MX1

MX2

EMX2

KTM RACING

Cairoli the MX1 King of Kegums
The MX1 GP of Latvia was a near perfect weekend for Tony Cairoli and the Red Bull Teka KTM factory team. In fact any time, KTM reigning world champion went out on the track he was the fastest – from free practice right through to the MX1 GP motos.

Now completely fit and feeling confident, Tony has shifted up a gear in his bid to capture his fifth world championship title and this weekend’s efforts netted him a cool 50 points to extend his lead by 42 points over second placed Clement Desalle.

Tony was pushed hard by Steven Frossard in both motos but still managed to control the races and was the dominant rider of the weekend.

It was also a positive weekend for Max Nagl and while a crash at the beginning of the second moto spoilt his chances of a top place he still clearly benefited from increased confidence enhanced by changes in setup of his KTM 350. “KTM and WP did an amazing job,” he said after the race.

Tony Cairoli: it was an awesome weekend. Every time I was on the track I was in front. It was an amazing feeling. I’m getting stronger and stronger every weekend and my speed is getting better.  I enjoyed both races. I led from the first lap of the first race but Frossard was strong at the end and I had some trouble with a back marker but in the end it was enough to won. I got a good start in the second race and managed to get enough to control it.

Max Nagl: “I’m more confident now and I know I can do the same speed as Tony and the guys because I was able to keep up with them in the first heat. The riding went well and things are going much better since we made some changes with the setup.

Team boss Stefan Everts: This was a top weekend for us. Tony showed he’s back in the game and made a nice lead in the points. He’s in full control and our bikes looked great. Max also did well. We did some changes in the setup of the 350 and you could see he was much happier and this reflected in his riding.

Roczen conquers Kegums with MX2 victory
Red Bull Teka KTM’s Ken Roczen on Sunday soaked up all the glory at Kegums in Latvia with two clear moto victories to further advance his lead in the MX2 Championship. It was the German super kid’s fourth consecutive GP victory this season.

Factory team-mate Jeffrey Herlings was on the podium in second place after two great rides. He was taken down just after the start of the first moto and found himself stranded back at 22nd in the big field. He put his head down and fought his way back to finish third, then in the second moto crossed the line in second behind Roczen to underline that these two teenagers are the ones to dominate the championship.

While Roczen stole the holeshot in race two, Herlings was not about to let him get away, even though he had expended a lot of energy catching the pack in race one. He also led the race for a brief period before Roczen again took charge. Herlings managed to hold on to second place despite another small crash in the closing stages but this allowed Roczen to finish almost 14 seconds ahead at the flag. The young Dutch rider nevertheless put in a solid day’s ride, his efforts all the more commendable because he had crashed hard on Saturday ramming the handlebars into his face and lacerating the inside of his mouth.

Ken admitted after the race that he did not feel comfortable on the Latvian circuit that other riders like a lot. In Kegums riders tackle a mixed surface: soft sand on a harder base, but with a heavy program the track conditions worsened as race day progressed. Roczen now leads the championship standings with 446 points, 27 clear of team-mate Herlings and with five GPs to go the two KTM teenagers have now comfortably distanced themselves from the rest of the field. KTM is also leading the Manufacturer’s title.

Ken Roczen: “It was pretty amazing because I was far off the pace in practice and even though I was pushing hard I couldn’t make good lap times. Then I won the first moto by a good gap and I saved a lot of energy for the second. I got a good start in the second and I let Jeffrey by to check out his lines. Then when there was about 15 minutes to go I put my head down, pushed past him and went on to pick up some good points.”

Jeffrey Herlings: I showed I had the speed and I came second so I’m not disappointed. I lost some points on Ken but I didn’t lose against Tommy (Searle). My injury didn’t really worry me but I didn’t win because I made some mistakes.

Factory team boss Stefan Everts: “Ken was back in charge. He rode really comfortably and he stayed calm. He’s doing very well and made no mistakes. Jeffrey also had a really good race, especially in the first moto when he came back from last and showed a good speed.

EMX2 was also on the race program for Kegums and this resulted in a podium third for French KTM rider Romain Febvre, who also now leads the standings by 12-points.

YAMAHA RACING

Frossard runner-up in Latvia for fifth podium of 2011
Monster Energy Yamahas Steven Frossard finished second twice at the difficult Kegums circuit for the Grand Prix of Latvia to walk the runner-up step of the overall MX1 podium with the YZ450FM. He was able to lift his fifth trophy of his rookie campaign in the premier class.

The tenth round of fifteen in the 2011 calendar took place in sunny and warm conditions and watched by a 21,000 attendance. Frossard was a key player in the tussle for victory but team-mate David Philippaerts was also pro-active and his excellent flight from outside of the top ten to fifth in the second moto was a stand-out performance.

Instead of the soft and shifting sand from previous years Kegums was hard and laden with small bumps. The jumpy and physically demanding course split opinion with many racers finding the terrain an intense drain of concentration while others enjoyed the open lines and big jumps. The conditions meant experimentation with bike set-up to find the best traction and both riders altered their engine configuration (for smoother power) and adjusted suspension configuration.

Frossard kept a strong pace in the first moto until the closing stages of the 35 minutes and 2 laps when he was able to increase his speed and close on the battle for second, sweeping past Evgeny Bobryshev and Max Nagl. The Frenchman set off in hot pursuit of Antonio Cairoli and with both having to move through a gaggle of backmarkers, Frossard was able to haunt the rear wheel of the Sicilian but just ran out of time. Three tenths of a second split the pair at the finish. In the second moto 183 kept Cairoli close-company for half the race but a broken plastic chain runner on the swing-arm caused a strange feeling and meant the 24-year-old exercised caution and settled for second spot.

David Philippaerts managed to hold onto the back of his team-mate and Clement Desalle for almost all of the first race but struggled a little to find effective lines and passed the flag in fifth. Later in the afternoon the Italian was able to trouble the top ten in his usual aggressive and impressive manner. The former world champion started badly but rode from a slot of thirteenth on the first lap to capture fifth again and the same classification overall.

