out for third with Ramon, who eventually kept the third place ahead of his rival. Ramon had worked his way up from seventh, with Pourcel following until he came in third. Pourcel’s last move was on Philippaerts, who made a mistake and lost his position, ending an eventual second. De Reuver rounded off the top five ahead of Honda fellow rider Mackenzie.
Top five:
1. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 39:28.719
2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:06.913
3. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:08.068
4. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), +0:21.486
5. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), +0:27.233
MX2
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tommy Searle took his second career win today on the Bulgarian course of Sevlievo. The Brit sealed the overall by winning the final heat after an enthralling battle with KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson, who joined Searle on the podium in third place. Simpson collected the first podium finish of his career while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tyla Rattray finished second overall to take back the red plate. Suzuki Inotec’s Xavier Boog finished a solid fourth to grasp his best ever career result while French countryman Nicolas Aubin of Ricci Racing Yamaha rounded off the top five. After winning the opening moto, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Tony Cairoli crashed in the final heat to take just two points and end seventh overall.
Top five overall:
1. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 47 points
2. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 36 p
3. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 32 p
4. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), 32 p
5. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 28 p
MX2 RACE 1
Searle took an early lead but Cairoli kept following like in yesterday’s qualifying heat and eventually made his move past the Brit. The Italian tried to run away with the lead but made a mistake and Searle took the chance to move back on top. Later on Searle made a mistake as well with Cairoli finding himself on his rival’s tail. The Italian moved to first with four laps to go and won the heat from Searle and Rattray, who rode in a solid third for most of the heat. Sword ended fourth after moving ahead of team mate Paulin; the latter completed the top five ahead of last year’s European Championship rival Musquin and Boog. Simpson ended a tough moto in eleventh place.
Top five:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 39:03.953
2. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), +0:02.943
3. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), +0:03.719
4. Stephen Sword (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:18.419
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:20.386
MX2 RACE 2
After a brilliant start, Cairoli took the holeshot but crashed a few metres after the first corner with Rattray, Paulin and Guarneri getting involved in the crash. Then Simpson took the lead and pulled away with Searle following from second. Sword was following in third but ran off the track and did not finish the race. Cairoli tried to work his way up but stalled the bike and lost ground again to finish a bitter 19th. In the meantime leader Simpson and runner up Searle battled tooth and nail for victory, with the latter crashing then moving back to Simpson’s tail; the two passed each other twice before Searle took victory ahead of his English countryman. Aubin finished third ahead of Boog and Rattray ended the top five, as he lost his victory chances in the first corner crash.
Top five:
1. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 39:48.824
2. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:00.430
3. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:02.811
4. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), +0:16.230
5. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), +0:22.889
IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
Philippaerts continues to lead the points standings from defending Champion Ramon, Coppins, Mackenzie and De Dycker. Barragan and Pourcel both moved up as they are now sixth and seventh respectively, with Nagl dropping down to eighth ahead of De Reuver.
Top five:
1. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 149 points
2. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 132 p
3. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 115 p
4. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), 100 p
5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 98 p.
Rattray is back on the Championship lead after Cairoli snatched his leadership in Portugal. The latter dropped down to second ahead of Searle, with the top three being spread in just eight points. Aubin is now fourth ahead of Goncalves and Sword, with Guarneri dropping down to seventh.
Top five:
1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 157 points
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 153 p
3. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 149 p
4. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 106 p
5. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 106 p.
WHAT’S NEXT
There is not much time to move from Bulgaria to Mantova, where the Lovemytime Grand Prix of Italy will take place next weekend (May 17-18). The event will also host the second round of the Women World Championship, reaching Italy for its first time.
– Suzuki Report –
Team Teka Suzuki WMX1 rider Steve Ramon narrowly missed out on a podium position at the latest round of the 2008 FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship held at Sevlievo in Bulgaria as he finished in fourth place overall on his factory RM-Z450.
Ramon’s team-mate Ken De Dycker had a disappointing day meanwhile and could only muster a 10th place overall finish.
Conditions at the Sevlievo circuit were perfect for moto one and the jump-filled hillside racetrack that’s boasted by the race’s organisers to be ‘The Greatest Motocross Track in the World’ provided some of the best racing seen in the 2008 championship season so far.
