The Grand Prix of Belgium-GP Flanders was a great Motocross show entertaining a massive crowd of 27000 spectators throughout the weekend.
Jonathan Barragan took his third consecutive GP win courtesy of an incredible performance on the sand while Estonian Gert Krestinov wrapped up his maiden GP win after he celebrated his 18th birthday yesterday.
In this final round of the Veterans’ World Cup Toine van Dijk won the overall but the World Cup winner was home rider Peter Iven, third on today’s podium behind Jan Blancquaert.
MX1
AXO KTM Silver Action’s Jonathan Barragan is on a roll in this final part of the season as he took his third consecutive win –fourth of the season and of the career- today in Lommel. The Spaniard won the final moto and took second in the first one, where Martin Honda’s Marc de Reuver put together a fantastic performance to finish first. The second moto was tougher for the Dutchman who crashed when he was at the lead, handing it to Barragan and Max Nagl of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. The latter was a solid third on the podium right behind Teka Suzuki WMX1’s Ken de Dycker. De Reuver and new series leader Steve Ramon rounded off the top five as David Philippaerts ended a bad day in tenth place.
Top five overall: 1. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 47 points; 2. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 40 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 37 p.; 4. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), 36 p.; 5. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 34 p.
MX1 RACE 1
De Reuver took an unexpected victory as both early leaders Ramon and De Dycker made mistakes and lost the first place. The Dutchman eventually battled it out with Barragan and despite making a mistake he secured the win from the Spaniard. De Dycker took a safe third from team mate Ramon, as the duo fought tooth and nail for the lead in the first half of the moto. Coppins rounded off the top five from Nagl as Philippaerts ended 15th after a first lap crash.
Top five: 1. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), 41:40.370; ; 2. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), +0:09.075; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:12.520; 4. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:13.904; 5. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:15.320
MX1 RACE 2
After Nagl and Barragan controlled the opening laps, De Reuver stormed to first and started to pull away with the lead until he crashed. Once he was back to the track it took him a few laps before getting back to his rhythm and he eventually ended tenth. Barragan made a final overtaking manoeuvre on Nagl to secure the victory from the German and De Dycker. Pourcel was fourth as Ramon and Philippaerts, who crashed in the final laps, rounded off the top six.
Top five: 1. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 40:19.697; ; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:02.470; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:31.172; 4. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:39.137; 5. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:40.906
MX2
An incredible Gert Krestinov of Favor KTM Motorsport took his maiden GP victory after winning the final heat. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Rui Goncalves mounted on the second step of the podium for the first time in his career as he finished level in points with the Estonian. Team mate Tommy Searle was third overall despite three crashes in the final moto and Tyla Rattray, who also crashed in the final heat, was fourth despite he won moto one. Champ KTM team mates Jeremy van Horebeek and Joel Roelants rounded off the top six as Ricci Racing Yamaha’s Nicolas Aubin was seventh.
Top five overall: 1. Gert Krestinov (EST, KTM), 38 points; 2. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 38 p.; 3. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 37 p.; 4. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 35 p.
MX2 RACE 1
Goncalves was the first to enter the first corner and led the first three laps; Rattray moved past him and did his own race to finish first from Searle. The latter had a tough start but worked his way up through the pack even though he was more than 21 seconds away from the South African. Goncalves took an incredible third in the final lap as he moved past both Roelants and Simpson who were fighting for third until the Portuguese’s comeback. After a mistake in the opening lap Krestinov recovered to eighth.
Top five: 1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 41:33.589; ; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), +0:21.537; 3. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +0:34.953; 4. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:35.986; 5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:41.914
MX2 RACE 2
The final heat started with the crash of Rattray, Searle and Simpson who all went down at the first corner. The trio restarted at the back of the pack while Krestinov worked his way through the top three moving past Eggens and early leader Aubin to take the lead and the eventual win. Rattray made it to fourth and was chasing Aubin for third when he crashed. After he restarted from 17th he just brought the bike home taking 10th. Aubin was second ahead of Van Horebeek and Goncalves, who did not take the best of the starts. Roelants and Searle, who crashed other two times, rounded off the top six.
Top five: 1. Gert Krestinov (EST, KTM), 40:41.049; ; 2. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:25.053; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:26.226; 4. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +0:27.149; 5. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:45.602
IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
Philippaerts lost the Championship lead for the first time since he took the red plate in Portugal. As he dropped down to second Ramon took the lead and Coppins remained third. De Dycker and Barragan round off a close top five with a maximum gap of 31 points from the top.
Top ten: 1. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 362 points; 2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 360 p.; 3. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 345 p.; 4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 336 p.; 5. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 331 p.; 6. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 306 p.; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 290 p.; 8. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), 257 p.; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), 245 p.; 10. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), 214 p.