Anthony Boissiere made a good start to run in the top ten during the second moto but the Frenchman is still lacking a sharp edge of race fitness and eventually posted two thirteenth positions to lie twelfth at the end of the day.

The MX1 World Championship table shows both factory riders in the top six of the standings. Frossard holds third place and is still in contention for the title in his first season in the class. He stares at a distance of 46 points from Cairoli with a maximum of 250 to be won in the five remaining events. The French and Swedish GP winner is just 4 points behind Clement Desalle in second. Philippaerts is sixth and 29 away from the top five.

After six meetings in seven weeks Monster Energy Yamaha will now be able to enjoy a small break before back-to-back races in Belgium and Czech Republic starting on July 31st. The meetings will provide two diverse challenges as the sand of Lommel is considered one of the toughest surfaces of the year and will be followed by the greasy and stony hardpack of Loket.

Steven Frossard, 2nd and 2nd for 4th overall:
I had a bad start in the first moto and for around twenty minutes I didn’t have a good feeling on the track and was getting some arm-pump. I looked for the better lines and I was able to get faster and smoother. I came back very well even though it was difficult to pass the other riders. I almost caught Antonio but couldn’t manage it. Anyway I was happy. I felt fit and ready for the second moto and passed Antonio on the first lap but he got me back. I started to look at the lines and kept with him but when I heard a couple of noises from the bike I focussed on taking second and making the finish. I was able to play on the bike and with the track this weekend and I hope it will be the same next time in the sand.

David Philippaerts, 5th and 5th for 5th overall:
I’m happy with today because last year I found the track very difficult but this time I was riding fast. I think it was possible to finish in the top three during the second moto but I made a mistake at the start with Nagl and I was held back. My lap-times were good after that even though the state of the track meant it was hard work. This is not my favourite place so I’m happy to have form like this. I took some risks to pass but I overtook a lot of riders and this was something else positive. My condition is good and this is important ahead of Lommel and Loket. The bike was working really well today. With Fabio we made a few changes to the suspension and they worked out. We will have a weekend off now but we will be in Belgium getting ready in the sand.

Osborne 5th in Latvia as Paulin rues poor luck
A 21,000 attendance at a warm Kegums circuit saw Bike it Cosworth Yamahas Zach Osborne defy the effects of an energy-sapping virus to take his YZ250F to fifth place overall. The Grand Prix of Latvia was the tenth round of fifteen in the FIM Motocross World Championship and provided one of the roughest tracks to negotiate. Monster Energy Yamahas Gautier Paulin was not able to aim for a seventh consecutive podium finish after moments in both motos forced the talented Frenchman to recover from lowly positions in the pack. The factory YZ250FM rider fought hard to capture eighth overall.

Paulin, who had recorded four 3rd places and 2 runner-up slots in the previous six events, experimented with an altered riding position and different rear tyre to tackle the hardpack with sandy sections but finally opted for his original settings. The track itself carved into a tough beast to crack with a relentless series of bumps and dips that was just as hard on the bikes as it was physically and mentally for the riders.

The former European Champion was fortunate to escape serious injury when he fell from third position on the second corner of the first moto and was clipped by several chasing riders. Paulin embarked on a decent comeback (setting the quickest lap) in spite of an aching back and climbed the field to score ninth. A near-crash when he lost traction at the top of the fast waves section on the first lap of the second moto meant another chase and he reached tenth on that occasion.

Zach Osborne had been diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus before the Grand Prix of Germany seven days ago and rested throughout the week in order to be able to attempt the Latvian meeting. The 21-year-old's day was dictated largely by his starts and positive thinking towards a maximum possible points haul. The American was almost able to threaten third place in the second moto but his runs to seventh and fifth were enough to make him the best-positioned Yamaha rider on the day. Team-mate Arnaud Tonus should have threatened the British Champions status. The Swiss finished fourth in the opening race despite catching green fencing in his wheel in the closing laps. His second moto was prematurely curtailed by a broken rear wheel. The hardpack terrain and lethal holes proving too much for the spokes in what was an unusual way to DNF.

Monster Energy Yamahas Harri Kullas had one of his best days of the season to claim sixth overall. The Finn was competing in a semi-home Grand Prix with plenty of followers and supporters at Kegums. Two bright starts assisted the youngsters motos as he pushed to ninth and sixth (the latter representing his highest result of the year). Kullas team-mate Christophe Charlier was again luckless with injury. The Frenchman fell and was struck by Jeffrey Herlings caused ligament damage to his right shoulder and forcing him out of the Grand Prix. The 2009 European Champion is hopeful of being able to return for round eleven.

In the MX2-GP standings Paulin lost some ground to Tommy Searle and third position but keeps fourth place and now has to work on a gap of 27 points. Osborne is fifth, Tonus sixth and Kullas now into eighth. Charlier is tenth for the fifth YZ250F in the top ten.

The FIM Motocross World Championship will now pause for a week before trips to Lommel (Limburg, Belgium) and Loket (Czech Republic) on consecutive weekends starting on July 31st.

Gautier Paulin, 8th and 10th for 8th overall:
I had the speed to win the GP but it was not my day. In the first race I was already into third by the second corner and I put my front wheel too high in the turn and lost it in the sand. A few riders hit me and another one crashed and I lost a lot of time stuck under his bike. I felt stiff but came back fast and strong because I was angry. I made the best lap but when I cooled down I was feeling sore. Afterwards I could see the tyre marks on my back and arm! I was also lucky to finish because the exhaust and radiator were damaged. In the second moto, on the first lap at the end of the waves section, I lost traction, swapped left and right and hit the bars with my stomach. I found it hard to breathe for a few laps. Too many crashes and mistakes today. The track was pretty bumpy and hard. You have to be careful here. It is a nice place but when the ground gets so hard then it is tough going. Anyway I’m happy the weekend is over. I’m also happy for a few things; my speed and also the good starts, which shows our progress. I will go to Belgium now and recover a bit; do some physio and heal the blisters.