Moto one saw both Team Teka riders mired in the mid-pack from the start as Ramon got closed off in turn one by the riders on either side of him and De Dycker was unable to get off the line as well as he’d have liked. With Ramon 11th and De Dycker 20th both riders had to battle hard for their eventual positions of fifth and 10th.
After heavy rain dampened the circuit between motos, Ramon and De Dycker both got slightly better starts than in the opener on the now much more slippery Sevlievo circuit. This time reigning World Champion Ramon pushed from seventh to fourth passing and heading eventual race winner Sebastien Pourcel for a few laps mid-race before losing a position to the Frenchman but being gifted third by Barragan on the last lap when the Spaniard, who was leading, crashed.
With a 5-3 scorecard, Ramon missed out on third overall by a measly two points but was still satisfied with his speed, fitness and fuel-injected factory 450.
“My biggest problem today was my starts,” explained Ramon. “I got a bad start in moto one – I aimed for the inside but it was a little bit slippery and the rider in front of me got a bit sideways and left me with nowhere to go. I had a difficult first lap and had to push hard to try and get to the front and I moved from 11th to fifth but I couldn’t get by Coppins – there was only one good line and he was on it also.
“Again in the second moto I didn’t get a good start but I moved forward and Pourcel only passed me after I clashed with Lauris Freibergs who I was lapping. I was riding well and we were easily catching the leaders – Barragan and Philippaerts – but it’s a pity that I wasn’t closer at the start because I’d have been challenging for the win or maybe even the podium.
“Overall I was very happy with my riding today and my speed was good and I’m still second in the championship even though I lost a few points to Philippaerts but there’s still a very long way to go.”
De Dycker was only able to charge to 11th in moto two as he was finding it difficult to make up time on the ultra-fast Sevlievo circuit. After finishing 10th overall on the day, the former championship leader knows what he has to do if he’s to return to full race winning form.
“For sure I need to work on my starts because I didn’t have such good ones today – I just wasn’t getting the jump,” said De Dycker. “I was able to come through a little bit but it was so hard because the track’s not very technical here, it’s very fast and that makes it very difficult to pass. My speed was okay though and I was always moving forward – I think all day only one rider passed me.”
As well as Ramon’s podium near miss in MX1, Team Suzuki Inotec rider Xavier Boog also took his full-factory RM-Z250 to fourth overall after tying on points but losing out on the better-second-moto-tie-breaker rule with Shaun Simpson. Boog, who’s been constantly improving on the factory bike this season put in 7-4 finishes to give Suzuki their strongest showing in MX2 for some time.
“Fourth overall is my best ever result and I’m very happy,” said Boog. “I’m very happy with my riding today and the bike just keeps on getting better and better and I feel very good on it. I hope I can keep on improving each week and maybe reach the podium soon.”
The FIM MX1 and MX2 Motocross World Championships continue next weekend with round five at Mantova in Italy on May 18.
– HRC Report –
Crowd: 27,146 (weekend figure)
Weather:
Saturday – Clear, bright and sunny, 22 deg C
Sunday – Changeable, sunshine changing to cloudy with showers, 15 deg C
De Reuver best Honda rider at Sevlievo – MacKenzie holds onto fourth in series standings
Italian rider David Philippaerts increased his lead in the FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship taking the overall win at round four of the series held in Sevlievo, Bulgaria. The super-fast hillside circuit saw the two races held in very different conditions – strong sunshine and a dry track for moto one and under cloudy skies on a dampened circuit for moto two – although the racing was fast and furious in both 35-minute plus two lap motos.
Dutchman Marc De Reuver was Honda’s strongest performer in MX1 taking fifth place overall riding his factory CRF450. The Honda Martin Racing rider scored a fine third place in moto one to take his maiden MX1 podium appearance of the year before backing that up with a solid second moto fifth. De Reuver’s team-mate Julien Bill and CAS Honda’s Billy MacKenzie were also able to race their Hondas to top-10 finishes while American CAS Honda rider Mike Brown just missed out in 12th place overall.