Rattray is still on top of the MX2 Championship with Searle following from a 20 point distance. Injured Cairoli is third with Simpson and Goncalves rounding off the top five. Krestinov moved from 26th to 19th.
Top ten: 1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 452 points; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 432 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 357 p.; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 312 p.; 5. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 279 p.; 6. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 274 p.; 7. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 232 p.; 8. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), 224 p.; 9. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 215 p.; 10. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), 203 p.
FIM VETERANS’ WORLD CUP
Toine van Dijk, the winner of the opening round in Bellpuig, took also the final round of the Veterans’ World Cup as he won both moto’s at Lommel. The Dutchman topped the overall from home riders Jan Blancquaert and Peter Iven, who became the eventual World Cup winner. Blancquaert took two second places as an injured Iven –he had a torn muscle in his arm- was third twice. British countrymen Greg Hanson and Dave Thorpe rounded off the top five.
Top five overall: 1. Toine van Dijk (NED, Suzuki), 50 points; 2. Jan Blancquaert (BEL, Kawasaki), 44 p.; 3. Peter Iven (BEL, Kawasaki), 40 p.; 4. Greg Hanson (GBR, CCM), 34 p.; 5. Dave Thorpe (GBR, Honda), 34 p.
Peter Iven is the new Veterans’ World Cup winner as he snatched the Title from defending Champion Dave Thorpe. The latter was a final third as Van Dijk moved up to second courtesy of today’s win. Jan Blancquaert and Greg Hanson rounded off the top five.
Top five: 1. Peter Iven (BEL, Kawasaki), 122 points; 2. Toine van Dijk (NED, Suzuki), 117 p.; 3. Dave Thorpe (GBR, Honda), 102 p.; 4. Jan Blancquaert (BEL, Kawasaki), 100 p.; 5. Greg Hanson (GBR, CCM), 85 p.
WHAT’S NEXT Next weekend the FIM Motocross World Championship will be again on the track at Loket, Czech Republic, for round 12 of 15.
THE EVENT’S SCHEDULE
The Grand Prix was broadcast live on:
EUROSPORT 2 (Pan Europe) : MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET
MOTORS TV (Pan Europe): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET
SPORT ITALIA (Italy): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET
VRT (Belgium): MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET
GALAXIE SPORT (Czech Republic): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET
ART (Pan Middle East): MX1 Race 2 at 16:00 CET
SPORT TV (Slovenia): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET
EUROSPORT WORLD (PAN ASIA): MX1 Race 1 at 11:00 and Race 2 at 14:00 GMT
RED BULL TV (Austria): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00; MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET
MEDIAZONE (Worldwide): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00; MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET
TRANS 7 (Indonesia): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00; MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET
SPORT TV (Portugal): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET
The Grand Prix will be broadcast delayed on:
MOTORS TV (Pan Europe): Sunday August 3; MX2 Race 1 at 21:00 and Race 2 at 21:55 CET
SPORT ITALIA (Italy): Sunday August 3; MX1 Race 1 at 23:30. Monday August 4; MX1 Race 2 at 00:30 CET
EUROSPORT WORLD (Pan Asia): Sunday August 3; MX1 Race 1 at 21:30 and Race 2 at 22:15. Monday August 4; MX1 Race 2 at 3:45 and at 10:30 and at 23:15; MX2 Class at 17:00. Tuesday August 5; MX2 Class at 00:00 and at 9:30 and at 15:45; MX1 Race 2 at 8:45 and at 15:00. Wednesday August 6; MX1 Race 2 at 2:15 and at 18:15; MX2 Class at 3:00 and at 19:00 and at 21:00. Thursday August 7; MX2 class at 23:00 GMT
AMERICA ONE SPORTS (USA): Second Tuesday after the GP; MX2 Race 2 at 21:00; MX1 Race 2 at 22:00 USA Eastern Time
Information, photos and results are online at http://www.motocrossMX1.com , the official website of the FIM Motocross World Championships.
MediaZone Moto is the leading global online broadcaster of Motocross and SuperMoto events. Fans worldwide can watch the thrills from this and every race of the 2008 FIM Motocross & SuperMoto World Championships LIVE and On Demand exclusively at www.MediaZoneMoto.com.
Youthstream is the company that manages the exclusive television, marketing and promotional world wide rights of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the FIM Motocross of Nations, the FIM SuperMoto World Championship, the FIM SuperMoto of Nations, the FIM Snowcross World Championship, the UEM Motocross European Championship and the UEM SuperMoto European Championship.
- Daniele RIZZI -