Zach Osborne, 7th and 5th for 5th overall:
It could have been better obviously but in the first race I didn’t have a lot to go with. In the second I found a good rhythm. I rode with Max and we both caught up to Tommy but when we hit a couple of lappers I felt done. I didn’t have enough reserves to push up and try and pass those guys. I just settled on what I had. I think this is one of the better tracks of the year. It is gnarly and the way it is now, rough and square-edged, it is definitely world championship calibre. It is one of the only places we go to that has this surface that is both hard and kinda sandy. I am feeling better day by day and yesterday was the fittest I felt in a few weeks. I seem to take a few steps forward and then back, forward and then back. Ill be fighting through the rest of the year. 7-5 is not bad today but I think I am capable of two top fives every weekend no matter how sick I am. The next GP is really challenging for me and I have a lot to prove there so Ill be looking forward to it.

Harri Kullas, 9th and 6th for 6th overall:
Overall it was a good day. I knew my speed was OK and if I made the starts then the top six or seven was possible. In the first race my start put me around tenth and my weakness has been the first laps of the motos but this time I was good and I made three positions to be seventh. I tried a few lines and made a couple of mistakes. I looked at the speed of Osborne and pushed and pushed. Near the end I was close to passing but we found two lappers in the way and they blocked me. Paulin then put me to ninth on the last lap; I should have been seventh! In the second moto I was chasing Searle but then a lot of things happened. Butron broke his bike, Nicholls had a problem and Tonus broke a wheel. I caught Teillet and was fighting to control the bike because my shoulders were getting tired. It was really rough. I found myself riding in sixth near the end of the moto and I was very happy to finish there.

KAWASAKI RACING

MX2 - Tommy Searle and Max Anstie finish 3-4 in Latvia
Kawasaki Team CLS duo Tommy Searle and Max Anstie were third and fourth today in the Latvian round of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship at the rugged Kegums track.

It was the first visit to the track some 20 miles from the Latvian capital city of Riga for both riders and Tommy Searle was satisfied to finish a solid fifth during the qualification race on Saturday before raising his game even further on Sunday to record his seventh podium of the series. Hindered by other riders as the pack surged towards the first turn in race one he emerged outside the top six but soon forced his way forward to take over second place by half distance and resist all attempts to dislodge him from this hard-earned prize. Tommy took a slightly better start in race two, but still had to spend several laps getting around other riders before he could advance to third place on lap nine; by then the two leaders were too far ahead for him to have any chance of catching them and, his hands badly blistered, he wisely settled for a safe third place on the rugged track. Tommy ended the day on the same points as 2010 Latvian winner Jeffrey Herlings, but lost second on the day on the tie-break; he remains a strong third in the championship as the series enters the final third at the end of the month.

Max Anstie had taken longer to become acquainted with the track in training, but once the gate dropped for the qualification race he made a superb start from his disadvantageous gate to actually head home Searle for fourth place. This gave the teenager a good base for the GP races on Sunday and he responded with two battling rides onto the leaderboard, finishing fifth in race one and fourth in race two. This gave him fourth place in the GP, the fourth time he has just missed the podium by one place this year, it can only be a matter of time before that elusive first trophy comes along. The points haul also moved him back closer into the battle for fifth place in the standings as he recovers ground lost with the unfortunate accident which forced him to miss the Spanish GP last month.

Tommy Searle: “Third again here in Latvia ! That was OK but the track was really dangerous in the second moto. I’ve a very bad blister to my hand since the beginning of the first moto; it made it really difficult to ride the bike in the second moto but I got a second and a third and that’s very good points. I struggled with the lines in the second moto; it was the bumpiest track of the year and it wasn’t much fun to ride. It was the first time I have been here; it was not too bad on Saturday, but it was easy to make mistakes and today I nearly crashed so many times so I’m happy to be on the podium. My starts were not so great; I don’t know why I can’t get good jumps off the grid, because I did it in the past, and for sure things would be easier with good starts. We have a weekend off now and it will be nice to have a short break as I need time for my hand to heal up. But I will also have to ride in the sand to prepare for Lommel. I know how to ride in deep sand, but I need a few days of practice to find a good feeling in the sand.”

Max Anstie: “It was a tough race. It was really hot and I continue to build, build and build my condition. My fastest lap actually came on the very last lap of the second moto and I finished so close to Tommy. It’s a shame that I again finished fourth; it’s the fourth time this year that I have missed the podium by one place! My training programme is so good, and I have again proved that I feel strong when the conditions are tough with a bumpy track like this one. Sometimes on Saturday it takes me some time to get used to the tracks as I have never ridden them before; I have to learn the lines and how to tackle the obstacles, but here it was OK and in the end the most important is to be fast on the race day! We still have a few more races left and my goal is to be on the podium at least once this year. The next race is in Belgium and I love Lommel; I have ridden there since I was very young, and this winter I was there with Jeffrey (Herlings). I love sand, I’m feeling better than ever and I can’t wait to be there for the GP!”

MX1 - Xavier Boog ninth in Latvia
Xavier Boog took a ninth-placed finish in the first heat of the FIM World MX1 Championship at Kegums in Latvia, but bad luck prevented further success for the Frenchman or his fellow Kawasaki riders.

On a difficult track which would punish the slightest mistake all of the world elite had to approach racing cautiously and the start was vital. Boog had finished ninth in the qualifying race on Saturday and this was the basis for an identical result in the first moto of the GP as he started eighth and lost just one place to the Belgian rider Ken De Dycker, a recognised expert on this type of track. Hopes of a similar result to maintain his challenge for eighth in the championship were shattered when he collided with a number of other riders entering the first turn, a further crash leaving him too far behind to have any chance of scoring points.

His Kawasaki Racing Team colleague Jonathan Barragan had never raced the Kegums track before so the Spaniard had no personal data to fall back on in the all-important bike set-up. Unhappy with the settings he had chosen for the opening race Jonathan pulled out after a few laps, but he put the lessons learnt to good effect to find a more suitable set-up for race two, where he maintained a leaderboard place all race to finish eleventh.

