The Alkmaar Raceway at Nelspruit proved to be a great venue for the popular South African Motocross GP sponsored by Leatt Brace.
Under hot weather conditions, Jonathan Barragan took his second consecutive MX1 GP win after battling it out with KTM fellow rider Max Nagl, second overall. Defending Champion Ramon completed the podium right ahead of series leader David Philippaerts.
In the MX2 class Tommy Searle came back to victory from local star Tyla Rattray and Nicolas Aubin. On the other hand reigning Champion Antonio Cairoli injured his left knee and took no points, dropping down to third in the Championship with a 59 point gap from leader Rattray.
MX1
Despite taking two storming starts and leading the first part of each Grand Prix moto, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Max Nagl was second on today’s podium behind AXO KTM Silver Action’s Jonathan Barragan. The latter secured his second consecutive win and third of 2008 by winning the final moto. After winning the opening moto, Teka Suzuki WMX1’s Steve Ramon ended third on the podium just one point ahead of series leader David Philippaerts of Yamaha Monster Motocross. GPKR’s Sebastien Pourcel rounded off the top five from Josh Coppins as both were caught up in a first corner accident during heat one.
Top five overall: 1. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 45 points; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 38 p.; 4. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 37 p.; 5. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 33 p.
MX1 RACE 1
Nagl led the group into turn one and set the pace until lap 17, when Ramon took over the lead to win eventually. Nagl had some troubles in the final laps, dropping down to fourth as both Philippaerts and Barragan moved past him. Philippaerts took second from Barragan, with the Italian ending close to Ramon when the flag was waved. De Dycker rounded off the top five from Tanel Leok and Mackenzie, who made Philippaerts’ life difficult in a tough fight for third. Pourcel and Coppins were eighth and ninth after a first corner crash.
Top five: 1. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 40:20.469; ; 2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:02.441; 3. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), +0:05.874; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:09.979; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:18.428
MX1 RACE 2
Nagl took another holeshot and led until ten minutes to go. Barragan made a final move on the German to take the victory and the overall, while Nagl faced Pourcel’s attacks. The latter came so close to Nagl in a corner that he made a mistake to avoid a crash; Pourcel then lost ground and brought the bike home in third. Coppins was a solid fourth ahead of Mackenzie and Philippaerts, who did not find an open door to pass the Brit. De Dycker and Ramon completed the top eight.
Top five: 1. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 40:35.152; ; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:03.151; 3. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:06.255; 4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:07.594; 5. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), +0:12.794
MX2
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tommy Searle took his third GP win of 2008 snatching the home success from team mate Tyla Rattray. The two won one moto each, with the South African taking the final moto but missing the overall result due to a first moto crash. Ricci Racing Yamaha’s Nicolas Aubin took his first season podium from French countryman Steven Frossard of CLS. KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson rounded off the top five.
Reigning MX2 Champion Antonio Cairoli tangled up with another rider in the first heat, damaging his left knee and dropping out of both motos after a brave try to race.
Top five overall: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 47 points; 2. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 38 p.; 4. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 36 p.; 5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 36 p.
MX2 RACE 1
Aubin started strong to lead the first half of the heat from a hungry Searle. In the remaining ten laps Searle took the first place and opened up a gap from Aubin, who finished second. Rattray recovered to third after a crash and finished ahead of Simpson and Frossard. Cairoli put together just four laps before retiring.
Top five: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 41:04.235; ; 2. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:11.221; 3. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), +0:22.991; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:30.016; 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:35.741
MX2 RACE 2
Rattray made up for moto one and took a start to flag win of the final heat in front of Searle. The latter tried to catch Rattray unsuccessfully, ending second from Frossard who secured the top three by moving past Simpson. The Brit ended fourth from Aubin. After a great start, Cairoli tried to race with Rattray but at the end of the third lap he pulled out of the race.
Top five: 1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 41:04.739; ; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), +0:04.871; 3. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:32.461; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:37.751; 5. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:43.469
IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
Ramon took one point off his gap from Philippaerts as the duo are still second and first in the Championship respectively. Barragan moved up to fifth in the Championship with Pourcel dropping to sixth.
Top ten: 1. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 339 points; 2. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 328 p.; 3. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 316 p.; 4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 296 p.; 5. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 284 p.; 6. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 274 p.; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 253 p.; 8. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), 235 p.; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), 234 p.; 10. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), 178 p.;
Rattray is still leading the MX2 Championship with Searle second. Cairoli dropped back to third and he currently has a 59 point gap from the South African. Simpson and Aubin round off the top five.
Top ten: 1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 416 points; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 395 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 357 p.; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 287 p.; 5. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 243 p.; 6. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 241 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), 211 p.; 8. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 197 p.; 9. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 196 p.; 10. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), 187 p.
NEWS OF THE DAY: "JOSH: FLYING KIWI" BOOK PRESENTED
New Zealander journalist Andy McGechan is the author of the new "Josh: flying Kiwi" book about Motocross Grand Prix rider Joshua Coppins. The publication covers the early days and the latest years of the Kiwi’s career and it is now available for sale. Both the author and Coppins himself presented the book today in occasion of the Leatt Brace GP of South Africa. More information on the book are available here.
WHAT’S NEXT
The first of the remaining five Grand Prix’s will take place at Lommel, Belgium, on August 3. Early in that week the MX Rookie will also take place, on August 1.
The MX Rookie is an event dedicated to all the MX2 machines mounted amateur riders; they will have the privilege to race the final on the GP circuit after a selection to be carried out on Wednesday and Thursday at a separate race track.
THE EVENT’S SCHEDULE
The Grand Prix was broadcast live on:
EUROSPORT 2 (Pan Europe) : MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 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 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:
EUROSPORT 2 (Pan Europe): Sunday July 20; MX1 Race 2 at 21:00 CET
MOTORS TV (Pan Europe): Sunday July 20; MX2 Race 1 at 21:00 and Race 2 at 21:55 CET
SPORT ITALIA (Italy): Sunday July 20; MX1 Race 1 at 23:30. Monday July 21; MX1 Race 2 at 00:30 CET
EUROSPORT WORLD (Pan Asia): Sunday July 20; MX1 Race 2 at 21:00. Monday July 21; MX1 Race 2 at 10:00 and at 17:45; MX2 Class at 18:30 and at 00:00. Tuesday July 22; MX1 Race 2 at 03:45 and at 11:15 and at 21:45; MX2 Class at 04:30 and at 12:00 and at 22:30 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
GAORA (JAPAN): MX2 Race 1 and Race 2; MX1 Race 1 and Race 2; N/A CET
SUPERSPORT (SOUTH AFRICA): Saturday July 19; MX1/MX2 Highlights at 17:25. Sunday July 20; MX1/MX2 Highlights at 17:00 CET
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 -
