Searle and Rattray in form for MX2 GP of South Africa
Red Bull KTM duo Tommy Searle and Tyla Rattray took the first
two places in Qualifying Race One in Nelspruit on Saturday
ahead of the MX2 GP of South Africa.
The team's third KTM factory rider Rui Goncalves was fifth
in the second race won by arch rival Antonio Cairoli.
Riders battled in extremely hot conditions on the track in
the north east of South Africa where Rattray on Sunday will
go into his home GP with the red number plate as championship
leader. The fight for the title in MX2 has developed into
a war of attrition between Searle, Rattray and Cairoli and
one that the two KTM riders intend to win.
What the KTM riders said after Qualifying
Tommy Searle: "This is a good fun track and it was an
easy qualifying for me. I took the holeshot and I was able
to stay in the lead quite easily. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's
race and I think its going to be a good one."
Tyla Rattray: "It was ok for me today.
I was behind Tommy but then I lost the front wheel and crashed.
I picked up the bike and got back in the race but I was back
in the last five. The best I could do was to fight my way
back to second place. Tomorrow will be better. The track isn't
sandy but it's soft and in perfect condition and there are
good lines."
Rui Goncalves: "Today was not so good
for me. I have the flu and don't feel that good at the moment
but I don't want to make excuses and tomorrow I will go out
and do my best. Today I made a mistake and went too wide in
the first corner but I am going to think positive for tomorrow.
It's a good track and I like it."
Qualifying Race One
1. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM
2. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM
3. Steven Sword, Britain, Kawasaki
4. Nicolas Aubin, France, Yamaha
5. Davide Guarneri, Italy, Yamaha
Qualifying Race Two
1. Antonio Cairoli, Tialy, Yamaha
2. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki
3. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM
4. Marvin Musquin, France, Honda
5. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM
19.07.2008
Nagl and Barragan in top three in MX1 Time Practice South
Africa
Both KTM factory riders Max Nagl and Jonathan Barragan were
on top of their game in Nelspruit, South African on Saturday
coming in second and third behind Steve Ramon of Belgium in
Time Practice ahead of Sunday's MX1 Grand Prix of South Africa.
Nagl of Germany riding for the Red Bull KTM Racing Team was
very positive after the Saturday practice session saying:
"Its good here and I like the track a lot. It has some
interesting jumps and it is a lot different from all the other
MX tracks on the GP circuit. Tomorrow it will be important
to stay in front. I want to be up with the front group in
both heats and try to make the podium."
Nelspruit is in the north east of South Africa about 330 km
east of Johannesburg and situated in the Crocodile River Valley.
The GP is the tenth in the fifteen round series in 2008.
Results MX1 Time Practice
1. Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki
2. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM
3. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM
4. Sebastien Pourcel, France, Kawasaki
5. Ken de Dyker, Belgium, Suzuki
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