ERNEE (FRANCE), 6 June 2009 – A big French crowd already showed up to watch the opening day of the French GP starting with home rider Musquin’s win in the MX2 qualifying.
The result was followed by Belgian Desalle’s maiden qualifying win in the MX1 class with Nagl and Philippaerts rounding up the top three. Cairoli ended seventh ahead of home hero Pichon.
Frossard and Boissiere completed an all French top three in the MX2 qualifying which marked the return of Ernee in the FIM Motocross World Championship calendar.
LS Motors Honda’s Desalle rode a strong heat today and went on to take his maiden qualifying heat win ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory racing’s Nagl.
The German followed Desalle throughout the whole moto but in the final stages he decided to settle for second, letting the gap increase to three and a half seconds while a dogfight went on for the third spot.
CAS Honda’s Mackenzie, who started off in third, fought tooth and nail to keep a strong opposition behind while the duo Desalle-Nagl took off to open up a big gap.
Philippaerts moved past Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross team mate Coppins to take fourth and start putting pressure on Mackenzie. The reigning Champion eventually moved past to take third with Coppins following in fourth.
CLS’ Aranda was the highest placed home rider taking fifth as he passed Mackenzie as well. The latter was sixth ahead of Cairoli, recovering after a difficult start, and Pichon.
After a promising start, Phoenix Tools CCM Racing’s Dougan dropped down to an eventual 11th.
MX1 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 23:58.496; ; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:03.513; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:21.002; 4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:23.760; 5. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:25.003; 6. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), +0:26.822; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), +0:27.257; 8. Mickael Pichon (FRA, Honda), +0:29.140; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), +0:29.680; 10. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:37.214;
Complete results available at www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx
Desalle took his first ever Lovemytime MX1 Qualifying Award today courtesy of a dominant performance
More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx
Performing really strong in front of a noisy home crowd supporting him, KTM’s Marvin Musquin wrapped up the victory in the qualifying heat as the home hero worked his way up through the pack until he caught the lead at lap four.
On the other hand French countryman Boissiere of KTM HDI MX took a storming start and sat at the lead for the opening laps. Boissiere seemed settled in second but CLS’ Frossard managed to find a way past him and snatch the runner up spot.
Boissiere then dropped to third ahead of a fast Roczen. The Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 youngster raced a steady moto to clinch a superb qualifying result.
Second placed in the Championship Paulin completed the top five ahead of Monni and Boog.
After a good start, other Frenchman Teillet, the 2008 EMX2 European Champ, ended 12th due to a crash.
Another crash was the cause of Guarneri’s 13th but the Italian saw his closest World Championship rival Goncalves –fourth in the points standings six points behind Guarneri- crash as well in a battle with Frossard. The Portuguese was an eventual 22nd.
MX2 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 24:15.364; ; 2. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:04.840; 3. Anthony Boissiere (FRA, KTM), +0:08.764; 4. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), +0:17.666; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:28.826; 6. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), +0:36.302; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), +0:39.904; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, KTM), +0:41.576; 9. Loic Larrieu (FRA, Yamaha), +0:48.258; 10. Stephen Sword (GBR, KTM), +0:51.156;
Complete results available at www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx
More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx.
THE GP OF FRANCE-QUICK FACTS
Sunday: WMX Warm Up 8:45-9:05; MX2 Warm Up 9:15-9:35; MX1 Warm Up 9:45-10:05; WMX 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.