Sebastien Pourcel took pole position during Saturday’s qualifying session with a time of 1:46:767 while MacKenzie was best Honda rider in fifth, De Reuver was 10th, Bill 12th and Brown a disappointing – by his standards – 22nd place some 3.571 seconds down on the French pole sitter.
Sunday’s moto one saw Billy MacKenzie and MX1 series leader Philippaerts exit turn one side by side but the Italian edged into the lead before turn two allowing MacKenzie to watch his lines and bide his time as he waited to attack the leader. But rather than being the aggressor MacKenzie found himself hunted down by De Reuver who moved into second as arm pump forced the Scotsman to spiral down to 15th by the race’s end. De Reuver held the pace of the leader until he too lost his rhythm mid-race allowing Spaniard Jonathan Barragan by and into the runner-up position. De Reuver hung tough for third to secure his maiden MX1 podium of the year.
Swiss Honda Martin Racing rider Julien Bill also scored by far his finest performance of the year so far with a hard fought for sixth place after he battled through the pack from ninth. CAS Honda’s Mike Brown suffered similarly to his team-mate with arm pump but was able to tough it out to 12th.
After a heavy half hour shower between races, track conditions were much slicker for moto two which was led by Barragan until he crashed on the very last lap allowing Pourcel to steal victory. De Reuver and MacKenzie were Honda’s best performers this time in fifth and sixth while Bill and Brown also navigated inside the top-10 with eighth and 10th place finishes. Barragan’s mistake not only lost the overall win for the Spaniard as it also knocked De Reuver from third to fifth in the final standings.
Despite suffering his worst result of the year in moto one MacKenzie stays as Honda’s leading rider in the MX1 championship in fourth place now 49 points behind the leader. De Reuver jumps up to ninth, Brown rises to 11th and Bill also climbs to 16th.
Honda scored their first Motocross World Championship podium of the year with 17-year-old American female rider Ashley Fiolek who scored third overall on an LS Motorsport CRF250 in the opening round of the five-event Women’s World Championship. Fiolek finished behind Livia Lancelot and Maria Franke but ahead of the reigning Women’s World Cup champion Katherine Prumm on her way to third in her debut in World Championship competition.
The FIM Motocross World Championship continues next weekend in Mantova with the Grand Prix of Italy on May 18.
Roger Harvey – Honda Off-Road coordinator
“It was good to see Marc De Reuver running the pace we know he is capable of and him finishing third in moto one on a circuit that probably doesn’t suit him too well – with it being hardpack – is excellent. He was very unlucky not to score his first podium of the year – coming into the last lap he was third overall but when Barragan crashed he dropped to fifth – so I’m quite disappointed for Marc and the Martin team because it would be nice to see him on the podium.
“The rate at which Billy MacKenzie dropped off the pace due to arm pump in moto one was quite disappointing. It’s sort of understandable a circuit like this with there being so many big hills and it’s also very fast in between. Of course it’s the same for everybody and it’s a shamehe could do no better than 15th. The second moto was slightly better for Billy, he felt his arm pump coming and just had to back it off a bit.
“Mike Brown also suffered with arm pump today – he’s suffered badly with it before so we could almost expect it – but he still rode quite well and got a great start in moto two from a gate where he was at a big disadvantage.
“Julien Bill made a great overall improvement today and he finished well in both races for the first time this year.
“I’d like to give Ashley Fiolek a special mention who is an American Honda supported rider who came to ride in the Women’s World Championship. Thanks must go to the LS Motorsports who supplied a bike and technical support and in return got their first podium in World Championship motocross when Ashley finished third overall. Congratulations to Ashley and thanks to American Honda for allowing her to come across.
“Also a mention must go to Marvin Musquin who rides for the NGS Honda team who had an excellent ride in the first moto even though he was in an incredible amount of pain with his leg. What had happened was that a stone had fallen inside his boot and was rubbing against his leg causing quite a bit of discomfort. I was especially pleased with how hard he charged all race – even at the end – and Marvin is definitely someone we’ll be looking at for the future.
“Overall I’m quite pleased but our MX1 results should have been a lot better than what was achieved. We’re at Mantova next weekend and that should suit all our riders so I’m looking forwards to that.”