Davide Guarneri of Kawasaki Bud Racing had been the most successful Kawasaki rider during the Saturday qualification but two difficult starts on race day meant that he was restricted to finishes just outside the top ten. He fought his way forward from 17th to eleventh in race one, and appeared to be on his way to ninth in race two until the demanding track and heat took its toll in the closing stages to see the Italian drop to an eventual twelfth place.

Guarneri's team-mate Gregory Aranda continues to seek his known form after recent injuries and operations and inevitably could not perform at his best on this rugged track. Nevertheless he showed great fighting spirit to finish the first race 14th but wisely withdrew from race two as track conditions worsened rather than risk an unnecessary setback in his recovery.

Xavier Boog: “I have been frustrated with my performances for a couple of weeks now; I don’t understand why I can’t get better results and this weekend was the same again. I qualified ninth on Saturday, and then in the first race I had a pretty good start but lost a few positions during the first lap to finish ninth. Many people would be happy with such a result, but Kawasaki has every right to expect something better from me. At the second start I touched wheels with some other riders before the first corner and crashed. Then I crashed again in the waves section and in the end I pulled into the pits when it was obvious that I had no chance to get back into the points. I was expecting much more, but now we’ll continue to work and prepare for the next rounds of the series.”

Jonathan Barragan: “It’s the first time I have ever raced here in Latvia, and right from the first practice session it was difficult to find a good feeling with the suspension. We worked on the settings, but I never felt confident with my bike throughout Saturday. The first race was difficult; I was fighting the bike and nearly crashed several times so I retired rather than taking unnecessary risks. We change some settings for the second race and I felt a lot better on the bike even though the track was getting worse.”

Davide Guarneri: “Several things happened to prevent me getting the results I would have wished for this weekend, but one really positive thing which I can take from this GP is the fact that I finished both races for the first time in many weeks. We worked on the suspension this week and I had a good feeling with the bike already on Saturday; I got the fourth position in the timed practice session, close to the pole, and then finished seventh in the qualifying race. My first start in the GP wasn’t so good; I started nineteenth but fought through to eleventh, close to Ramon. In the second moto I was eleventh at the start and moved up to ninth, fighting with Philippaerts, but maybe I was pushing too hard because in the last five minutes of the race I felt really tired and had to surrender three positions. The result is not fantastic but it was a good step; my speed was OK and I had a good feeling with the bike.”

Gregory Aranda: “The track was not so rough when I came here two years ago but this weekend it was bumpy and hard. My first start was average but I fought back to fourteenth; that was not so bad even if I am looking for better than that after the surgery on my arms. I was twelfth at the start of the second race but the track was getting rougher and rougher and I was no longer happy with my suspension settings. Because of my injuries we didn’t have so much time to test on tracks like this as the French tracks are not so rough. Now, after my wrist surgery, I’ve a better feeling and we will work on the settings; for sure Lommel will be difficult, but then we have a couple of GPs at tracks where I can show what I am capable of.

HONDA WORLD MOTOCROSS TEAM
Bobryshev makes it three in a row in Latvia

Evgeny Bobryshev has made it three consecutive podiums for the Honda World Motocross team, with an excellent 3rd place finish at the GP of Kegums, Latvia. Bobryshev went 3-3 across both motos to take home 3rd in the overall classification and to step onto the podium once more in front of a crowd of enthusiastic Russian fans who had made the trip over the border.

Bobryshev was running at the front for much of the first moto, just behind leader Cairoli but could never quite get into the position to make the pass. Frossard was closing behind and as the moto came into the latter stages, made the pass for 2nd. Bobryshev would settle for 3rd and set his sights on a similar finish in the second. Team-mate Gonçalves would also post a strong ride to 7th position.
 
The second moto followed a very similar format, with Cairoli, Frossard and Bobryshev once again gapping the chasing pack. Gonçalves would charge through from 10th position on the first lap to lead this chasing pack in 4th. Out front the positions would not change and it stayed Cairoli, Frossard and Bobryshev (the same order for the overall classification) with Gonçalves 4th in the moto and overall.

Evgeny Bobryshev, Honda World Motocross
“I am so happy to be on the podium once again but I cannot really think right now because my brain is boiled! It was really hot out there and the pace was really quick. I feel like I am comfortable on the podium now and want to be here every week.”

Rui Gonçalves, Honda World Motocross
“This was a really good result and I was very happy with the way I rode in the second moto, coming through the pack. I just relaxed and let things flow and this is when I ride at my best. I just need to sort things out a bit in the first moto but overall it has been a good day.”

HONDA RACING

Weather: Cloudy, bright, sunny
Temperature: Ambient 24 degrees C
Attendance: 21,000

THIRD PODIUM IN A ROW FOR BOBRYSHEV

A hot Grand Prix of Latvia at Kegums was attended by 21,000 spectators and while Antonio Cairoli claimed his third overall victory from the ten rounds of the 2011 FIM Motocross World Championship held to-date, Honda World Motocross’ Evgeny Bobryshev picked up his third podium trophy in a row with third position overall on his works CRF450R.

The hard terrain at the circuit south east of the capital city of Riga was packed with small rippling bumps and holes that constantly unsettled the bikes. The 1500m gnarly layout barely gave the riders time to breathe and was physically demanding.

One week after his historic success in Germany, Bobryshev was again a protagonist and ran with Cairoli and Max Nagl to dispute the lead during the first 35 minute and two lap moto. The Russian was finally able to fend-off the German and secured his sixth top three race placing of the year. The second sprint saw the 23 year old holding a lonely third spot as Cairoli broke-free with Steven Frossard in tow. As Bobryshev crossed the finish line he was loudly cheered by a large section of support that had made the trip from his homeland. ‘Bobby’s spray of champagne was his fifth of an impressive maiden campaign as a factory Honda rider.

Team-mate Rui Gonçalves was again in touching distance of the ‘box’. The Portuguese spent large parts of practice and qualification on Saturday perfecting his set-up and was finally able to race to seventh and fourth positions for fourth overall. The former MX2 championship runner-up was again a strong force in the second race as the Hondas guarded two positions at the top of the leader-board.

Seventh in the final MX1 classification was LS Honda’s Ken De Dycker. The Belgian was constantly battling for places inside the top ten and was frustrated by his inability to set a consistently quick speed throughout the afternoon. The former Grand Prix winner was sixth and ninth for his ranking and is now keenly anticipating a home meeting in the Lommel sand in two weeks.

Also glad to get into the sand (the terrain was the scene of his best GP finish with an MX2 moto triumph in 2009) will be LS Honda’s Shaun Simpson who was defeated by the challenge of the track today. The Scot was fifteenth in both races for thirteenth overall.

Swian Zanoni guided the CRF250R for Honda Brazil HM to twenty-first position in the first moto and missed out on his first GP point in 2011 by just one place. The Brazilian started well and was on the gas in the second sprint. He was holding seventeenth spot when a crash caused a dislocated right wrist and necessitated a visit to the hospital.

Evgeny Bobryshev is thirty-six points behind Steven Frossard and third position in the MX1 series standings. He is the first of three CRF450Rs in the top nine of the category with Gonçalves holding seventh and De Dycker just inside the top ten. MX1 rookie Simpson is fifteenth.

Rounds eleven and twelve of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place on consecutive weekends on July 31st and August 7th with Grand Prix events in Limburg (Belgium) and Czech Republic.

Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda World Motocross)
Race Result: 3rd/3rd Championship position: 4th
“The best riders in the world are here so you have to be happy with a third place. The track was very different this year and it was very difficult, especially in the second race, to hold the bike and stay on two wheels. I took it easy out there because I knew a mistake would cost me positions and a lot of points. Anyway it was a great day and I think third place is the best I could do. I have to say a big thanks to the fans they really cheered me on, like when I was ‘lying’ on the bike at the end of the second moto!”

Rui Gonçalves (Honda World Motocross)
Race Result: 7th/4th Championship position: 7th
“It feels like I have been doing sevenths and fourths a long time! I’m happy with the second moto and the first was not too bad either, but I was riding a bit tense. I need to sort this out if I want to be on the podium. The team have worked really hard on the bike this weekend, like night and day, to give me the best material for the races. That’s what I had and I really appreciate it. I’m getting stronger and I will keep on focussing because I know better GPs are yet to come.”

Ken De Dycker (LS Honda Racing)
Race Result: 6th/9th Championship position: 9th
“Today was OK. I didn’t have such a good start in the first moto, but was struggling to find good lines and consistent speed. The second race wasn’t much better and I lost some positions in the first few laps. I could pick it up a bit more at the end, but felt tired. We have a break before Lommel, but I expect things will be better there.”

Shaun Simpson (LS Honda Racing)
Race Result: 15th/15th Championship position: 15th
“A tough weekend. I didn’t like the track last year and didn’t like it this year! It could be such a nice track, but every time we come here it seems to be getting harder and harder. I just tried to struggle on as best I could. Last year we had problems with set-up and it was the same story. It was important to get a start and I did that in the first moto, but didn’t feel that great and faded back. I was lucky to get through the mess on the first corner of the second race, but after that my first ten minutes were shocking. I was much better towards the end and my laps were consistent and fast. I felt OK. It has been a hard three weeks and I’m looking forward to Lommel.”

Roger Harvey, Honda Motor Europe Off-road Racing Manager:
“Not a bad weekend for us and fantastic to see Evgeny take his third podium in a row. He rode sensibly and brought the points home and his progress this season is clear by his championship position and to be honest we are really pleased with this. The factory team worked extremely hard for Rui and he repaid them with a tremendous ride in the second moto. If he could just sort out his first race then we will have both riders going for podiums. It was hard work for Ken and Shaun, but I’m sure both will be happy of a short break now before LS Honda’s home event in Lommel in two weeks.”

TEAM SUZUKI

ROCKSTAR ENERGY SUZUKI MX1 IN TOP 10
Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 ended an intense period of the FIM Motocross World Championship with Steve Ramon and Clement Desalle earning eight and ninth positions overall at Kegums this afternoon. The Grand Prix of Latvia, watched under sunny skies by 21,000 people, represented the 10th round of 15 in the 2011 series and also the sixth event in seven busy weeks of travelling throughout Europe.

The team needed to be at its best and most resilient across a Kegums hardpack that nevertheless carved into a plethora of ripples, holes and small bumps that constantly tested the handling of the works RM-Z450s and the physical aptitude of both Belgian riders.

Desalle fronted the MX1 Qualification Heat for almost the entire distance on Saturday and his flowing speed was a good sign that the Belgian is returning to fitness. His luck deserted him on Sunday, however, as two bright starts were undone by racing incidents: A duel with Steven Frossard for fourth position ended with the winner of three Grands Prix this season on the floor and rapidly having to reclaim his motorcycle. Another spill on the last lap, when he entered a 180 degree turn too fast and the front end dug into the loose soil on the outer line, pushed a frustrated Desalle down to eighth. In the second moto, a collision mid-air with Evgeny Bobryshev cresting the finish-line tabletop yanked the 21-year-old's weak shoulder and from that point he had to accept another eighth position for nine overall.

Steve Ramon had been fast all weekend and was second quickest in both practice sessions on Saturday, scoring a decent fourth pick for the gate through the Heat sprint. Sadly the former World Champion had a lacklustre start and first race to 10th. The second moto saw an improvement in his speed and vigour and at one point the veteran was vying for third place until finally leaping across the line in sixth for eighth in the classification.

Desalle is still second in the MX1 title chase but stares at a gap of 42 points to Tony Cairoli. Ramon is eighth and needs 52 points to overhaul Rui Gonçalves.

The FIM Motocross World Championship will resume in two weeks with the team's home event at Lommel (Limburg). The sandy track will then be contrasted by a trip to the slippery hardpack of Loket in the Czech Republic a week later.

Clement Desalle:
"In the first moto I was fast and started third. Frossard passed me and I didn't want to take any risks. I was close to passing him back but he shut the line and I had a big crash. Luckily I was not hurt. I was sixth but on the last lap I lost control of the front end in a corner and dropped back to eighth. It was really bad. In the second moto I was in the top five around the first corner and when Bobryshev passed me he touched me in the air over the tabletop. I had a 'shock' to my shoulder because the bike was pulled out of my grip. I was a bit scared after that move and didn't feel good on the bike. I was riding badly. I will go home now and try to get my injured finger better and think about Lommel."

Steve Ramon:
"It was a little bit of a frustrating day. I had a bad start in the first moto and it was difficult to get in the rhythm. I couldn't push and felt like I had no energy. I was just riding around and feeling lazy. The better start in the second moto helped and because the track was getting really rough; you had to concentrate and be careful. I was doing well and not too far behind the front guys. I saw that third place was possible and tried to push but was getting tired and making mistakes. It was physically tough today; the speed was there but I still have some work to do to get in better shape."

TEILLET CONTINUES TO IMPROVE IN LATVIA
Valentin Teillet maintained his steady flight back into the reckoning of the competitive MX2 category by taking seventh position overall at a rough Kegums circuit for the Grand Prix of Latvia and the 10th round of 15 in the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Lit by bright but cloudy skies, the terrain was hardpack but soft enough to carve into a succession of small bumps and holes that pushed the set-up of the motorcycles to the fore in an effort to find traction. The RM-Z250 coped admirably with the surface that sent riders bucking and meant a physically draining set of 35 minute and 2 laps motos.

From his eighth pick in the gate, Teillet forged two lively starts. In the first moto he held a mid-top 10 slot on the first lap and then struggled to find an effective rhythm to fight for higher places. A problem with his goggles and therefore his visibility also didn't help but despite the adversity he scored 10th. An excellent launch in the second moto saw the Frenchman running as high as second place and although he was not able to sustain the pace, his finish of seventh was a major confidence-boost considering the GP was only his third since coming back from injury; and also the track was one of the toughest this year.

The former European Champion is now 19th in the standings and rising fast thanks to his steady points accumulation. The FIM Motocross World Championship will halt briefly before round 11 takes place in the sand of Lommel for the Grand Prix of Limburg (Belgium) on July 31st. The Czech round of the series will follow immediately afterwards on the slick hardpack of Loket.

Valentin Teillet:
"My starts were really good today and I'm really happy about that. I was not too pleased with my first laps of the first moto. I didn't have a good feeling and I had a small problem with my goggles that meant it was hard to focus on the track. To finish 10th was so-so for me and I wanted better in the second race. I did my best and I when I passed Herlings for second I was able to keep there for a couple of laps. It was great for my confidence to see the speed I could make. Two months ago I could barely move my arm so this was great. I was third for a long time and I think I burnt myself out a little bit. The track was hard and it was hot, I felt tired. I found another rhythm and to finish seventh was OK."

YAMAHA VAN BEERS RACING TEAM
Petar Petrov twelfth in Grand Prix of Latvia

Petar Petrov of the Yamaha van Beers Racing Team finished twelfth overall at round ten of the World Championship Series in Kegums in Latvia. Petar started the weekend positively by setting the 11th fastest time in the free practice session and the sixteenth fastest time in the pre qualifying session. In the qualifying heat he was riding a strong race and finished in twelfth position.

In the first moto he didn’t took a good start and came out of the first corner around 20th position. In the beginning of the race he managed to pass several riders and worked himself up to 15th position. Petar wasn’t satisfied with this result and gave everything he had in the second part of the moto. He managed to pass the fourteenth place rider and held on to this position until the chequered flag waved.

The start of the second moto was a lot better and this time he started around twelfth position. During the race he had a lot of nice battles around twelfth position and in the middle of the race he was riding in eleventh position for some laps. Unfortunately he lost this position and dropped back to twelfth position again. Petar was riding a consistent race and crossed the finish line in twelfth position. With these results he finished twelfth overall and after ten rounds he sits in 17th position in the World Championship standings.

Marc de Reuver was motivated to do well in Latvia after his top ten result at the German Grand Prix. Marc set the ninth fastest time in free practice and ended the pre qualifying session in 16th position. In the qualifying heat he finished the race in 13th position and this was enough for a good gate pick in the races on Sunday. In the first moto he got a problem with his front brake straight after the start and was forced to retire from the race. In the second moto he started in fifteenth position and worked himself back up to 13th position in the beginning of the race. Unfortunately he couldn’t find his rhythm because he had missed the entire first moto. Marc tried to keep the pace as high as he could but lost several positions. He finally finished the race in 18th position and scored three World Championship points. Overall he finished in 22nd position and after ten rounds he sits in 20th position in the World Championship standings.

Herjan Brakke crashed on Saturday and injured his hand. Because of the pain he wasn’t able to ride today.

LS HONDA RACING
De Dycker moves up in MX1 standings

LS Honda Racing headed to Latvia this weekend for the 10th round of the MX1 World Championship. In testing and hot conditions Ken De Dycker managed to finish seventh overall allowing him to climb up from 11th to 9th in MX1 World Championship only one point behind Steve Ramon in 8th position.

The MX1 qualifying race on Saturday took place under cloudy skies. Although Shaun Simpson pulled off a strong start, circulating in fifth on the opening lap, he was unfortunately not able to turn this into a good qualifying position. In a fight for seventh position with Max Nagl it was Simpson who ran off track and he consequently dropped back to 31st. The Scottish rider eventually qualified in 21st. Ken De Dycker took his CRF450R to 10th place after steady race.

