Racer X Online - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X Online

  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News

Racer X Online - Motocross & Supercross NewsRacer X Online

  • One Click Sign-In

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    OR

    Sign in with your username and password

    • Sign In
  • Features
    • 10 Things
    • 30 Greatest AMA Motocrossers
    • 3 on 3
    • 250 Words
    • 450 Words
    • Between the Motos
    • Breakdown
    • Deals of the Week
    • GNCC Report
    • Great Battles
    • How to Watch
    • Injury Report
    • Insight
    • In the Mag, On the Web
    • Lockdown Diaries
    • Longform
    • MXGP Race Reports
    • My Favorite Loretta Lynn's Moto
    • Next
    • Observations
    • On This Day in Moto
    • Open Mic
    • Privateer Profile
    • Race Day Feed
    • Racerhead
    • Racer X Awards
    • Racer X Redux
    • Rapid Reaxtion
    • RX Exhaust
    • Saturday Night Live
    • Staging Area
    • The Conversation
    • The List
    • The Moment
    • Things We Learned at the Ranch
    • Unphiltered
    • Wake-Up Call
    • Where Are They Now
  • Multimedia
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • The Weege Show
    • Racer X Films
    • Video
    • SX Preview Shows
    • Factory Tech Tip
    • MX Preview Shows
    • Behind The Bars
  • Races
    • Series Schedules
    • TV Schedules
    • Results
    • Champions
    • Teams
    • 2021 Numbers
  • Results
    • Points Standings
    • Race Results
    • Riders
    • The Vault
    • Loretta Lynn's Vault
  • The Mag
    • Customer Care
    • Digital Magazine Bookstand
    • Current Issue
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletter
    • Free Stickers
    • Store Locator
    • Sell Racer X
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • Table of Contents
  • Subscribe Now
  • Latest
  • Features
  • Breaking News
Results Archive
Supercross
Houston 1
Articles
450SX Results
  1. Justin Barcia
  2. Ken Roczen
  3. Marvin Musquin
Full Results
250SX East Results
  1. Christian Craig
  2. Austin Forkner
  3. Colt Nichols
Full Results
Upcoming
Supercross
Houston 2
Tue Jan 19
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Houston 3
Sat Jan 23
Articles
Upcoming
Supercross
Indianapolis 1
Sat Jan 30
Articles
Full Schedule

Leok Takes Second in Italian Championship Event

February 17, 2009 9:31am
  • Home
  • Industry News
  • Leok Takes Second in Italian Championship Event

Familiarity breeds contempt, so the saying goes. In the case of Tanel Leok and his new De Carli Racing Yamaha team, the saying is wrong. The Estonian has spent spent several weeks in the team's home country of Italy, and as his familiarity with his new surroundings, team and mount has grown, so has his confidence and proficiency on the factory-backed Yamaha. This weekend, at the first round of the Italian championships, he banged his cards on the table in no uncertain fashion with a strong second place finish behind world champion David Philippaerts.

The 2009 racing season is getting into full swing, and the attentions of the world's top riders were this weekend fairly evenly divided between a major international event in Belgium and the first round of the Italian Championships at Montevarchi. A strong line up of riders resembling a mini GP lined up for the Italian race at the spectacularly hilly track of Montevarchi, starkly carved out on the side of a sizeable hill. Tanel did his moniker of Estonian Express proud right from the outset, and qualified in second position, less than half a second adrift of world champion Philippaerts.

Tanel Leok

THERE WAS STILL TIME FOR FUN AT THE TEAM PHOTO SHOOT

If there is a chink in the Estonian's armoury, it is his starts. Although he has been working on this aspect of his racing tirelessly, the magic grail of consistent good starts has thus far still eluded him. In race 1, his start could be called fair to middling, as he piloted his shiny blue machine over the steep uphill start straight in around 10th position. Tanel Leok in a determined mood is a sight to behold, though , and on this crisp winter day in Italy, he was oozing determination in bucketloads. He charged through the field like an irresistible force, and towards the end of the race, he got teammate and former world champion Antonio Cairoli in his sights. With a target to fix on, he was even more motivated, but in the end time ran out, and he crossed the finish line in third position, behind Philippaerts and Cairoli.

On a day that was clearly going to be Yamaha-dominated, wily GP veteran Josh Coppins got he holeshot in race 2 and rabbited away. Tanel was mired even deeper down the pack on this occasion, and had to haul himself forward from 15th position. By mid-race distance, he had passed most of those in front of him, including Philippaerts and Cairoli, but Coppins was by now a speck on the horizon, and Tanel had to contend himself with second spot.

There were smiles all round in the team tent nevertheless. The quiet Estonian had done his talking the way he knows best - by hanging on the throttle cable with determination. A second overall on his debut in the Italian championships for his new team is nothing to sniff at, particularly so when the only rider allowed to climb on a higher step on the podium was the current world champion.

Tanel remains in Italy for the next round of the Italian championships, and his preparation for a full-on assault on the world title continues unabated.

Tanel Leok

TANEL CAPTURED ON ONE OF HIS RARE TALKATIVE MOMENTS

RESULTS

Qualifying Session

Race 1

Race 2

Overall Result

This report is available online

  • USA Today Weighs in on Lead Laws USA Today Weighs in on Lead Laws 9:14am
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters “Day to Play in the Dirt” Big Brothers Big Sisters “Day to Play in the Dirt” 9:39am
Read Now
March 2021 Issue Now Available
Get Racer X on your iPhone
Check out all the exclusive content this month on any device!
Read Now
The March 2021 Digital Issue Availalbe Now

Motocross & Supercross News - Racer X Online

122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 | Contact Us
©1999 - 2021 Filter Publications LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
designed at: Website DesignImpulse Studios