Marc De Reuver – Martin Honda
“The timed qualifying session was really hectic and I did a fast lap which I thought would be good enough for top five but when they told me I was only 10th I was really surprised but all the times were very close so I was still quite happy.
“I know that on this track it’s important to get a good start and that’s exactly what I did in both races and I was also quite aggressive in the early laps.
“In both races I lost my rhythm a little bit, made some mistakes and lost a little bit of time but then I came good again at the end of the races. Since Portugal things have been getting better and better for me and today I only missed out on the podium because Barragan crashed on the last lap of moto two. Top five is good and next week is a good track for me.
“We did some testing on the suspension in Italy last week and now the bike is working really well for me and things just keep getting better and better now my confidence is coming back.”
Julien Bill – Martin Honda
“In the first moto I had a mid-pack start but I came through the pack from 12th to sixth and I was fighting with the best riders and so I was really happy with my speed and my fitness and I feel it was a good race.
“In the second race I also didn’t get such a good start and I found it a little bit more difficult as the track was rougher but in the final five laps I was catching Coppins and I’ve got to be happy with that. I finally finished eighth in moto two and so my results this weekend have been a massive improvement for me. I’ve also climbed up in the points standing and so I hope I can continue with this kind of results.
“The next few GPs are all on hard tracks which is good for me and so I hope I can keep getting top eight results and maybe even improve on that. I’d like to get on the podium but I realise all these guys are really fast and very strong so it will be tough but I will keep on trying.”
Billy MacKenzie – CAS Honda
“The first race is one that I want to forget ever happened. I almost holeshot – I definitely got to the first corner first – and for the first 10 minutes I was feeling good, I was behind Philippaerts and that’s exactly where I wanted to be – I wanted to be putting the pressure on him – and I was just waiting to pick my moment. I made a little mistake and De Reuver went by and then I messed up every single corner of the next lap and from there I just pumped up – it was the worst I’ve had all year.
“I struggled for the whole race after that point and I was getting passed everywhere, whenever I went wide someone would get me on the inside and vice versa. I just couldn’t do anything right and I was just going slower and slower. Being back in 15th place is not good enough and I was very annoyed and so was everybody else so I knew I had to do better in the next one.
“Philippaerts cut me off at the start of the second race but I found myself in third and was feeling very comfortable on the bike. Barragan and Philippaerts pretty much took off and I didn’t really have an answer for them even though I kept them in sight for two or three laps. I was pushing quite hard and I could feel my arm pump coming so I was hanging on going up the hills and then when I’d get to the corner at the top I could barely turn the thing so I calmed it down a bit and let the bike do all the work. I was behind De Reuver and on some parts of the track I would catch him and on other parts he’d pull away, I found some good lines and caught him a little and then the next lap he found them too! I’m happy to finish the day with a top six because if I’d have had another race like the first I wouldn’t have enjoyed the trip home at all.”
Mike Brown – CAS Honda
“In the first race I rode a little tight in the beginning and got arm pump for half of the race – it was so bad I couldn’t even use the clutch. In the last 15 minutes I loosened up and I started riding a lot better and overall it was an okay ride and I pulled through to 12th.
“In moto two I got a great start and was around fourth place but a couple of guys passed me and then I crashed on the inside of a corner and struggled to restart the bike. I was a long way back and so then I had to pull through the pack again. Overall I’m happy with the way I rode even if my results weren’t as good as I’d like them to – or they should – have been.”
Ashley Fiolek – LS Motorsport Honda
“I wasn’t sure really what to expect when I came here it’s a lot different from home so I just tried to do my best and then see what happened. I’m definitely glad that I got on the podium – there are so many fast women here and it’s tough to do well so I’m pleased I finished where I did especially with the mud. The women I normally race with in America are fast but here is where the fastest women in the world are and that’s why I came here to race with them. I’m gonna keep on working and training hard and hopefully I can win a moto next weekend.”
