Winners in Flanders two weeks ago, Stefan Everts and Tyla Rattray renewed their success in Bellpuig, home of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Stefan Everts won in Bellpuig his 89th GP with a third position and a win, as he crashed while leading the opening moto. The Belgian claimed two holeshot in the sunny Catalunya, but he made a mistake in the first race. “I never found a good rhythm in this race, and Leok put some pressure on me when I was leading. I made a stupid mistake and then it took me a few laps to recover when I was fifth, with Ramon right behind me. Hopefully I took a better rhythm at the end and was able to pass Barragan for third position. I wasn’t really happy, last year I also made silly mistakes here. In the second race I was more relax and consistent, I had a really great feeling on my bike and posted fast laps. I’m happy to succeed here in Spain where is based our new sponsor,” said Stefan after the race. As Tortelli struggled and crashed several times, the main contenders of Everts were Tanel Leok and Kevin Strijbos. Leok got great starts and put pressure on Everts during ten minutes, but unfortunately he missed a good opportunity to celebrate his first heat win. “This weekend I was able to battle with Stefan during fifteen minutes, but then he was stronger. When he crashed in the first race I got the leadership, but I did also a mistake and finally got two second positions,” analysed the Estonian rider. Winner of the opening heat Kevin Strijbos crashed early in the second race and let his teammate Steve Ramon on the final podium alongside Everts and Leok.
Tyla Rattray didn’t win any race this sunday, but his consistency offered him his fifth GP win in a row. Alessio Chiodi got the holeshot in the first heat, but his teammate Kenneth Gundersen passed him promptly and offered to Yamaha a first win this season. Crashing in the opening lap Rattray came back fifth, and put in the following heat some pressure on Antonio Cairoli. The reigning World Champion couldn’t avoid a mistake in Bellpuig and retired in the first race but took his revenge later with a holeshot and a win. Fifth and second Rattray won the GP followed by Marc De Reuver third and fifth today. “I knew that it’s important to be consistent, but I wasn’t expecting a win with a fifth place in the first heat. I had a good start but crashed in the second corner, I was maybe twenty fifth… I pushed really hard in the first laps to come back in the top six, and in the next period I was happy with my riding. I posted similar lap time during the entire race, and put pressure on Antonio until the finish flag,” said Tyla. Alongside the KTM boys, Billy Mackenzie got his first podium this season.