Barragan takes MX1 Swedish GP; Nagl bounces back to win
second moto
KTM riders continued their charge for glory and podium places
in the MX1 GP in Uddevala, Sweden on Sunday with KTM rider
Jonathan Barragan scoring a 1-2 result in the two motos in
rugged and muddy conditions.
"It was a very good weekend for me," said Barragan
of the KTM-supported Team Silver Action. It's my second overall
GP win of the season and I had a really good feeling in the
track. I pushed very hard in the second heat and I was riding
for a podium. Max rode very well today and I did not want
to take any risks. From now on I want to be on the podium
all the time."
Great second moto for Max Nagl
Red Bill KTM's factory rider Max Nagl also had a good day
putting in a stunning renaissance performance to snatch victory
in race two. "I didn't ride so well in the first heat,
I was too slow and the track was very slippery. I had hard
mousse in the rear tyre but we changed it to softer mousse
for the second race and this was much better for me. "
Nagl on the road to recovery
Nagl, who was last week successfully diagnosed as having a
virus has been gaining strength each day with treatment and
looked untouchable in the second heat finishing 16 seconds
ahead of Barragan. Riding at the front of the field for the
entire race meant he escaped much of the mud and debris thrown
up by the other riders on the circuit that was badly cut up
after overnight rain that continued through Sunday. It was
Nagl's maiden moto victory of the season on a course where
he didn't ride last year because of injury. Nagl will train
in the sand at Lommel in Belgium next week and plans to compete
in the ADAC Masters in Austria next weekend.
Everts satisfied and looking forward to second half
of the season
"Max had a good opening to the season and was on the
podium in Valkenswaard in the first round but he has had some
health problems and so has not been able to deliver what I
hoped for. But he was good today and also good last weekend
in Germany, even if he did have some bad luck with a DNF in
one of the races. Now I would like him to put together two
good results in the weekend and pick up some more podiums.
Jonathan is also riding well and has two GP wins so far. I
am quite optimistic that he will finish in the top five at
the end of the season," KTM team boss and multi world
champion Stefan Everts summarised.
Race One
1. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM
2. Marc de Reuver, Netherlands, Honda
3. Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki
4. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha
5. Clement Desalle, Belgium, Suzuki,
12 Max Nagl, Germany, KTM
Race Two
1. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM
2. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM
3. Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki
4. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha
5. Josh Coppins, New Zealand,
Overall Results
1. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM
2. Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki
3. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha
4. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM
5. Billy Mackenzie, Britain, Honda
Championship Standings
1. David Philippaerts, Italy, 302 points
2. Steve Ramon, Belgium, 290
3. Josh Coppins, News Zealand, 286
4. Ken de Dyker, Belgium 266
5. Sebastien Pourcel, France, 241
6. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM, 239
7. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM, 213
06.07.2008
Rattray second in Uddevala; retains MX2 Red Plate as championship
leader
Red Bull KTM factory rider Tyla Rattray scored a 1-3 finish
in the two motos for overall second in a mud and rain-soaked
MX2 GP in Uddevala, southern Sweden.
The South African's days work gave him 45 points to retain
his lead in the championship and the coveted red plate, despite
a tenacious effort by his nemesis Antonio Cairoli of Italy
whose 1-2 result gave him the top podium step on the day.
Visibility problems
With mud flying and the track badly cut up after overnight
riders, including Rattray, struggled with visibility. "I
didn't have a good start in the first heat but I was able
to catch up and win easily. I had a good start in the second
and I was second behind Shaun, but I had to hang back after
I had to get rid of my goggles," Rattray said. "I
lost two points to Antonio but we have some good tracks coming
up so I am positive." Rattray now goes to the next race
in his home country as the championship leaders and is guaranteed
to have a huge public following in the next round. Next eek
he plans to train on the sand at Lommel in Belgium before
going to South Africa. He also plans to compete in the ADAC
Masters in Austria next weekend.
Good day for Shaun Simpson
Shaun Simpson of KTM UK had a good day in difficult conditions
for a 3-2- result for third place on the GP podium. "It
was really tough and very slick today and it was a good weekend
for me. I could see on Saturday that I was fast. Then I took
the holeshot in the first race and I knew I would be good
in the second," Simpson said. "It's good to be on
the podium again but next time I need to get one step higher!"
Simpson was also on the podium in third place in Bulgaria.
Searle wants to work on aspects of his riding
Red Bull KTM rider Tommy Searle had a brush with title holder
Antonio Cairoli in race one and finished in sixth place. He
was with the front runners in race two and was third for overall
fourth on the day. "Today was not good for me,"
he said. "I had problems with my goggles and I couldn't
see. Also I didn't like the track so much and it wasn't like
it was last year. My riding was ok but I still have some things
to work on. Tommy is third in the overall season's standings
Goncalves rides with injured wrist
The third of the Red Bull KTM trio, Rui Goncalves injured
his wrist during training on Saturday and it was still very
swollen on Sunday. He had it strapped and had anti inflammatory
injections and pain killers ending the day with a 7-6 result
for overall sixth. "Considering the problems I had with
my arm it wasn't so bad to finish sixth and I am quite satisfied.
I have to rest if for two days and then I will know if I can
train on the sand this week," Rui said.
Stefan Everts pleased with season so far
"So far we have been good in MX2. We are in the lead
and we have had the red number plate both with Tyla and Tommy
. I want us to maintain this strong position in the second
half of the season. We have seen some times that Cairoli is
faster so if we are able to win, it will be great," Everts
said. KTM was the supreme manufacturer at Uddevala in MX2,
snatching five of the top six places in the overall MX2 results.
Race one
1. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM
2. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, Yamaha
3. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM
4. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki
5. Nicolas Aubin, France, Yamaha
6. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM
7. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM
Race two
1. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, Yamaha
2. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM
3. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM
4. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM
5. Jeremy Tarroux, France, KTM
6. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM
Overall
1. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, Yamaha
2. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM
3. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM
4. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM
5. Jeremy Tarroux, France, KTM
6. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM
Other KTM
7. Jeremy Tarroux, France, KTM
8. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, KTM
15. Anthony Boissiere, France, KTM
Championship standings
1. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM 371 points
2. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, 357
3. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM 348
4. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM 251
5. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, 227
Other KTM
9. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, KTM, 170
12. Anthony Boissiere, France, KTM, 146
14. Jeremy Tarroux, France, KTM 127
16. Joel Roelants, Belgium, 99
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