It was all about the factory KTM Red Bull ace Jeff Herlings in the MX2 class last weekend at the opening round of the World MX GP Championship as he dominated qualifying and both GP races to take a commanding lead going into the second round in Bulgaria this weekend.
The real battle was between Raptor Titanium sponsored riders Tommy Searle and Joel Roelants from Floride Moto Monster Energy Kawasaki as they scrapped for second place in both races, Roelants taking second on the podium with a second in the final race, though both Roelants and Searle now go into the second GP joint second place on points.
The Raptor Titanium sponsored Monster Energy Bike It Cosworth Yamaha team went into the GP with mixed feelings about the event with both contenders for the MX2 title as Arnaud Tonus and Zach Osborne are sidelined with injury. It was down to Mel Pocock to step up to the plate and he didn't disappoint, getting great starts in both races and putting in solid rides to secure 10th place overall.
MX2 Results
1. Jeffrey Herlings KTM
2. Joel Roelants KAW
3. Tommy Searle KAW
4. J. v. Horebeek KTM
5. Jordi Tixier KTM
6. Jake Nicholls KTM
7. Max Anstie HON
8. D. Ferrandis KAW
9. V. Teillet KAW
10. M. Pocock YAM
MX2 Points
Jeffrey Herlings 50
Joel Roelants 42
Tommy Searle 42
J. v. Horebeek 36
Jordi Tixier 29
Jake Nicholls 28
Max Anstie 26
D. Ferrandis 24
V. Teillet 23
M. Pocock 22
MX1
It was the same story for the factory KTM Red Bull team in MX1 as Tony Cairoli cruised to victory on qualifying, and though he came up against some stiff competition on the rough sand of Valkenswaard from Factory Suzuki's Clement Desalle and Factory Yamaha's Steven Frossard, he dominated the event and, like Herlings, goes into round 2 with a comfortable points lead.
Raptor Titanium sponsored riders were represented excellently with Kawasaki Racing Team's Gautier Paulin battling to a fantastic fourth in the first race and after a bad start and a crash in the second race managed to fight through the field for a valiant seventh place, passing former world champions and title contenders for the 2012 season in the process. Paulin's team-mate and Raptor Titanium sponsored rider Xavier Boog also didn't disappoint as he put in a good ride on the day in the tough conditions to secure an overall tenth place.
Right behind Paulin in the points was GP veteran and Raptor Titanium sponsored rider KTM UK's Kevin Strijbos, who led the first GP and was in the mix at the top in the second race after two blistering starts, getting his championship off to a brilliant start with a fifth.
Up there also was Raptor Titanium sponsored rider Shaun Simpson from the Monster Energy Bike It Cosworth Yamaha team who didn't disappoint with a great overall 8th place for the day, coping with the tough sand track better than most.
It was a disappointing day for Raptor Titanium sponsored rider Christophe Pourcel as he struggled to get to grips with the Valkenswaard sand and did not dispplay his full potential, however we look forward to Bulgaria this weekend with confidence the former World and AMA champion will improve.
Bring on Bulgaria!
MX1 Results
1. Tony Cairoli KTM
2. C Desalle SUZ
3. S Frossard YAM
4. Gautier Paulin KAW
5. Kevin Strijbos KTM
6. K. d. Dycker KTM
7. R. Goncalves HON
8. Shaun Simpson YAM
9. Tanel Leok SUZ
10. Xavier Boog KAW
MX1 Points
Tony Cairoli 50
Clement Desalle 44
Steven Frossard 40
Gautier Paulin 32
Kevin Strijbos 31
K. d. Dycker 31
R. Goncalves 29
Shaun Simpson 23
Tanel Leok 22
Xavier Boog 20
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