Second and third MX2 places in Portugal for Rattray and
Searle
Red Bull KTM riders Tyla Rattray and Tommy Searle took the
minor podium places on Sunday in the MX2 Grand Prix of Portugal,
conceding defeat only to title holder Antonio Cairoli of Italy.
Tommy and Tyla came in second and third in race one and then
reversed the order for race two, a sure fire indication that
both are in good form after the mud bath race last weekend
in Bellpuig, Spain. Rui Goncalves the team's third factory
rider came in sixth in front of his home crowd in Agueda,
Portugal to wind up a solid weekend's racing for the team.
No Red Number Plate
Tyla was very disappointed to relinquish the coveted red number
plate for the first time this season but promised that he
an Tommy planned to mount a real challenge for the championship
title this year. "Still I was happy with my starts and
with my riding style. I lost some time in the first heat and
it took me some time to catch up with Tommy and Toni (Cairoli)
but I finished in third and I did not crash. In the second
heat I was squeezed a bit by Tommy and Toni in the first part
of the race but I came back from eighth to third then Tommy
had a small crash and I finished second." Team boss Stefan
Everts said he expected the weekend's result would in fact
be positive for Tyla as it would strengthen him mentally and
make him determined to take on the challenge of beating the
title holder.
Tommy is back in contention
Searle, who will race in the USA from 2009 is clearly back
in form after two difficult races in the first two GPs of
the season in the heavy wet sand of Valkenswaard, Holland
and in the severe mud of Bellpuig. "Today was good but
it could be even better," Tommy said. " I got the
holeshot in the first heat and I was out in front for quite
a long time so I was able to show Cairoli that I have the
speed. Then I had a small crash in the second heat but if
that had not happened I would have been able to catch him.
I am very happy because this was a proper race for me. It
was tough but I had no problems like I had here last year
and that's a sign that I am much fitter." Everts too
was happy with Tommy's racing. "It was a very nice battle
with Antonio. He was right up there with his speed and his
lap times and I only think it is a matter of time before he
beats Cairoli."
Rui enjoys racing in front of home crowd
Rui Goncalves rose to the occasion in front of his home crowd
and said the level of support he got from the fans was a real
energy booster. "I was very satisfied with my riding.
I rode well, I got some good lap times, I pushed hard and
got some good points," he said. He too drew praise from
Everts who said he showed his real aggressive riding style.
"Today he showed us that he just doesn't ride well and
aggressively during the week but also at the weekend as well.
That was the real Rui," Everts said.
Also putting in a solid weekend's racing under extremely hot
and tiring conditions was the young Belgian rider Jeremy van
Horebeek of the KTM supported team GP Juniors Team Champ who
was twice tenth to finish at eighth place in the GP ranking
order.
Tyla now has to relinquish the lead in the championship by
five points after Cairoli's double victory on the hard and
bumpy surface of the Portuguese track. Tommy Searle is in
third place and Rui Goncalves is in fifth.
MX2 Results
1. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, Yamaha
2. Tyla Rattray, South Africa KTM
3. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM
4. Stephen Sword. Britain, Kawasaki
5. Nicolas Aubin, France, Yamaha
6. Rui Goncalves, Portugal
8. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium KTM
27.04.2008
Barragan the leading KTM in Portuguese MX1 GP
Jonathan Barragan of Spain was the leading KTM factory rider
in Agueda Portugal on Sunday riding in the MX1 Grand Prix
for Team Siver Action just narrowly missing third podium place.
Red Bull KTM factory rider Max Nagl was still feeling the
effects of sunstroke and was only able to finish in eleventh
place.
Barragan looking ahead and feeling fit
"I am very happy with the results today. Things are going
in the right direction for me and we were able to pick up
quite a few points/ Now I am seventh in the championships
and there is a long way to go so we can still fight for the
title," Jonathan said. " I am now feeling very good
about Bulgaria. I like the track there and I am going to fight
for a podium." Barragan is also now completely fit and
no longer had problems with soreness in the tendons in his
arms that gave him some concern in the pre-season races."
A learning experience for Nagl, Everts says
Team boss Stefan Everts said it was possible that Nagl had
a tough weekend because it was here at Agueda that he broke
his collarbone last year and he had to get over that. "Max
was definitely not feeling the best this weekend and I think
the accident from last year might have been on his mind. Overall
he did well this weekend. He finished the races and had no
crashes and no big mistakes. This is all part of the learning
process and we know that this year is an important year for
him to gain experience and learn a lot."
MX1 Results
1. Sebastien Pourcel, France, Kawasaki
2. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha
3. Josh Coppins, New Zealand, Yamaha
4. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM
5. Steve Ramon Belgium, Suzuki
11. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM
12. Kornel Nemeth, Hungary, KTM
13. Marcus Schiffer, Germany, KTM
27.04.2008
Mixed weekend for KTM's Sven Breugelmans of JM Racing
Belgian MX3 rider Sven Breugelmans onboard his KTM machine
had a mixed weekend in the third round of the world championship
series to finish overall seventh in Round Three at San Severino
Marche in Italy.
Breugelmans, racing in the JM Racing team colours, got away
well in the first moto to settle in behind Beggi, a position
that he held onto until the finish line. But on a day that
was very hot, exhausting racing on a rough and stony track
Breulgelmans came unstuck in the first lap of the second moto.
He managed to work his way back from absolute last to sixteenth
place for overall seventh on the day, picking up another 27
championship points. "It was a very hard day's racing,"
said team boss Jacky Martens. "Sven did well to work
his way back after the crash and fortunately he was not hurt."
Good weekend for Lozano
Teammate Alvaro Lozano of Spain on the second KTM for JM Racing
made a mistake in the first race but also advanced in the
pack from twelfth to fifth place at the finish. He then made
amends by racing to third in the second moto for an excellent
third place podium finish. After Sunday's round three Breugelmans
is in third in the standings, trailing championship leader
Beggi by 12 points. Lozano is in fifth place with 83 points.
Teillet races his KTM onto European Championship podium
Meanwhile, Jacky Martens of JM Racing reported that his junior
MX2 rider Valentin Teillet, competing on his KTM in the European
Championship race topped the podium for the first time in
his young career. The French rider raced to a second and first
place in the two heats and now leads the standings by 17 points.
Results MX3 World Championship Round Three
1. Cristian Beggi, Italy, Honda
2. Jan Zaremba, Czech Republic, KTM
3. Alvaro Lozano, Spain, KTM
4. Stefano Dami, Italy, Honda
5. Christophe Martin, France, Husqvarna
7. Sven Breugelmans, Belgium, KTM
|
