Red Bull KTM's Tyla Rattray and Tommy Searle came in first and second in the MX2 GP of Republic of Ireland on Sunday delivering the promise to take their two-way title fight right down to the wire.
The two factory riders have distanced themselves from the rest of the field with only two rounds and 100 points still up for grabs as they head for the sand at Lierop in the Netherlands in a week's time. But aware that the fight for the title might be only be decided in the last race in Faenza, Italy on September 14, both Rattray and Searle are keeping their lips sealed.
2-1 result for Tyla
Tyla was in fine form snatching a 2-1 results for 47 points while Tommy picked up 40 points for his 4-2 result, giving the South African a 27-point overall lead over the British teenager. Their closest rival is Antonio Cairoli of Italy in third place with 357 who is out for the rest of the season due to a race injury.
Confident for two remaining GPs
The South African was second to American Zach Osborne in the first race. "Zach went out very fast and he was tough to catch. I tried to put my head down and put in some good laps. I got close to him in the final stage but I just couldn't close the gap." Things went well for Tyla in race two when he got away fast, slipped past Simpson and once he had established the lead, looked a winner all the way to the checkered flag. Looking ahead to the penultimate race Tyla said: "I'm feeling fit and I've been training a lot on sand."
Positive race day for Searle
Tommy Searle made an excellent recovery from a difficult training day on Saturday that left him down the order in the starting gate on Sunday. "I was right on the outside in the starting gates and that didn't make it very easy. It was also very dusty at the start and I had some vision problems. Even though I had a bad day on Saturday I made up my mind to go out hard in both heats and do my best," the British teenage said. Searle looked particularly impressive in the second moto when he plowed his way up to a very creditable second place.
Goncalves in ninth in Ireland
For the third rider in the Red Bull KTM team, it was a hard and not very satisfactory weekend. Rui Goncalves of Portugal eventually finished in overall ninth place. Like Searle, he had a difficult training day on Saturday and was back in the starting order on race day. "I had a bad start in the first moto and somehow I also felt that I was not riding well. I did manage to get into the action much better in race two. Now I am looking forward to the final two GPs and I will definitely give my all in those two."
Shaun Simpson of KTM UK, who will join the Red Bull KTM MX2 factory team in 2009 is still riding with the after effects of a collarbone injury and did well to finish overall seventh.
GP Results
1. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM
2. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM
3. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki
4. Nicolas Aubin, France, Yamaha
5. Steven Sword, Britain, Kawasaki
Other KTM
6. Anthony Boissiere, France, KTM
7. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM
9. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM
12. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM
15. Gert Krestinov, Estonia, KTM
18. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium
World Championship standings (after 13 of 15 rounds)
1. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM, 546 points
2. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM, 546
3. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, 357
4. Nicolas Aubin, France, 343
5. Shaun Simpson, Britain, 337
Other KTM
6. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM, 327
9. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, KTM 253
12. Anthony Boissiere, France, KTM, 240
15. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM, 165
16. Jeremy Tarroux, France, 161
- KTM-Sportmotorcycles Mattighofen-
