OREHOVA VAS (SLOVENIA), 12 July 2009 – Team Suzuki Bodo Schmidt took the second following win in the FIM MX3 World Chamiponship in Orehova vas, Slovenia. French rider Pierre Alexandre Renet won again, second was home Slovenian rider Matevz Irt (Honda) and Antti Pyrhonen (Honda) from Finland was third.
After some rainy days before the weekend, the weather on the race day was hot and sunny. There were many spectators all around the track. They made a great atmosphere. First start was exciting. Some riders riding in top ten crashed in the second corner and started from the back. But first four riders did not changed their positions till the end. Pierre Alexandre Renet took the holeshot and won in front of home rider Matevz Irt from the Team MB. Irt tryed to pass Renet several times but did not succeed. Third was Alex Salvini (Husqvarna Tecno B).
Antti Pyrhonen (Honda) was one of those riders who crashed in the first race and finished only eleventh. In the second race he was more successful. With the excellent start Pyrhonen took the holeshot and won. Pierre Alexandre Renet did not take fast start as in the first race, so he had to ride more aggressive to progressed on the second position. French rider Christophe Martin (Husqvarna Tecno B) was also more successful in the second race. The first race finished very soon for him, but after he was second in the second race.
Pierre Alexandre Renet took the second following win and third win of the season. Orehova vas is a lucky place for him. He was riding there already in 2004 and he also won. Second was Matevz Irt from Slovenia, third was Antti Pyrhonen from Finland. Alex Salvini was fourth with the same number of points as Pyrhonen, fifth was home Slovenian rider Saso Kragelj (Yamaha).
Julien Vanni (Honda), who was leading the Championship from the beginning till this event, lost the red plate. After the wrist injury from yesterday’s Qualifying Practice, he was not able to compete today. Pierre Alexandre Renet is the new MX3 Championship leader and got the red plate for the first time. He is leading with six points in front of Alex Salvini, who is still second. Antti Pyrhonen is fourth, Christophe Martin (Husqvarna) fifth and Matevz Irt sixth.
Next event will be on July 19 in Mladina, Croatia.
RIDER’S COMMENTS
1st – PIERRE ALEXANDRE RENET (France): »In the first race I took the first holeshot ever and I am so happy. Matevz Irt was pusshing hard and always when I looked on the back, he was behind me. Second start was different. I was not very fast. It was enough to win this time. I am sorry for Julien Vanni, who was not able to ride today because we are friends and we are both fighting for the title. I hope he will be back in Croatia.«
2nd – MATEVZ IRT (Slovenia): »The weekend at my home race here in Orehova vas has started with the pole position in the Qualifying Practice. I know the race track because I have been riding here already many times so I could afford more. In the second race I had quite a bad start and I finished fifth. But it was enought for second place overall. I am glad that my team is supporting me so good. My teammate Julien Vanni got the injury yesterday and could not compete. I am sorry for that.«
3rd – ANTTI PYRHONEN (Finland): »In the second race I clinched my second individual win. In the first race I crashed at the beginning but I am happy with my continuation. The race track was difficult. I think they made the right decision to change the Saturday’s scedule so the track was perfect today. After the race in Faenza I was training hard and today I felt excellent.«
RESULTS
First Race Top Ten: 1. Pierre Alexandre Renet, Suzuki (France), 2. Matevz Irt, Honda (Slovenia), 3. Alex Salvini, Husqvarna (Italy), 4. Sergey Astaykin, KTM (Russia), 5. Joaquin Rodrigues, Aprilia (Portugal), 6. Saso Kragelj, Yamaha (Slovenia), 7. Nenad Sipek, Yamaha (Croatia), 8. Nicolai Marcher Hansen, Suzuki (Denmark), 9. Kasper Jensen, Honda (Denmark), 10. Roy Gijsel, Kawasaki (Netherlands)
Second Race Top Ten: 1. Antti Pyrhonen, Honda (Finland), 2. Pierre Alexandre Renet, Suzuki (France), 3. Christophe Marin, Husqvarna (France), 4. Alvaro Lozano, Yamaha (Spain), 5. Matevz Irt, Honda (Slovenia), 6. Alex Salvini, Husqvarna (Italy), 7. Saso Kragelj, Yamaha (Slovenia), 8. Nenad Sipek, Yamaha (Croatia), 9. Hugo Basaula, Suzuki (Portugal), 10. Nicolai Marcher Hansen, Suzuki (Denmark)
Overall Results Top Ten: 1. Pierre Alexandre Renet, Suzuki (France), 2. Matevz Irt, Honda (Slovenia), 3. Antti Pyrhonen, Honda (Finland), 4. Alex Salvini, Husqvarna (Italy), 5. Saso Kragelj, Yamaha (Slovenia), 6. Nenad Sipek, Yamaha (Croatia), 7. Nicolai Marcher Hansen, Suzuki (Denmark), 8. Joaquin Rodrigues, Aprilia (Portugal), 9. Sergey Astaykin, KTM (Russia), 10. Alvaro Lozano, Yamaha (Spain)
Championship Standings Top Ten: 1. Pierre Alexandre Renet, Suzuki (France), 2. Alex Salvini, Husqvarna (Italy), 3. Julien Vanni, Honda (France), 4. Antti Pyrhonen, Honda (Finland), 5. Christophe Martin, Husqvarna (France), 6. Matevz Irt, Honda (Slovenia), 7. Alvaro Lozano, Yamaha (Spain), 8. Nicolai Marcher Hansen, Suzuki (Denmark), 9. Martin Zerava, Honda (Czech Republic), 10. Hugo Basaula, Suzuki (Portugal)
Complete results available at www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx