FIM MX3 World Championship French win stays in France

French win stays in France

CASTELNAU DE LEVIS (France), 11 April 2010 – Castelnau de Levis held the second event for the FIM MX3 World Championship this weekend. French riders took two places on the podium. Idol of the home crowd Mickael Pichon (Honda) won the sunny race on the 1805 metres long track Puech Rampant in front of Italian Alex Salvini (Husqvarna) and another French Christophe Martin (Husqvarna).

The track was hard and difficult. Pichon won both heats. In the first heat Carlos Campano (Yamaha) took the holeshot but already in the second lap Pichon overtook him. Christophe Martin was close, he came to the second position. Martin was riding very reliably the first half of the race, then Campano passed him. Pichon won, Campano was second and Martin third.

Alex Salvini had a bad first start. Italian worked hard during the race that he progressed to the fourth position. Matevz Irt (Husqvarna) from Slovenia finished second. Irt started fast but he could not stand close to the top positions when riders started to attack him.

In the second race Irt took the holeshot. Pichon was close to him and soon he took the lead again. French rider was leading the whole race, nevertheless his second win was not so conclusive as the first one. Salvini was pushing the whole race. Husqvarna Cross 2 R rider was fast and very danger for Pichon. Only a small mistake of Pichon could mean loosing of the first position. French held Salvini back and took a double win. Salvini finished second.

Christophe Martin was third also in the second heat. Carlos Campano was out of the top three, he finished fourth, while Irt took another fifth place.

Pichon won the race, Salvini finished second and Martin third. After two events for the FIM MX3 World Championship Carlos Campano is leading with advantage of six points in front of Alex Salvini, Matevz Irt is third.

Next event for the FIM MX3 World Championship will be in La Rioja, Argentina on 2 May.

RIDER’S COMMENTS

1^st MICKAEL PICHON (France) : “It was a great weekend and I enjoyed to compete in Castelnau de Levis. Yesterday I made some good laps in the Qualifying practice. When I took the lead today in the first heat, I could ride my race. In the second heat Alex Salvini was pushing hard, he was very fast. I had to make a big effort that I kept the first position because Salvini was all the time behind me. I am glad that I won because I am not really prepared for the 30 minutes of riding and the race was physically very difficult. But I did it with the support of my fans which were here today.”

2^nd ALEX SALVINI (Italy): “Pichon was fast all the weekend. Also yesterday in the Qualifying practice I was second behind him. I am a bit disappointed with the first heat because I had a bad start, then I crashed and I finished fourth. Second start was better and quickly I climbed on the second position. I enjoyed the second heat. Although I finished second I am not satisfied because I am still only second in the Championship Classification and this is not what I expected. In following races I go for a leading position in the Championship and I hope I could do better result already in Argentina.”

3^rd CHRISTOPHE MARTIN (France): “This season I am not planning to ride the complete MX3 World Championship so today I was riding very easy, without any pressure. I was competing here many times and I know this track pretty well. The track was very hard today and the ground was not one of my favourite. I prefer muddy and softer tracks. Anyway I finished on the podium and I am happy for that.”

RESULTS

RACE 1 Top Ten: 1. Mickael Pichon (FRA, Honda), 36:21.152; ; 2. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), +0:12.535; 3. Christophe Martin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:15.633; 4. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:20.166; 5. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +0:41.891; 6. Martin Zerava (CZE, Honda), +0:48.011; 7. Gregory Wicht (SUI, Honda), +0:52.469; 8. Tommi Makinen (FIN, Honda), +0:56.294; 9. Guillaume Botannelli (FRA, KTM), +1:39.423; 10. Milko Potisek (FRA, Honda), +1:45.914

RACE 2 Top Ten: 1. Mickael Pichon (FRA, Honda), 36:30.715; ; 2. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:03.864; 3. Christophe Martin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:25.091; 4. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), +0:38.738; 5. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +0:41.673; 6. Fabien Izoird (FRA, Suzuki), +0:47.828; 7. Milko Potisek (FRA, Honda), +0:51.236; 8. Martin Zerava (CZE, Honda), +1:04.072; 9. Tommi Makinen (FIN, Honda), +1:10.257; 10. Gregory Wicht (SUI, Honda), +1:51.826

Overall Classification Top Ten: 1. Mickael Pichon (FRA, Honda), 50 points; 2. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), 40 p.; 3. Christophe Martin (FRA, Husqvarna), 40 p.; 4. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), 40 p.; 5. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), 32 p.; 6. Martin Zerava (CZE, Honda), 28 p.; 7. Milko Potisek (FRA, Honda), 25 p.; 8. Tommi Makinen (FIN, Honda), 25 p.; 9. Gregory Wicht (SUI, Honda), 25 p.; 10. Guillaume Botannelli (FRA, KTM), 22 p

Championship Classification: 1. Carlos Campano Jiminez (ESP, Yamaha), 90 points; 2. Alex Salvini (ITA, Husqvarna), 84 p.; 3. Matevz Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), 72 p.; 4. Martin Zerava (CZE, Honda), 57 p.; 5. Tommi Makinen (FIN, Honda), 55 p.; 6. Mickael Pichon (FRA, Honda), 50 p.; 7. Victor Dario Arco (ARG, Yamaha), 43 p.; 8. Christophe Martin (FRA, Husqvarna), 40 p.; 9. Luis Correira (POR, Yamaha), 36 p.; 10. Jussi Nikkila (FIN, Yamaha), 36 p

Complete results available at: http://www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx?c=8

Photos available at: http://www.motocrossmx1.com/gallery/default.aspx?aid=537

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

French Motorcycle Federation

Motoclub Castelnau de Levis