Sunday’s races saw very different meteorological conditions with bright and sunny weather pushing the temperature up to 25° C. In the opening moto Keeno was sluggish out of the gate, but he quickly moved up to 11th by the end of the opening lap. The likeable Belgian found it hard to get into the groove. Yet determinedly he ploughed through to pass France’s Xavier Boog and Portugal’s Rui Gonçalves for sixth place behind former world champion David Philippaerts. Team mate Simpson started just outside the top ten. Shaun emerged 12th in the opening stages of the race. While he tried to make the best of what the Latvian track had to offer it was clear that the MX1 rookie struggled to come to terms with the circuit amidst the best motocross riders in the world. Shaun crossed the finish line in 15th position. The soft soil on top with hard pack underneath had become trickier has the weekend progressed. Small bumps and square holes were littered all over the place by the start of the second MX1 moto.

The second sprint saw a much improved start for ‘Keeno’, this time he placed seventh. However this didn’t suffice to set him up for the strong result he was aiming for. De Dycker ran as high as sixth before dropping back. On his way to 9th at the chequered flag the LS Honda number 9 put in some solid laps, but Ken never looked comfortable enough to challenge for a top-five position.

Former British MX2 champion Simpson managed to avoid the chaos of the second MX1 start. Heading into the second lap Shaun was placed 13th. As all riders around him started to raise their speed Simpson experienced a severe lull that knocked him back to a disappointing 19th. As the laps ticked by he crawled himself back into contention to 15th by half race-distance. He also crossed the line in 15th, giving Shaun 13th place overall in the Grand Prix.

Ken De Dycker: “Today was all right I didn’t have such a good start in the first moto, but was struggling to find good lines and consistent speed. The second race wasn’t much better and I lost some positions in the first few laps. I could pick it up a bit more at the end, but felt tired. We have a break before Lommel, but I expect things will be better there.”

Shaun Simpson: “It was a tough weekend. I didn’t like the track last year and didn’t like it this year! It could be such a nice track, but every time we come here it seems to be getting harder and harder. I just tried to struggle on as best I could. It was important to get a start and I did that in the first moto, but didn’t feel that great and faded back. I was lucky to get through the mess on the first corner of the second race, but after that my first ten minutes were shocking. I was much better towards the end and my laps were consistent and fast. I felt OK. It has been a hard three weeks and I’m looking forward to Lommel.”

GAUTIER PAULIN
Paulin ends string of podiums with luckless Latvian GP

The Zelta Zirgs circuit in Kegums Latvia, hosted round 10 of the FIM MX World championship this weekend. Yamaha Monster Energy’s, Gautier Paulin was looking to add to his six consecutive podiums in front of 21,000 spectators. However the French youngster was clean out of luck on the tricky track and left Latvia more than disappointed.

Paulin set pole position in the pre-qualifying practice on Saturday and rode a solid qualification race to end third putting him in a good starting position for Sunday’s race. He grabbed a good start in race 1 but went down in the second turn and was run over by a gaggle of riders. Paulin remounted and gave chase to the pack, setting the fastest lap of the race and rocketing his YZ250F to 8th position at the end of the 35 minutes + 2 lap race.

Bruised and scathed from his first race encounter Paulin almost went down on the first lap of race 2 when his bike swapped and he hit the bars with his chest, knocking the wind out of him. It took him several laps to gain his breathe back when he knuckled down to salvage tenth.

“I am really disappointed with this result because I showed I was one of the fastest today but I guess it was not my day. I lost a lot of time when I crashed in the first moto and got stuck under another rider's bike. I set the fastest lap of the race after that but that does not help the results. I’ll take this week to recover and then I’ll be back in Belgium to train and test in the sand before Lommel,” explained Paulin.

STEVE RAMON
Ramon shows good speed in Latvia

Perfect weather conditions and a strong crowd of 21,000 turned out at round 10 of the FIM MX World championship in Kegums, Latvia this weekend. Rockstar Energy Suzuki racer Steve Ramon was determined going into Sunday’s race having put in a strong qualifying performance on Saturday.

The Belgian would run out of luck in the start of the first moto when Steven Frossard bobbled in the first turn and Ramon ran into the back of him. He had to fight through the pack to salvage tenth spot.

A better start without incidents had Ramon in fourth place hounding Bobryshev in moto 2. The tricky and rough Zelta Zirgs track needed a lot of concentration and focus from the riders with Ramon having to relinquish two positions at the end of a gruelling 35 minutes + 2 lap race to finish sixth.

“I was pleased with my speed on Saturday during the qualification practice where I posted second time and then came from tenth to fourth in the race. Somehow I just could not find my rhythm today and lost concentration and made some small mistakes. The speed was there which is positive. I’m looking forward to my home GP in two weeks. It’s time to get on the podium,” smiled Ramon.

TANEL LEOK
LEOK TENTH IN LATVIAN GP AFTER A BUSY WEEK

There is an unmistakable signature to Tanel Leok's riding style. It is not always a purist's dream, but it simply oozes purpose. Halfway through a busy week, Tanel had his home town crowd on their feet as he hunkered over the bike and gave it his all in the annual Somerpalu motocross. The event, midway between two GP's, always attracts a strong field of international riders who enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, Estonian hospitality, and the attention of probably the world's most dedicated motocross fans.

The Estonian Express gave it his all, but on the day of the Somerpalu cross he had to admit defeat against former house-mate Evgeny Bobryshev, who, after riding to his first ever GP victory the previous weekend, was flying on a cloud of confidence. Tanel took comfort form the day's racing nonetheless, for after a German GP that did him no favours, he again took the challenge right to the Russian, proving to his fans and himself that he is still up to the battle.

Teutschenthal in Germany has delivered mixed results for Tanel in the past. He scored his first ever top 10 GP result there way back in 2002, he has mounted the podium there, but also flamed out on occasion. The 2011 chapter of the history book hovered in the direction of a flame out, with a second race DNF costing the Estonian valuable GP points.

Leaving such matters behind him , Tanel headed off to Kegums in Latvia for what is as close to a home GP as he can get. Loads of Estonian fans make the short hop to neighbouring Latvia to cheer on their heroes, of which Tanel the spearhead. The pre-qualifying practice allowed him to choose the eleventh gate for the qualifying race, but some first lap problems held the TM factory rider back to the rearguard, from where he had to battle his way forward. The short race did not allow him much opportunity for meaningful progress, and in the end the best he could do was secure seventeenth qualifying spot for Sunday's race.