– Yamaha Report –
Philippaerts takes first win with Yamaha
In changeable weather conditions and across a tricky Sevlievo circuit, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team’s David Philippaerts scored his first success on the YZ450FM with first and second positions in the two motos at the Grand Prix of Bulgaria. After four rounds of fifteen in the 2008 FIM MX1-GP World Championship the Italian has extended his lead in the series to 17 points and also placed Yamaha first in the manufacturer’s standings. Josh Coppins was sixth overall and currently lies third.
The hard and fast layout situated deep in the Bulgarian countryside offered two different tests to the riders of the MX1-GP category as the first moto of 35 minutes and 2 laps took place in sunshine but a grey sky and rainfall created a slick and greasy terrain for the second outing.
Philippaerts made the most of two decent starts to obtain his prize. The 24 year old escaped the attentions of Billy Mackenzie and Marc de Reuver to lead the first sprint from start to finish. In the second wetter race he fought with Jonathan Barragan and was ultimately unable to match the Spaniard’s pace. Entering the last lap Philippaerts was resigned to his second consecutive runner-up position until the leader crashed and allowed Sebastien Pourcel and the Yamaha representative to pull through. Second spot in the moto was enough to secure the overall and his second career MX1-GP success.
Josh Coppins ended the day disappointed with sixth position but a set of average starts and some hesitancy on the first lap of Moto1 meant that a better placing was not possible. The Kiwi qualified quite well, (Philippaerts was eighth after being baulked on his two flying lap attempts) with the sixth best lap-time on a dry track that saw the protagonists of the class separated by very little. However he was, by his own admission, ‘too slow’ in the opening stages of Moto1 and although he pulled through the pack well and was all over the back wheels of Marc de Reuver and Barragan contesting second place, he crossed the finish line in fourth. The second moto was even tougher as he touched with his team-mate along the start straight and had to be determined to cut through from a mid-pack position on the first lap.
The course was not easy for overtaking, making Coppins’ job even harder; he took 14 points for seventh at the flag. The 31 year old is still well in touch with the title chase.
Yamaha Van Beers’ Aigar Leok was 17th, one place ahead of UTag Yamaha.com’s Carlos Campano.
The world championship table still shows both Yamaha Monster Motocross team members within the top three. Philippaerts holds a bigger margin over world champion Ramon and Coppins is 34 points away. Yamaha head the manufacturer’s standings by 5 points. The squad are well-placed for round five and their home Grand Prix at Mantova in Italy next week.
David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 1st:
“This is a really good result for me. I tried to win both races but Barragan was very fast in that second moto and I had some luck when I saw him crash. I was pretty tired by that point and I could not stop Pourcel taking the lead. The track was very different in the afternoon. The rain had made it very slippery and some more lines appeared. The mud went softer and got bumpier. The bike is really good and the team are working hard. I’m happy for this; a good day!”
Josh Coppins, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 6th:
“I thought that things would turnaround for me this weekend but I am really disappointed with how the motos went. My starts were not good, which is unusual for me, and I was too slow at the beginning of the first moto. I wanted to do better for the second moto but David cut across me coming out of the gate; that’s OK though because I would have done the same if I also had the holeshot. I was stuck in the middle of the pack and by the time I passed riders there was too big a gap to rise any further. This is not what I wanted ahead of Mantova, which is perhaps the hardest track of the year for me and I am losing my patience; it has been a hard start to this championship.”
Mino Raspanti, Racing Manager:
“A very good weekend. David won the GP with some luck, thanks to Barragan’s crash. He was already looking quick and motivated through the practice sessions and playing with the bike but found two slower riders in the Timed Practice that ruined his laps. Anyway, he still got the starts from eighth in the gate. Josh was fourth in the first race which wasn’t so bad and his speed in the last ten minutes was very good. His start was a handicap and he could not find his pace like before. The bikes performed well and the riders felt good; we just need to understand why Josh couldn’t get going in that second moto.”
———-
RACE REPORT – 11/05/2008
Cairoli seventh after first corner incident
MX2-GP World Champion Antonio Cairoli finished off a Grand Prix podium for the first time since Namur, August 2007 after suffering a first corner crash in a wet second moto at Sevlievo for the Bulgarian round of the FIM series. The fourth round of fifteen took place under changeable weather conditions that saw the first race occur in sunshine and the second on a slippery and soggy terrain. The Sicilian was seventh overall but had already banked some points with a comprehensive victory in Moto1.
