Desalle took home the title in the Czech Republic.
Photo: Ray Archer
The track at Loket seems to be as old as the hill on which it is sprawled. The nature of the twisting layout means that there might have been some different line options but the difficulty in overtaking was a major gripe for many. That said, the rain on Sunday morning helped ripple the course and forge the occasional deep rut. “When you move to the left and right of this main line it [the bike] goes out of shape and with no grip,” explained Honda World Motocross team’s Rui Goncalves who scaled the MX1 podium for the first time in his career and on a 450 after frustrating maiden term on the 350SX-F in 2010. “This is a part of the championship, and it’s nice to come here. Maybe they can do something [with the track] but the soil is very special and difficult.”
Cairoli finished second overall, but still maintains the points lead.
Photo: Ray Archer
Starts were everything, and this was part of the reason why Roczen and Herlings were able to breakaway in both MX2 motos and Cairoli managed to escape in the first MX1 race. Herlings closed the gap in the second sprint after Roczen’s lap-times wavered. This was apparently due to sweat dripping into his goggles after both the German (who enjoyed a buoyant support from the fans thanks to the circuit’s location on the Czech border) and his father forgot to pad his Fox helmet with ladies panty-liners. Behind the KTM duo two entertaining races for third between numerous riders saw the last podium slot change hands a few times in the second moto with Suzuki Europe MX2’s Valentin Teillet shining on a track he enjoys and on his twenty-first birthday, Bike it Cosworth Wild Wolf Yamaha’s Arnaud Tonus and CLS’ Max Anstie all holding the prize until Searle bustled his way through with an aggressive smash-and-dice through the ruts. Monster Energy Yamaha’s Gautier Paulin was also rapid (kudos also to HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK’s Jake Nicholls who equalled a career-best moto finish) but a first moto engine failure ruined his overall ranking.
Cairoli broke free at the first time of asking in MX1 from Desalle who had to grit his teeth in a race-long plight to overtake Goncalves for second place, which he managed three laps before the flag. However the Sicilian started badly and landed on top of Monster Energy Yamaha’s Steven Frossard causing the latter to crash in the second moto. ‘222’ was then fighting back and like Desalle earlier in the day was anxious trying to find places to demote Christophe Pourcel and team-mate Max Nagl to move into podium contention. Frossard himself was able remount (Shaun Simpson: “I saw Frossard’s crash first hand. Holy shit! He was lucky to walk away from that one”) and his eighth place overall was less painful after Honda World Motocross team’s Evgeny Bobryshev – who was chasing the Frenchman in the standings - DNF-ed the second race after a first corner fall and two engine stalls trying to regain ground. It was not a good weekend for the Russian but at least he was in action. MX1 missed the presence of Steve Ramon (spinal injury at Lommel last week and expected to be out for the better part of at least three months) and David Philippaerts. The Italian wrecked the hopes of the Nations team with his training crash mid-week that led to a set of broken wrists, one of which was still in traction and not due to be operated until almost a week after the accident. Former factory Suzuki rider Kevin Strijbos filled in for Ramon and performed reasonably well (sixth overall) at the track where he gave the RM-Z450 its first major race victory in 2005.
Herlings finished second overall behind Roczen.
Photo: Ray Archer
Pourcel returned to the Grand Prix paddock with the CLS Pro Circuit Kawasaki and with half the amount of fuss that greeted his initiation and doomed attempt at Germany last month. This time he was able to complete the motos and his second race revealed shades of the old FIM and AMA champion as he kept the works 350SX-Fs at bay for a substantial duration. “I was racing with Cairoli and Nagl, and it was great to see that I had the same rhythm and I was happy with the bike, especially the suspension,” the Frenchman, who missed out on a late and possibly controversial inclusion on the Nations team (Frossard, Paulin and Marvin Musquin selected) said. “I was strong during both motos; now we have to work on the start as I saw this weekend how competitive and consistent the MX1 riders are.”
A decent amount of anticipation is fixed to round thirteen with the British Grand Prix returning to the site of the ’06 Motocross of Nations, Matterley Basin, in two weeks time. The ‘bowl’ setting is unique on the GP schedule and with the reputation the Brits have for a noisy and atmosphere event it should be one of the best of the season…if the English rain stays away that is…
Pourcel made his return at Loket and finished ninth overall.
Photo: Ray Archer
MX1 Moto1
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 40:32.283; ;
2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:05.506;
3. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:06.272;
4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:07.172;
5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), +0:08.098;
6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:11.839;
7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:13.689;
8. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:30.589;
9. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:35.142;
10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Honda), +0:56.943;
MX1 Moto2
1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 40:06.261; ;
2. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +0:03.847;
3. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:05.500;
4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:07.409;
5. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:08.391;
6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:10.341;
7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:19.581;
8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:21.471;
9. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), +0:48.590;
10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:54.398;
MX1 Overall result
1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 47 points;
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 43 p.;
3. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 40 p.;
4. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), 31 p.;
5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 29 p.;
6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), 28 p.;
7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 27 p.;
8. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 25 p.;
9. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 24 p.;
10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), 21 p.;
MX1 World Championship standings after 12 of 15 rounds
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 509 points;
2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 461 p.;
3. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 428 p.;
4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 387 p.;
5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 378 p.;
6. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 349 p.;
7. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 308 p.;
8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), 268 p.;
9. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 262 p.;
10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), 254 p.;
MX2 Moto1
1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 39:40.474; ;
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:10.443;
3. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), +0:38.509;
4. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:41.139;
5. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +0:41.996;
6. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:42.381;
7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:44.094;
8. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Suzuki), +0:48.268;
9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:51.496;
10. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:31.482;
MX2 Moto2
1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 40:00.102; ;
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:01.227;
3. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:35.893;
4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:42.843;
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:44.495;
6. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:46.132;
7. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Suzuki), +1:04.377;
8. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +1:10.637;
9. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +1:25.258;
10. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +1:33.758;
MX2 Overall result
1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 50 points;
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 44 p.;
3. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 35 p.;
4. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 33 p.;
5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 30 p.;
6. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Suzuki), 27 p.;
7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 26 p.;
8. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 26 p.;
9. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), 20 p.;
10. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 19 p.;
MX2 World Championship standings after 12 of 15 rounds
1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 540 points;
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 513 p.;
3. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 435 p.;
4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 389 p.;
5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 325 p.;
6. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 318 p.;
7. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 295 p.;
8. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 268 p.;
9. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), 227 p.;
10. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 206 p.;