KEGUMS (LATVIA), 26 June 2010 – Suzuki dominated the qualifying races of the Latvian Grand Prix with Clement Desalle taking pole in the MX1 class and Ken Roczen topping the MX2 qualifying race. Both fought hard for the pole as runners up Antonio Cairoli (MX1) and Steven Frossard (MX2) kept close to make it a harder qualifying for the Suzuki pair.
Cairoli became very dangerous in the final laps of the MX1 qualifying when he moved 
past David Philippaerts and Evgeny Bobryshev to chase Desalle from second. The Championship leader was an eventual second ahead of Philippaerts and Bobryshev.
Roczen instead moved past early leader Steven Frossard towards the end of the race with the French settling for the runner up spot. Jeffrey Herlings was third ahead of Jeremy Van Horebeek. Musquin crashed and recovered to sixth.
Mats Nilsson took pole and went on to win the first heat of the FIM Veterans’ World Cup. Second place went to Pascal Bal with Erwin Hendrickx completing the top three.
MX1
Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1’s Desalle went out with the victory in Saturday’s qualifying race and it is actually his second Lovemytime MX1 Pole Position Award in a row. Although the Belgian got the holeshot, CAS Honda’s Bobryshev did not let him ride with the lead easily showing his confidence in a track which he described as being as his home one after having ridden here many times while he lived in his birth town in Russia.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX1’s Cairoli was second after a tough battle with his compatriot David Philippaerts, who managed to close repeatedly the door to the Sicilian but he had finally to accept his deserved third position.
Bobryshev was really pleased with his fourth position and is looking forward to Sunday in order to check with himself how far he can get riding with top riders throughout the two heats.
Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci’s De Dycker, who took his first season’s win in Germany last weekend, was fifth ahead of Ramon, Nagl and Boog.
The best local rider was Freibergs finishing 19th and his compatriot Steinbergs ended in the 23rd position and he expressed his commitment to try to be among the top 20 riders in tomorrow’s heats in front of his numerous local fans who came to cheer for him.
The ninth GP of the season had the special appearance of Japanese rider Tomoya Suzuki, who was really impressed by the speed of the riders and could only be 31st in Saturday’s qualifying race. The Honda rider is going back to Japan after the race on Sunday in order to take part in the Asian Championship which he is now leading.
MX1 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 23:53.957; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.131; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:06.547; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:08.830; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), +0:13.203; 6. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:14.814; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:16.826; 8. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:23.339; 9. Anthony Boissiere (FRA, TM), +0:24.842; 10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Honda), +0:35.830;
Complete results available at www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx
Photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/gallery
MX2
After taking the holeshot, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX2’s Musquin crashed and handed the lead to French countryman Frossard. The fall added drama to the qualifying as the Championship leader made no more mistakes and put together an impressive recovery from the bottom of the top 20 until an eventual sixth place.
As the lead passed onto Kawasaki CLS’ Frossard, Roczen moved past Herlings to chase Frossard for the victory. The German of Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 followed in second until five laps to go, when he decided to make his move on the French and win what had become a two way battle for first.
Frossard settled for an eventual second after trying to keep up with Roczen, who has now become the MX2 rider with most Lovemytime MX2 Pole Position Awards to his credit courtesy of this third win of 2010.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX2’s Herlings rode a steady race in third place to finish in front of Van Horebeek of Kawasaki CLS.
Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross’ Paulin completed the top five ahead of a hard charging Musquin.
Karro managed to be the best placed Latvian by completing a strong recovery after a bad start. The youngster was an eventual 14th and aims at a top ten finish for his home Grand Prix.
MX2 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), 25:32.596; 2. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:08.166; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:11.939; 4. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:18.201; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:22.368; 6. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), +0:28.118; 7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:29.141; 8. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +0:37.234; 9. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +0:38.988; 10. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KTM), +0:45.315;
Complete results available at www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx
Photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/gallery
VETERANS
Being back to action after Glen Helen, Veterans’ series leader Nilsson put a strong mark on the opening day of the Latvian round. The Swedish took pole position and went on to dominate the whole first moto from Frenchman Bal. The latter was 25 seconds away from Nilsson but lost vital time when battling for the runner up spot with countryman Lheriteau, who finished an eventual fourth. With two laps to go Hendrickx moved past him to take third.
GP OF LATVIA – QUICK FACTS
Circuit length: 1540 mt
Type of ground: sand
Temperature: 19° C
Weather conditions: sunny
Sunday: Veterans Warm up 8:30; MX2 Warm up 9:00; MX1 Warm up 9:30; Veterans 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.
LINKS
Youthstream
FIM
Grand Prix of Latvia
Photo: Roczen on the gas in Latvia