The Bulgarian dirt was hard and flat and together with the layout created a fast course that left little room for error. The start and initial corners were vital in determining the leading positions as lap-times generally remained fairly close and overtaking was difficult.
Cairoli enacted a fantastically close duel with Tommy Searle during the Saturday qualification Heat and got the better of the Briton to secure his second consecutive pole position. The pair briefly resumed their fracas in the first GP moto but the Yamaha De Carli rider unearthed a series of rapid circulations on his YZ250F to break free from his English rival and win his third moto in succession.
The second race could not have started more differently. The 22 year old slid off in front of the pack entering the first right turn and was hit by Tyla Rattray. Then, while pushing to regain positions, was struck from behind by another rider and again hit the ground, losing time to restart. He finished down in nineteenth.
Yamaha Ricci Racing’s Nico Aubin also had a contrasting set of results. The Frenchman could not recover well from a start that left him in the bottom half of the top twenty on the first lap of Moto1 and scored thirteenth. He did however reverse his fortunes in the second sprint when he chased Shaun Simpson and Tommy Searle and was less than three seconds from first position by the end of the race. His third place meant a ranking of fifth overall.
Team-mate Davide Guarneri was sixteenth in the final GP standing. The Italian had to qualify via the Last Chance session after a heavy crash during Saturday’s Heat race. A fall in Moto1 meant that he was unable to restart, while he was one of the casualties of the first corner mayhem in Moto2. The 23 year old did manage to capture a hard-won tenth by the end of the 35 minutes and 2 laps.
Cairoli’s team-mate, Matteo Bonini, made a welcome return to Grand Prix action only two weeks after he recovered sufficiently from a dislocated shoulder. The Italian is lacking race speed and fitness but registered a total of six points with nineteenth overall.
3C Racing’s Manuel Monni was a consistent figure around the top ten and earned eleventh position thanks to finishes of twelfth and eleventh.
Cairoli lost a little ground in the world championship standings and rests 4 points behind new leader Tyla Rattray. Aubin is fourth and 43 away from the top three. Guarneri is seventh.
The MX2-GP elite will be in action in the space of seven days as the Italian Grand Prix at the jumpy Mantova circuit constitutes round five.
Antonio Cairoli, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 7th:
“Of course, after the first moto, I expected more from this GP. I had a really good start in the second moto and when I cut tight for the corner my front wheel slipped away. Everyone was really close and Tyla hit me in the back, which caused a lot of pain. I lost time restarting but worked my way back to 12th, and that was OK because Tyla was in the same group and I felt like I was riding really well. Then when I came down one of the hills a rider had stopped in the line in front of me so I had to slow also and I was hit from behind. The handlebars were covered with mud, so I quickly had to clean them and try to go again. I wanted to keep positive and try for points so I kept pushing and reached 19th. I am now second and four points behind Tyla. This is manageable, and the next GP is in Italy so we will be strong. I want the red plate again in Mantova.”
Nico Aubin, Yamaha Ricci Racing, 5th:
“I was missing something today. I started badly in the first moto and could not get a rhythm. I tried to push hard but could not pass the other riders, thirteenth was a poor result. In the second race I felt better and faster and was in the fight for first position which was good. I like Mantova and I must get better because we have had four GPs now and I have not made the results that I want. I have a good bike and my physical condition is OK. I just need a little something extra and that second moto was good for my head.”
Davide Guarneri, Yamaha Ricci Racing, 16th:
“A bad weekend; too many crashes. I like this track but I had a big crash in the heat on Saturday and hit my head so I had to go through the last chance. My gate was far to the outside. I started way back in the first moto and after a few laps I was up to 14th but I lost the front wheel on a jump and I could not restart the bike. Many riders fell at the start of the second moto and I got pushed outside and also crashed, again! It was very slippery there. I pushed and I rode pretty well to finish 10th which was OK. I lost points today but the championship still has a long way to go.”
Matteo Bonini, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 19th:
“I did not feel too bad out there. My shoulder was OK, considering I only started training two weeks ago. I pushed so hard in those two weeks to make this GP that I think it left me very tired today. I gained some points at least and things can only get better. I wanted to make this GP to get some race time before Mantova. The track there is difficult but now I am a little bit more familiar with the speed the guys are making now.”
– KTM Report –
Searle tops MX2 podium; Rattray has Red Plate as championship leader
Red Bull KTM factory rider Tommy Searle stopped the hearts of all spectators of the second MX2 moto in Sevielo, Bulgaria on Sunday when he swept past fellow KTM rider Shaun Simpson in the last seconds of the race to take the top podium spot in the GP.
On a day when rain fell to soften the hard track and reshuffle the cards just before the second MX2 moto, Red Bull KTM’s Tyla Rattray made a good comeback from a tussle with Toni Cairoli in the second moto to finish overall second. Shaun Simpson was on the podium for the first time in third place to complete a complete clean sweep of the podium for KTM.
“I am very happy because this is my first victory of the season and my second career GP win,” Tommy said. “I really enjoyed the battle with Shaun. I knew that Tyla and Cairoli were quite far back but I did not want to take any risks. The track was quite tricky as I wanted to be sure to try to pass Shaun at just the right time.” The last minute by the young British title contender was certainly the highlight of the race weekend at this circuit in central Bulgaria.
Tyla Rattray, now again in front in the championship standings and owner of the red number place said he regretted the incident with Toni Cairoli, the current MX2 champion, saying that although it was part of racing he was sorry it had happened. “I always like to ride clean but I also always race for the win.” After the tangle Tyla managed to work his way back up through the pack on a circuit and in conditions where it was difficult to make up ground. After his third place in the first moto he finished fifth in the second, collecting enough points for the second podium place on the day.
Shaun Simpson, riding for Team KTM UK, one of the new KTM-supported teams was naturally delighted to be up with Searle. He led the race right from the beginning and said he didn’t expect to be on the podium this early in his career in GP racing. “This is a very new experience for me,” he said. “This is a track that suits me and I already knew in race one that I was fast. I couldn’t believe I was in front of Tommy in the second moto. It was fun and now I know I am getting faster I have good hopes for the rest of the season and I want to improve in every GP.
Rui Goncalves, the third Red Bull KTM factory rider had difficulty with pain in his arms in the first moto, finishing in tenth place. The second heat proved more successful after some adjustments to the bike’s setup. “I had a lot of problems with my arms in the first heat. It was very distracting and hard to ride. It was easier in the second with a different setup but I did not have a very good start. I was also behind Cairoli and Tyla during their incident. I went on to finish seventh and of course I never give up.” The Portuguese Red Bull KTM rider said he is looking forward to next week’s ride in Mantova, Italy, where he had a good race in the pre-season Starcross event. “It’s now my aim to finish every Gp and to pick up as many points as I can,” he said.
Jonathan Barragan denied victory in last minutes of MX1 in Bulgaria
KTM Team Silver Action rider Jonathan Barragan looked certain to take victory in the second moto and seal his MX1 Grand Pix win in Sevlievo, Bulgaria on Sunday when a mistake in the last stretch of race two denied him the overall victory.
On a day where rain fell before the second race to create a whole different set of conditions on the normally hard packed track, the Spanish KTM rider did go on to be second overall to rescue a podium place and pick up more valuable championship points.
“I am very sad, “the Spanish rider said. “I made a mistake in the last lap and lost my position. Without this I know I would have won today. I was very fast this weekend and I know I can win races. Now I will concentrate on a good result next weekend in Mantova, where I had a good result in the pre-season Starcross event. I’m going to do my best to get back in the championship and to finish every race with as many points as I can.”
It was also a disappointing day for Red Bull KTM factory rider Max Nagl of Germany. Despite snatching the holeshot in both heats of the MX1, Sunday was not his lucky day. Max went into the race hoping for a top five position but a mistake in heat one cost him his chances then in the second heat his boot got wedged in between the frame and the rear brake and he lost valuable time trying to free it. Overall he finished in eighth position in the GP. Max also goes to Mantova next weekend optimistic about riding on a circuit that he likes and where he has enjoyed good results in the past.
