Red Bull KTM's Searle and Rattray a great 1-2 in South African
MX2 GP
In what is now effectively a two-man KTM race for the MX2
world championship title, Tommy Searle came out on top in
the GP at Nelspruit, South Africa while local hero Tyla Rattray
placed second.
The two KTM riders performed well and Tyla was treated to
a great show fo support from local South African fans.
Great team result
Tommy put in a superb and victorious first race but Tyla crashed
and had to attack from the back for his third place. The second
race then became the full focus of Red Bull KTM Factory Team's
local boy and he made few mistakes. The banners read "Go
Go Rattray" and he did. Like Searle in race one, Rattray
immediately took control of the race right from the start
and amassed enough of a lead to be able to cruise home in
the final lap, waving to the crowd. He crossed the line, punching
the air with his fist to the joyous cheers of his South African
compatriots and a sea of national flags.
Searle rides two superb races
Searle rode two great races and garnered praise from team
boss Stefan Everts who said he "was very consistent and
showed character". "I had a pretty good feeling
this weekend," the British teenager said. "I'm very
satisfied with the results of the GP today. I had a good start
in the first race but I took the first corner too wide. Even
so I managed to win by 11 seconds. I didn't have such a good
start in the second heat and I didn't really get the same
rhythm as in the first but the result was important for the
championship. It's a nice track, full of jumps and I enjoyed
it."
Rattray retains red number plate
While Tyla was denied the overall victory by just a couple
of points, he does retain the coveted red number plate as
the championship leader, some compensation for standing on
the second step on the podium. "It was not so bad today,"
Tyla said. I had quite a good start in the first heat but
I made a mistake and crashed. I could have done better in
that one. But then I took the holeshot in the second and I
led throughout the race." Tyla also paid tribute to his
fans and the support they gave him.
Goncalves disappointed in day's performance
Rui Goncalves, the third factory rider in the Red Bull KTM
team was luckless in South Africa. He said he felt sorry that
he had put in a disappointing performance. "I cannot
find an excuse for my bad day and that I wasn't able to do
better today. I will go to Lommel and do everything to give
my best." Goncalves, who has been suffering from flu,
finished in 14th place.
Title race now between two KTM heroes
Searle and Rattray went into the GP as two of three riders
vying for the title and came out in the knowledge that it
was probably going to be decided between the two Red Bull
KTM team members. Arch rival Antonio Cairoli, the 2007 title
holder had to retire from both races after a knee injury and
it now remains to be seen if he will be able to start in the
next GP in Belgium's Lommel. Everts extended his sympathy
to Cairoli and wishes him a good recovery and a return to
racing. "Its tough but we know from our own experience
that these tings happen in racing," he said.
MX2 GP Overall results
1. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM
2. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM
3. Nicolas Aubin, France, Yamaha
4. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki
5. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM
Other KTM
7. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, KTM
14. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM
15. Jeremy Tarroux, France, KTM
16. Anthony Boissiere, France, KTM
Standings
1. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM, 416
2. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM, 395
3. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, 357
4. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM 287
5. Nicolas Aubin, France243
Other KTM
6. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM
8. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, KTM 197
13. Anthony Boissiere, France, KTM158
14. Jeremy Tarroux, France, 140
17. Joel Roelants, Belgium, 99
20.07.2008
KTM MX1 double with Barragan and Nagl in South African GP
KTM rider Jonathan Barragan of Team Silver Action and Red
Bull KTM factory rider Max Nagl rounded off a near perfect
day for KTM at Nelstpruit South Africa snatching the top two
overall places in the MX1 GP
The two riders onboard the KTM machines duplicated the MX2
GP results making the trip to the Southern Hemisphere well
worthwhile for the Austrian manufacturer.
KTMs triumph in South African races
Barragan of Spain scored a 3-1 result while Nagl netted 4-2.
The German factory rider led the first race until the last
10 minutes when he was overtaken by Steve Ramon and several
other riders and had to settle for fourth. Determined to make
good his promise to be on the podium he led again in the second
race before he was challenged for the lead in the final stages
by fellow KTM rider Barragan. For the Spaniard it was his
second victory after Sweden in the last round.
GP victory a birthday present for Barragan
"I'm very happy with the overall victory," Barragan
said. "The track was fast and there were good lines.
I already had a good feeling yesterday and I knew I had a
good speed. The track was easy to ride and I hope to be able
to continue this good success that I have had in Sweden and
here when we race in Lommel." The Spaniard celebrated
his birthday on Saturday and said the victory was the best
present he could give himself.
Nagl on podium
"We did a pretty good job today," Nagl said after
the race. "I got the holeshot in both heats but it was
a bit dusty in the second heat and the visibility was bad
when the sun started to go down. No we will now train in sand
to get ready for the races in Lommel."
