Ramon takes maiden MX1 win at rain hit Bellpuig-Van Dijk wins Veterans

BELLPUIG (SPAIN), 20 April 2008

Today the Spanish Grand Prix was one of the toughest races ever seen by the Motocross circus; it started to rain in the middle of the night and it carried on during the entire day, making the competition even tougher than it would have been.

On a very wet and muddy course, Steve Ramon took his first career MX1 class victory while Davide Guarneri sealed his second MX2 GP win. A strong Toine van Dijk won the opening round of the FIM Veterans Motocross World Cup.

MX1

Defending MX1 World Champion Steve Ramon of Teka Suzuki WMX1 took his maiden MX1 overall win at the end of an extremely hard first moto; the second moto was cancelled after the Event Management’s decision due to the weather conditions. Yamaha Monster Motocross’ David Philippaerts was second on today’s podium, stepping on the rostrum for the first time since he mounted on the factory Yamaha machine. The podium was completed by current series leader Ken de Dycker of Teka Suzuki WMX1, while Yamaha Motocross’ Josh Coppins and Kawasaki Racing’s Tanel Leok completed the top five.

Top five overall: 1. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 25 points; 2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 22 p.; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 20 p.; 4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 18 p.; 5. Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), 16 p.

MX1 RACE 1

Home rider Jonathan Barragan took the lead in the opening laps, then was passed by Ramon with the Belgian pulling away from the rest of the field. A solid Philippaerts crashed out in the early stages but rejoined the race very quick to climb up to an eventual second; also third placed De Dycker crashed twice, once at the start and once again before the end of the opening lap. Though the Belgian giant worked his way up from the back of the pack to collect a positive top three finish. Coppins was a solid third when he stalled the bike on a jump and eventually dropped down to fourth ahead of Estonian Tanel Leok. Marc de Reuver was disqualified as he started outside of his gate position.

Top five: 1. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 40:49.290; ; 2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:35.461; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:49.535; 4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +1:22.141; 5. Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), +2:03.530

MX2

Ricci Racing Yamaha’s Davide Guarneri proved an incredibly strong competitor today, by winning his second Grand Prix despite a broken ligament in his right collarbone. The Italian was followed by countryman and Yamaha fellow rider Manuel Monni of 3C Racing, with the latter collecting his second career podium after his first appearance in Gaildorf 2005. Molson Kawasaki Racing’s Stephen Sword was another rider coming back to the podium in third after he spent most of the 2006 and 2007 seasons off racing due to injuries. Reigning MX2 Champion Tony Cairoli of Yamaha Red Bull De Carli and current series leader Tyla Rattray of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing completed the top five.

Top five overall: 1. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), 45 points; 2. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), 37 p.; 3. Stephen Sword (GBR, Kawasaki), 32 p.; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 32 p.; 5. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 29 p.

MX2 RACE 1

Rattray rode a perfect heat, taking victory with a dominant gate to flag performance. A solid Steven Frossard was a comfortable second until he had a problem with his brakes, dropping down to twelfth. Cairoli took an eventual second place after a difficult start, as he was in the middle of the pack in turn one, while Guarneri ended an unexpected third; the latter was actually doubtful for this Grand Prix after last week’s collarbone injury. Marvin Musquin was quick in the early stages, holding a promising third before dropping down to eighth after a mistake. Fourth placed Sword rode a solid heat, coming back up from the bottom of the top ten, while Jeremy Tarroux completed the top five ahead of Monni.

Top five: 1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 41:43.976; ; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), +1:03.972; 3. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), +1:11.984; 4. Stephen Sword (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:16.976; 5. Jeremy Tarroux (FRA, KTM), +1:26.602

MX2 RACE 2

Holeshotter Tommy Searle crashed in the first corner to hand Nicolas Aubin the lead. The latter crashed as well and Guarneri found himself leading the MX2 group. Despite the slippery conditions and his injury, Guarneri kept a decent pace until the race was stopped. Winning the final heat, the Italian took also the overall ahead of Monni, who finished a distant second in the moto. 2007 EMX2 European Champion Gautier Paulin ended a positive third ahead of Rui Goncalves, while Joel Roelants completed the top five. Cairoli brought home a hard fought eleventh while Rattray ended seventeenth.

Top five: 1. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), 31:35.087; ; 2. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), +2:32.695; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +2:41.294; 4. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +3:40.695; 5. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), -1 lap(s)

IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

Ken de Dycker still holds the red plate with team mate Ramon following in second, just seven points behind. David Philippaerts has moved up to third ahead of team mate Josh Coppins. Billy Mackenzie dropped down to fifth.

Top five: 1. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 70 points; 2. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 63 p.; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 55 p.; 4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 47 p.; 5. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), 46 p.

In the MX2 class Tyla Rattray keeps the leadership but Cairoli has shortened up the gap which is now three points. Guarneri jumped up to third courtesy of today’s victory while team mates Tommy Searle and Rui Goncalves round off the top five.

Top five: 1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 79 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 76 p.; 3. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), 61 p.; 4. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 60 p.; 5. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 51 p.

FIM VETERANS MOTOCROSS WORLD CUP

Courtesy of his win in the second heat, Dutchman Toine van Dijk took the overall victory of this first round of the 2008 FIM Veterans Motocross World Cup. Ending a disappointing tenth in heat one, Van Dijk went out for revenge in the second moto, leaving 2007 World Cup winner Dave Thorpe behind in second.

Second on the podium was British Scott Eastwood, who ended second in heat one and sixth in heat two, to collect his first podium finish in the series.

2006 World Cup winner Thierry Godfroid made a stunning comeback to racing after he injured himself at Donington Park last year. After several months off the bike, the Belgian came back to action ending the moto’s in sixth and fourth.

Poleman Peter Iven ended fourth overall while first moto winner and sole CCM rider Greg Hanson ended right behind in fifth, as his second moto was compromised when another rider hit him.

Dave Thorpe was ninth after a difficult opening moto; he was second behind Iven when the latter crashed and Thorpe could not avoid him.
Ending 20th, former GP winner Charles Sun had a tough debut on a difficult track where he never rode before while 2007 World Cup winner Cooksley ended 25th.

Top five overall: 1. Toine van Dijk (NED, Suzuki), 36 points; 2. Scott Eastwood (GBR, Honda), 35 p.; 3. Thierry Godfroid (BEL, Kawasaki), 33 p.; 4. Peter Iven (BEL, Kawasaki), 32 p.; 5. Greg Hanson (GBR, CCM), 31 p.

AT THE END OF THE DAY

At the end of this second of fifteen rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship, FIM/CMS President Dr. Wolfgang Srb said: “The situation was very difficult, everyone tried their utmost to run this event but what we finally learnt is that the nature is always stronger, there is nothing we can do against it. We have done all we could, everyone has worked extremely hard to make it happen but the nature was stronger than all our efforts. The decision taken by the event management was good, the riders’ safety always comes first.”

Youthstream President Mr. Giuseppe Luongo stated: “This was a wise decision; we have all the experts on the race track, such as the track designer, the race director, the clerk of the course and so on. It was very difficult out there and it was right to take this decision.”