MX1 Motocross World Champion Antonio Cairoli was back on the top of the podium in Valkenswaard over the weekend, his first win of the season after his ninth position in Bulgaria.
Due to his knee injury, the Italian had not ridden for the last two weeks, but he felt really confortable on his KTM and managed to win both heats.
Cairoli expressed his satisfaction for being back again on the top and he is looking forward to repeat such performance in the upcoming Grand Prix in the USA.
Red Bull Teka KTM Factory Racing teammate Max Nagl was second overall, but he admitted that if he had been mentally better during the first heat, he might have obtained the overall victory.
The German felt much better on the second moto and took the lead after eight laps.
Monster Energy Yamaha’s David Philippaerts was on top of the podium after his 4-3 result. The Italian rode second most of the second moto, and eventually he managed to take the lead over Rui Gonçalves.
However, he lost too much energy overtaking the Portuguese and had to settle down with a final third position.
Monster Energy Yamaha’s Steven Frossard was fourth overall tight in points with his teammate Philippaerts.
The French hurt his collarbone yesterday during the qualifying race and had to cope with the pain during both GP races. Frossard started the first race being in the lead, but Cairoli overtook him during the eighth lap.
Thanks to this weekend’s results, Frossard has become the new leader of the MX1 class already on his second GP in the MX1 class.
The fifth place was for Rui Gonçalves from Honda World Motocross team with a 6-4 result. The Portuguese was just sixth in the first race, but he took the holeshot of race two and led it for six laps.
Gonçalves was too open on a corner and moved from first to fourth after being overtaken by Philippaerts, Nagl and Frossard.
Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1’s Clement Desalle lost the red plate after his performance in Valkenswaard. The Belgian started both races among the top group, but he could not keep the leader’s rhythm and finished sixth and fifth respectively.
Desalle is now third in the Championship, two points away from Nagl and seven points behind Championship leader Frossard.
On his first appearance in the championship, Kiwi Ben Townley took only part in the first race and he finished 19th.
The New Zealander was very tired after the first moto and he decided not to race and keep some energies for the third grand prix of the season.
Red Bull Teka Factory Racing MX2’s Jeffrey Herlings obtained his second overall victory at his home soil in the MX2 category.
In the first race, Herlings had to stand teammate Ken Roczen’s pressure when the German was closing the gap, but Roczen made a mistake and Herlings took the lead until the chequered flag.
In the second heat, it was Herlings who crashed at the opening lap, but he recuperated the lead already on the lap two.
Second overall was his teammate Roczen after two solid second places. The German confessed that he had changed his training habits and he felt much more tired on the bike.
However, Roczen is still the leader of the MX2 class and he is looking forward to win at Glen Helen in two weeks time.
CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit’s Tommy Searle completed the third step of the podium after finishing third in both heats.
The British rider confessed that it was difficult for him to get good starts on the sand and had to fight really hard to climbed up from the seventh and sixth position.
Arnaud Tonus from Bike-it Cosworth Wild Wolf Yamaha had an excellent weekend in Valkenswaard and he missed the podium only for four points.
The Swiss rider showed how much talent he has, by starring in different battles with several riders like Gautier Pauline in race one or Tommy Searle in race two.
Fifth was Monster Energy Yamaha’s Gautier Pauline, who did not manage to find a good rhythm in the sandy track of Valkenswaard and he could only be fifth and sixth respectively.
American Zach Osborne struggled the whole weekend trying to find good lines and catch the leading riders, and his 6th and 8th positions only let them be eighth overall.
Max Anstie did not finish the weekend as he had expected and had to settle down with a final ninth position.
2011 FIM Motocross World Championship
Round Two – Valkenswaard
MX1 Results:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 47 points
2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 45
3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 38
4. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 38
5. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 33
6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 31
7. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), 27
8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 25
9. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), 24
10. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 22
MX1 Championship:
1. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 85 points
2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 80
3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 78
4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 72
5. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 63
6. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 62
7. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), 53
8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 52
9. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), 45
10. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 42
MX2 Results:
1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 94 points
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 86
3. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 84
4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 67
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 65
6. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 60
7. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 51
8. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 48
9. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 46
10. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), 36
MX2 Championship:
1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 94 points
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 86
3. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 84
4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 67
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 65
6. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 60
7. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 51
8. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 48
9. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 46
10. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), 36