The ninth event for the FIM MX3 World Championship in Markelo was one of the most exciting till now. Belgian rider Sven Breugelmans got the battle with Cristian Beggi and won the event.
The sandy race track was very hard and dry. There were deep lines at the some parts. Thomas Allier (Husqvarna) took the lead in the first race. Sven Breugelmans (KTM), Bas Verhoeven (Kawasaki) and Cristian Beggi (Honda) were follow him. Allier was riding very fast, as already many times in this season. He won at the end of the first race. So the battle for the first position was not one of the most interesting things.
The biggest fight was happening for the second position, between Breugelmans and Beggi. They were riding wheel to the wheel and sometimes it was impossible to find out who was in front. Breugelmans was second for only some centimetres, as they were crossing the final line almost at the same time. At the begining Verhoeven made some attacks to the Breugelmans, but he gave up and finished fourth.
The winner of the second race was Breugelmans. He was leading from the very beginning, after the successful start. Beggi was coming closer, but because of the mistake during the race, he lost the connection to the top and he finished fourth. Two home riders finished between Breugelmans and Beggi. Patrick Roos was second, Bas Verhoeven was third.
At the end it was the big day for Breugelmans, who won in front of many Belgian supporters. Verhoeven was second overall, Beggi was third, Roos finished fourth and Christophe Martin (Husqvarna) finished the top five. In the Championship Classificarion Beggi is still the leader, but Breugelmans got nine more points and reduced his advantage.
Antti Pyrhonen from Finland finished sixth. He was the MX1 GP rider. After half of the season he decided to continue in FIM MX3 World Championship. Pyrhonen explained: »In the MX1 GP I had some injuries and problems. It was actually my first successful race after these problems. I was not surprised about the high level and the big quality of some riders here in MX3 World Championship.
I know some riders from before and I knew they are fast. I knew also that I can be competitive with them, but for the podium or victory you must have also the good start, right settings of the bike and so on. I think first ten riders here are very fast. It is really nice to be a part of this Championship. It is the new challenge for me.«
With Pyrhonen the Championship will be even more interesting. Another rider is coming back, soon. Alvaro Lozano (JM KTM Racing) was planning to compete in Markelo, but he was not prepared, yet. If he will be in good conditions during this weekend, we can expect him already in Slovenia, at the next event. His team colleague Sven Breugelmans said
: »It would be nice to have Alvaro back in the team. I know it will be hard for him, because after the injury he was not racing for the long time.« Breugelmans also explained, that their team JM KTM Racing Team is doing preparations for the event in Chile, where they hope for another good result.
The next event for the FIM MX3 World Championship will be next weekend in Orehova vas, Slovenia. The race track there is one of the favourites for Sven Breugelmans. Last year he won and this year we can expect interesting race, again. Cristian Beggi was competing there in the season 2006 and he was on the podium. All these facts are announcements of the interesting contiunation of the Championship.
RIDER'S COMMENTS:
1st – SVEN BREUGELMANS: »It was almost my home event and here were many supporters from Belgium. It was a big pressure for me. In the first race we had really a big battle with Beggi for the second position. The most important is, that I finished in front of him. In the second race I did much better start and I was also racing better. This season it is a very difficult fight for the first position in the Championship Classification. This race track is not one of my favourites. If there is the sunny weather before the race, the race track becomes hard.«
2nd – BAS VERHOEVEN: »Yesterday I did the first time in the Qualifying practice and I was feeling very well. Today I slacked already after the first twenty minutes and I finished fourth. The second race was better for me. I did not like the race track so much, the ground was dry, very hard and also dangerous. It is my first podium in the FIM MX3 World Championship but not also the first race. I did some races years ago. I like to compete in MX3. I was competing also in the MX1 GP at the beginning of the season.«
3rd – CRISTIAN BEGGI: »I did not like the race track, I do not like sandy track. I find myself better on the different race tracks. The first race was very difficult, we had a big and exciting battle with Sven Breugelmans. We were very close, sometimes almost too close. At the end everything was good and I am safistied with the third position.«
Information, photos and results are online at http://www.motocrossMX1.com, the official website of the FIM Motocross World Championships.
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- Daniele RIZZI -
