In the MX1 class the Grand Prix was really interesting with several battles including some of the favourites. Kevin Strijbos captured the holeshot in the first heat but with a twisted ankle the young Belgian hopeful was not able to resist the assaults of Pichon, Townley, De Dycker, Smets and Coppins. Pichon took the lead on the second lap while Everts pushed after a mid pack start. Coming back to second position after eight circulations, the reigning World Champion then challenged Pichon who was struggling with his front fork, and seized the race. Pichon finished runner-up and Townley took third despite a small crash in his first MX1 attempt. Another Suzuki rider grabbed the holeshot in the second moto: Joel Smets. The former World Champion made a consistent race and despite his valiant efforts Pichon could not catch and beat him; the French rider finished second again, followed by Everts and the surprising Spaniard Jonathan Barragan. With 45 points, Everts claimed the Grand Prix followed by Pichon (44 points) and Smets (41 points).
Tyla Rattray was more impressive in the MX2 class and confirmed that he will be “the man to beat”. Even with a poor start in the opening moto the South African rider came back to the lead and nobody was able to contest his domination this weekend. With two bad starts Cedric Melotte had a tough job but finished second twice, on one of his favourite tracks. Australian Andrew McFarlane and Frenchman Sébastien Pourcel each earned a third position and both scored 35 points, but with a better result in the second heat Pourcel was on the podium alongside Rattray and Melotte.
Stefan Everts: “My second race was not as good as the first one. I had a bad start and couldn’t do something as in the first moto. When I was in fourth I didn’t have good lines and had a bad rhythm, but then I changed my lines and came back to third. When I came over the finish line I didn’t know that I won the GP, I thought that Mickael (Pichon) had caught Joel (Smets); I just realised before the podium ceremony, when Mickael told me that he didn’t win the moto.”
Tyla Rattray: “I’m really happy with my win today, it’s the first time that I won two motos. I was really confident with my bike and with the track this weekend, and even with a bad start in the first race I got the win. It has been a difficult GP for me, I’ve been in the hospital for four days before the race due to a leg infection, but the result is great.”
Information and results on www.motocrossmx1.com, the official website of the Motocross World Championships.
Copyrights : info MediaPress – Pascal Haudiquert, photo Mx2k.com
