KEGUMS (LATVIA), 27 June 2009 – The very first day of the MX1/MX2 FIM Motocross World series in Latvia got underway today with De Dycker and Goncalves taking the poles of the MX1 and MX2 class respectively under changeable weather conditions.
Light showers characterized this opening day which was tough for MX1 series leader Cairoli, crashing twice and ending seventh while team mate Tanel Leok was second.
Frossard took second in MX2 ahead of series leader Musquin while a crash hampered home rider Karro’s performance as he qualified in 33rd.
The opening heat of the Veterans’ World Cup was won by Nilsson who snatched the series lead from injured Iven, who is not attending the event.
MX1
After a solid start Teka Suzuki WMX1’s De Dycker managed to get through Estonian Tanel Leok, who took the holeshot in front of a healthy crowd of supporters being this the closest GP to his home country.
Once De Dycker made it to first he just pulled away to grab his third season Lovemytime MX1 Qualifying Award in front of Leok, who settled for second more than seven seconds behind the Belgian.
With the duo riding steady upfront, series leader Cairoli of Yamaha Red Bull De Carli had an eventful moto. Leok’s team mate struggled at the start and was 11th at the end of lap one. The hard working Italian moved up through the pack until he grabbed position number four with three laps to go and that was the start to a dramatic finale. A tangle with third placed Desalle saw Cairoli go down and pick the bike back up to rejoin the race in sixth. Cairoli then continued his recovery moving up to fifth but crashing again due to another tangle with a lapper. Eventually the two time MX2 World Champion was a disappointed seventh.
LS Motors Honda’s Desalle took third ahead of reigning Champion Philippaerts of Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Nagl. Coppins was sixth as other Estonian Aigar Leok was eighth.
MX1 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 24:40.487; ; 2. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), +0:07.515; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), +0:09.703; 4. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:11.414; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:16.858; 6. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:26.121; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), +0:34.997; 8. Aigar Leok (EST, TM), +0:50.231; 9. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:56.782; 10. Manuel Priem (BEL, Aprilia), +1:00.348;
Complete results available at www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx
De Dycker with his third season Lovemytime MX1 Pole Position Award
More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx
MX2
Taking his first season’s pole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing man Rui Goncalves established himself as one of tomorrow’s potential winners of the first ever Latvian Grand Prix.
The Portuguese rode smart taking the holeshot and then pulling away with the lead while latest GP winner Roczen of Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 crashed at the opening lap to recover from dead last to 11th ahead of wild card and European EMX2 star Tonkov.
Frossard of CLS snatched the runner up spot from French countryman Boog at lap four to ride steady in second until he got to the chequered flag.
On the other hand Boog dropped down to fourth with series leader Musquin also moving past and taking third after a troubled start.
Bud Racing Kawasaki PSM’s Paulin rode strong to recovered until the fifth spot with Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci Motocross’ Guarneri following in sixth after he did another great recovery-the duo are currently rounding up the top three in the Championship.
After a great start Aubin struggled and dropped down to 15th while home hero Karro took 33rd after a crash.
Being back to action this weekend after breaking a wrist in Portugal, Osborne struggled to get back into the rhythm and ended 23rd.
MX2 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 24:30.074; ; 2. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:05.201; 3. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), +0:08.207; 4. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), +0:23.007; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:33.154; 6. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), +0:37.655; 7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:38.911; 8. Marcus Schiffer (GER, KTM), +0:48.742; 9. Dennis Verbruggen (BEL, Honda), +0:50.913; 10. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), +0:53.182;
Complete results available at www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx
Goncalves heading to pole number one of 2009
More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx.
VETERANS
With Iven not entering Latvia due to an injury, his series lead was snatched by previous runner up Nilsson immediately after today’s first heat which the Swedish dominated ahead of Hendrickx. Nilsson even took the pole to mark his authority on the Latvian course even more.
The top four was completed by Estonians Kahro and Krestinov, both racing the closest round to their home country this weekend, as third placed in the series Lhertiteau was fifth.
VETERANS Qualifying top ten: 1. Mats Nilsson (SWE, Yamaha), 1:59.906; 2. Erwin Hendrickx (NED, Honda), +0:05.336; 3. Christophe LherIteau (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:05.633; 4. Valdur Kahro (EST, Honda), +0:06.026; 5. Aliaksandr Hiruts (BLR, Honda), +0:06.248; 6. Andres Krestinov (EST, KTM), +0:08.043; 7. Stankus Saulius (LIT, Kawasaki), +0:10.078; 8. Peter Bergsma (NED, KTM), +0:10.832; 9. Petr Sorokin (RUS, KTM), +0:11.820; 10. Yury Lopukh (BLR, Honda), +0:13.024;
VETERANS Race 1 top ten: 1. Mats Nilsson (SWE, Yamaha), 25:49.996; ; 2. Erwin Hendrickx (NED, Honda), +0:04.147; 3. Valdur Kahro (EST, Honda), +0:07.404; 4. Andres Krestinov (EST, KTM), +0:12.694; 5. Christophe LherIteau (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:17.959; 6. Aliaksandr Hiruts (BLR, Honda), +0:53.033; 7. Stankus Saulius (LIT, Kawasaki), +1:17.456; 8. Peter Bergsma (NED, KTM), +1:36.872; 9. Yury Lopukh (BLR, Honda), +1:47.294; 10. Kim Hellman (FIN, Honda), +1:48.688;
Complete results available at www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx
Nilsson is now the new Veterans’ series leader
More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx
THE GP OF LATVIA-QUICK FACTS
Circuit length: 1640 mt
Type of ground: sand
Temperature: 18° C
Weather conditions: changeable with light showers
Sunday: Veteran Motocross World Cup Warm Up 8:45-9:05; MX2 Warm Up 9:15-9:35; MX1 Warm Up 9:45-10:05; Veteran Motocross World Cup Race 2 11:15; MX2 Grand Prix Race 1 12:10; MX1 Grand Prix Race 1 13:10; MX2 Grand Prix Race 2 15:03; MX1 Grand Prix Race 2 16:03.
As the whole FIM Motocross World Championship, this Grand Prix and the FIM Women’s World Championship Race 2 will be broadcast live and delayed. Click here to see schedule and coverage online.