"Max was in good form the whole weekend," said KTM
team boss Stefan Everts. "We already saw on Saturday
that he was very fast. He was a bit nervous in the first heat
but this is still a learning year for him. He got the holeshot
in the second heat but in the end, Jonathan was pushing really
hard."
Nelspruit, in the north east corner of South Africa offered
a soft, but not sandy surface and a track that offered a whole
range of challenges for the riders set in the picturesque
Crocodile River Valley, a venue and atmosphere very different
to the next GP in Lommel, Belgium.
Overall MX1 GP results
1. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM
2. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM
3. Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki
4. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha
5. Sebastien Pourcel, France, Kawasaki
Other KTM
11 Markus Schiffer, Germany, KTM
16. James Noble, Britain, KTM
Championship standings
1. David Philippaerts, Italy, 339
2. Steve Ramon, Belgium, 328
3. Josh Coppins, New Zealand, 316
4. Ken de Dycker, Belgium, 296
5. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM, 284
7. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM, 253
20.07.2008
Salminen scores a 1-2 on tough E2 weekend's racing in Wales
KTM Factory team star Juha Salminen delivered a solid victory
on Saturday in difficult conditions in Wales for the Enduro
2 Grand Prix but was beaten into second place by rival Jonny
Aubert on Sunday by 45 seconds.
"Juha was incredible fast on Saturday but then Aubert
was the same on Sunday," team boss Fabio Farioli said.
Salminen was well supported by KTM's David Knight, who returned
from competition in the USA to ride as a guest competitor
in the Welsh GPs. Les fortunate was KTM rider Alessandro Belometti
of Italy who was only able to register 11 place on both days.
Riders struggled with wet and very hard and slippery surfaces
in what amounted to a very difficult weekend on the bikes.
Results Saturday
1. Juha Salminen, Finland, KTM
2. David Knight, Britain, KTM
3. Jonny Aubert, France, Yamaha
4. Paul Edmondson, Britain, Suzuki
5. Joakim Ljunggren, Sweden, Husaberg
11. Alessandro Belometti, Italy, KTM
Results Sunday
1. Jonny Aubert, France, Yamaha
2. Juha Salminen, Finland, KTM
3. David Knight, Britain, KTM
4. Paul Edmondson, Britain, Suzuki
5. Rodrig Thain, France, TM
11. Alessandro Belometti, Italy, KTM
20.07.2008
Tough weekend Enduro racing for KTM Factory Team
Enduro 1 riders in the World Championship rounds in Lanidloes,
Wales struggled this weekend in conditions that they found
some of the toughest this season.
On Sunday KTM Factory rider Ivan Cervantes managed to improve
on his fourth position from Saturday to finish in second on
Sunday narrowly missing out on victory. He had a bad start
in the first Extreme test but pressed on to finally finish
in second place behind behind his rival Ahola. Team-mate Tom
Sagar was fifth on both days in a competition that team boss
Fabio Farioli described as "roulette"
Riders were confronted with wet conditions and large sections
of the course that were slippery grassed surfaces.
Results Saturday
1. Marc Germain, France, Yamaha
2. Simone Albergoni, Italy, Yamaha
3. Mika Ahola. Finland, Honda
4. Ivan Cervantes, Spain, KTM
5. Tom Sagar, Britain, KTM
Results Sunday
1. Mika Ahola. Finland, Honda
2. Ivan Cervantes, Spain, KTM
3. Marc Germain, France, Yamaha
4. Simone Albergoni, Italy, Yamaha
5. Tom Sagar, Britain, KTM
20.07.2008
Hard weekend for big bikes in Welsh E3 GP
Marko Tarkkala and Samuli Aro struggled with slippery grass,
cold wind and drizzle on Saturday and still slippery conditions
on Sunday in the two E3 Grand Prix races in Wales in what
was described by team boss Fabio Farioli as typical British
races.
KTM's Finnish racer Marko Tarkkala was nevertheless twice
on the podium in third and second place while factory team-mate
Samuli Aro managed a fourth and sixth on the two days, still
riding with considerable pain from a non race related hand
injury. Tarkkala, Farioli reported only lost the victory in
the final test on a weekend that was very difficult for the
big bikes, he said.
Results Saturday
1. Christophe Nambotin, France, Gas Gas
2. Sebastien Guillaume, France, Husqvarna
3. Marko Tarkkala, Finland, KTM
4. Samuli Aro, Finland, KTM
5. Marcus Kehr, Germany, KTM
Results Sunday
1. Sebastien Guillaume, France, Husqvarna
2. Marko Tarkkala, Finland, KTM
3. Stefan Merriman, Australia, Aprilia
4. Christophe Nambotin, France, Gas Gas
5. Marcus Kehr, Germany, KTM
6. Samuli Aro, Finland, KTM
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