|
|
|
With Cairoli leading the MX1 Championship runner up Nagl, who gained just two points in Lommel, will have another chance to chip away at the actual 51 point gap and come closer to the two time MX2 World Champion. Musquin won both heats in Belgium to build on his MX2 Championship lead. On the other hand Goncalves moved up to second in the series passing Paulin, though none of them made it to the podium last weekend losing important points from the French red plate holder. MX1 Courtesy of two strong recoveries in the heats of the Belgian GP, Cairoli made it to the his ninth podium of the season and showed he will not be easy to beat in this Championship, which marks his first full season in the category. Despite a disastrous qualifying Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Cairoli ended third overall in Lommel as runner up Nagl could only cut two points off his gap, which is now 51 points. Nevertheless Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Nagl continues to give Cairoli chase as he could pull away from third placed Philippaerts by taking second overall in Belgium, where he won the final moto. Nagl will attack again in Loket, where he won one heat last year while Cairoli was out of the MX2 Grand Prix due to his knee injury from the South African GP. The 2008 edition of the Czech GP was the occasion for Philippaerts to regain the red plate courtesy of a solid overall win. After a tough outing in Lommel the Italian of Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross needs a strong result to close in on the top two and pull away from a dangerous De Dycker. After taking his first season win at home in Belgium, the Teka Suzuki World MX1 man stormed to fourth in the Championship, being just five points behind defending Champion Philippaerts. Desalle and Coppins round off the top six in the Championship with the Kiwi being just 13 points away from team mate Philippaerts. Taking fourth overall at his comeback GP after Valkenswaard’s neck injury, Ramon looks in good form for Loket’s hard pack. With Aigar Leok due to miss this Grand Prix because of a leg injury, the TM Racing Factory Team will enter Enduro star Rodrig Thain of France. On the other hand the Martin Honda squad will miss this GP as Strijbos, who came back at Lommel, still suffers from a right collarbone injury which he picked up before his home GP. He will come back at Lierop together with team mate De Reuver. 2008 MX1 PODIUM: 1. David Philippaerts 2. Sebastien Pourcel 3. Jonathan Barragan 2008 MX1 POLEMAN: Billy Mackenzie
Philippaerts is expected to perform well in the final part of the season More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx. MX2 Making a strong comeback to the GP scene in Lommel, Musquin steered his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s machine to victory in both heats and built on his Championship lead. Having taken four wins for a total of nine podiums this year Musquin showed an immense potential while his closest rivals could not match his performances. In Belgium Musquin’s team mate Goncalves, who has now moved up in the standings to grab the runner up spot, missed the podium after a difficult second moto. On the other hand Bud Racing Kawasaki PSM’s Paulin had a terrible weekend and finished only 14th, losing important points on both Musquin and Goncalves. This weekend both Goncalves and Paulin are expected to attack Musquin as time is running out and they need to keep their Title hopes alive before the two weeks break following Loket. Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross’ Guarneri remains a distant fourth in the Championship. The Italian has and advantage of more than 70 points from fifth placed Frossard, who collected two dnf’s in Belgium, watching youngster Roczen coming dramatically close as the German took 30 points off his gap from the CLS man. Roczen, who is in his rookie season and has never raced in Loket before onboard the MX2 machine of the Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 team, has a chance to break into the top five this weekend. Stepping on their home podium in Lommel, Roelants and Verbruggen have gained further confidence going into Loket as both youngsters aim at collecting more podiums before the season ends. Frenchman Boissiere had a difficult season so far but the forthcoming Grand Prix may see him back on the podium as it was in 2008. Facing his home GP this weekend onboard the factory MX2 machine of the TM Racing team, Michek will try and put in two strong heats in front of his fans. 2008 MX2 PODIUM: 1. Tommy Searle 2. Tyla Rattray 3. Anthony Boissiere
Roczen may jump into the top five this weekend More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx. TIMETABLE Saturday: MX2 Free Practice 10:00-10:40; MX1 Free Practice 10:50-11:30; MX2 Pre Qualifying Practice 13:30-14:10; MX1 Pre Qualifying Practice 14:30-15:10; MX2 Qualifying Race 16:00; MX1 Qualifying Race 17:00. Sunday: MX2 Warm Up 9:15-9:35; MX1 Warm Up 9:45-10:05; 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. LINKS |
