The crowds flocked to Fermo at the weekend for Round 3 of the FIM Motocross World Championship, and with close championship races being contested in both MX1 and MX2 classes in the first two rounds, the anticipation wasn't to end in disappointment.
MX2
After dominating the qualifying stage, Raptor Titanium's Tommy Searle of Floride Monster Energy Kawasaki was plagued by mechanical failure in the first MX2 race as he was forced to retire with radiator problems, chalking up a costly DNF. Searle's main rival Jeff Herlings of KTM Red Bull then cruised to victory in the first race, leaving his team-mate Jeremy Van Horebeek behind to take a comfortable win. The pleasant surprise of the day was the stand-in for Monster Energy Yamaha and Raptor Titanium sponsored rider Michael Leib who managed a very impressive 3rd plce and his first ever World MX GP podium place. Raptor Titanium's Dylan Ferrandis of Bud Racing Kawasaki rounded out the top five behind Jake Nicholls in fourth.
It was a much closer affair between the two main contenders in race two as a horrible start for both Herlings and Searle meant they had to race up the pack to grab as many points as possible. Searle pressured Herlings throughout the race but couldn't put the pass down, settling for second place and ninth overall to stay in the title race. Raptor Titanium's Michael Leib of Monster Energy Yamaha got a well-earned third place in the second race, securing an overall second place on the podium.
MX2 Results
1. Jeffrey Herlings KTM 1/1
2. Michael Leib HON 3/3
3. J v Horebeek KTM 2/4
4. Jordi Tixier KTM 7/5
5. Jose Butron KTM 9/7
6. Chris Charlier YAM 8/9
7. D Ferrandis KAW
8. Max Anstie HON 11/8
9. Tommy Searle KAW 0/2
10. Al Lupino HUS
MX2 Points
Jeffrey Herlings 144
J v Horebeek 114
Tommy Searle 109
Joel Roelants 85
Max Anstie 80
Jordi Tixier 78
D Ferrandis 73
Jake Nicholls 69
Harri Kullas 65
Michael Leib 61
MX1
Raptor Titanium and KRT's Gautier Paulin looked like the man to beat after qualifying, however it was his fellow Frenchman and Raptor Titanium sponsored rider Christophe Pourcel of Floride Monster Energy Kawasaki that asserted dominance in the opening race, dicing with Paulin right to the very end to steal it on one of the remaining few corners on the last lap. KTM Red Bull's Antonio Cairoli pressured Paulin for much of the race, but the Frenchman was much too quick and was busy trying to pass Pourcel for the lead so in the end Cairoli was forced to settle for third place. Paulin's team-mate and fellow Raptor Titanium sponsored rider Xavier Boog took a well-fought fifth place.
In race two the Italian on the 350 KTM showed why he's a 5-time World Champion, with his home-crowd behind him and in the face of such strong opposition he held off Pourcel all race, who eventually settled for second place to gain 1-2 in each race and the overall win! Rockstar Suzuki's Clement Desalle battled through to a third place on the podium in the second race, and after an awful start in race 2, Paulin was forced to climb back through the field to claim a well-earned sixth place to get fourth overall for the day.
Raptor Titanium's Kevin Strijbos of KTM UK took a fantastic overall seventh for the day with 10th and 7th places in each race and Xavier Boog managed ninth after 14th place in race 2 lost him valuable points from his excellent fifth in race 1.
MX1 Results
1. Christophe Pourcel KAW 1/2
2. Tony Cairoli KTM 3/1
3. Clement Desalle SUZ 4/3
4. Gautier Paulin KAW 2/6
5. Ken d Dycker KTM
6. E Bobryshev HON
7. K Strijbos KTM
8. D Philippaerts YAM
9. Xavier Boog KAW
10. Tanel Leok SUZ
MX1 Points
Tony Cairoli 133
Gautier Paulin 116
Christophe Pourcel 106
Clement Desalle 105
Ken d Dycker 95
Kevin Strijbos 76
Xavier Boog 72
E Bobryshev 69
D Philippaerts 69
Tanel Leok 62
The championship now takes a week off as Round 3 of the British MX Championship takes place at Lyng, Norfolk this weekend before the World Championship rolls into Mexico for Round 4 and the South American leg of the Championship.
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