Tanel's start in the first race was not copybook stuff either, and he had to plough his way forward from just inside the top 20. The track was hard to pass on, but Tanel made steady progress nonetheless, collecting the chequered flag in twelfth spot. With acres of blue/white/black flags fluttering in support around the track, Tanel was burning for a good result in race two, and his start was made of much sterner stuff , as he settled into eleventh position. This was not his ultimate goal, however, and he set the TM's gun-sights forward. The track was by now dry and slippery, but he was in take-no-prisoners mode, and he quickly made his way into the top 10. He followed Rui Gonçalves through the field, and claimed a number of prize scalps along the way.

Tanel homed in on the riders ahead of him, and had some big names in his sights. When Clement Desalle waned, he made the pass, and similarly a mistake by David Philippaerts was punished. He homed in on Steve Ramon, and were he able to make the pass, he would have landed in fifth position, with the bastion of Gonçalves still open to attack. As is often the case though, when two riders biff it out for a position, the rider following them is perfectly placed to take advantage of the situation. In this occasion this was also the case. As Tanel and Ramon got close to the clinch, Philippaerts saw his opportunity and repassed the Estonian. By now they were on the last lap, and there was no time to recover, leaving Tanel with a seventh place finish, and tenth overall for the day

Although a top ten GP result is nothing to be sneezed at, Tanel was still not entirely happy with the day. “The track was not easy to pass on, and if you got held up in the start, it was difficult to make up positions. The second race was good, and my speed was back in the zone,” he said. Tanel gained a spot in the world standings and now holds 12th position.

After a few days' rest with family and friends, the Estonian Express' Mercedes Vito will launch into the 2200 km journey to his Belgian base for the umpteenth time. He will participate in Everts and Friends, Stefan Everts' annual charity event. A week later he will set up camp at Lommel, a track that he likes and that favours his sand riding skills.

MATISS KARRO
KARRO 10th IN HOME GP

If you were to cast a look around the track at the 2011 Latvian GP, you would be forgiven for thinking that you'd landed up at the world's biggest fireman convention. The hills were awash in a sea of red t-shirts, and all of those proudly bore the name of Matiss Karro, Latvia's greatest motocross star. The amiable young man had been on the up and up since recovering from an early season injury, and at his last world championship outing he proved that he had the pace to note a single digit placement next to his name.

The MVR-D Honda rider came to the Latvian GP with a winner's trophy shining in the trophy cabinet. As is the custom, many of the GP regulars made a stopover in neighbouring Estonia to participate in the annual Somerpalu Motocross in the home town of Tanel Leok, and on this occasion, the Riga Rocket had all the goods to swing victory his way. During races he also finally got to meet the members of South African rock band Wake to Wonder, who are in the midst of a European tour. Rider and band have a mutual admiration society going on, and there was lots of light-hearted banter, especially so once Matiss had the biggest trophy secured.

All of the foregoing was on the periphery, however. The big one of the season for him would always be the Latvian GP, and with the expectation of a nation on his shoulder, Matiss was in high demand. TV interviews, journalists, fans and a mom that demanded that his room be cleaned up all vied for his attention, but in his laconic way, he breezed through all of this, with the possible exception of the cleaning up the room bit.

After posting the 14th fastest time in qualifying practice, Matiss had a solid, if unspectacular qualifying race to secure the 16th start gate choice for himself. He launched well into his first race, and looked set to join the fray in a top 10 position, when a collective sigh went up around the track. A rider had fallen just in front of him, and there was nothing he could do to avoid the new obstacle, which caused him to go down as well. By the time he got up, the race leaders were already in another postal code region, and his job was cut out for him to salvage as many points as possible. He did this with aplomb, and despite having to work away a massive time deficit, he barged all the way to 15th position for 6 valuable world championship points.

A roar went up at the start of race two as Matiss guided his Honda to seventh position. He gave as good as he got and held this position for a good few laps, but a mistake cost him a few sots and left him in danger of losing his top 10 position. He gnashed his teeth and bit back, and when the flag man called a large group of exhausted riders home, Matiss had a ninth place finish in his pocket. With two solid scores, he was tenth in the GP overall, and, more importantly, he had bounced two positions higher in the world championship standings, where he now occupies 22nd position.

The next GP is at Lommel in Belgium and the deep sand pits, notorious for killing giant reputations, are just what the doctor ordered for a sand rider on his way back to the front.

BEURSFOON SUZUKI
Mike Kras takes home Latvian Grand Prix points

Once again the Beursfoon Suzuki team scored some Grand Prix points in the MX2 class with its rider Mike Kras. On the fast track of Kegums – Latvia, Mike took 7 world championship points which makes him move into 22nd position in the World Championship standings. A 19th position in the first heat after a couple of battles halfway the race. More points in the second heat when Mike came back from 25th to 16th position. A satisfying result for both the team and rider who can look forward to its home GP at Lommel in two weeks time. Rasmus Jörgensen on board of the second Beursfoon Suzuki in the European Championship class could not find a proper agreement with the track last weekend. He struggled with the tricky track and just could not find the speed he was looking for. No points for Rasmus who knows what to do in order to make a better result in his next race Lommel.

Saturday:
Qualification sessions did not work out as hoped for our riders Mike and Rasmus. The last one was struggling with the sketchy track and could not really get into a decent rhythm. Mike on the other side rode his Suzuki to a 15th position at the start of the qualification heat. He was battling to get his speed in level and started making crucial mistakes. A couple of laps later he dropped back to 20th position but felt more comfortable on the bike towards the end of the race. A better feeling as a result of this qualify heat converted into some extra confidence.

Sunday:
Heat 1:
A consistent ride in this first heat where Mike did not find his best feeling on the Latvian soil. He got away in 21th position and made an early first successful pass on the twentieth and nineteenth position. He needed to fight for this 19th position till halfway this heat. Mike took advantage of the mistake his opponent made and built up a small gap, which he managed to keep till the end. Rasmus got chased by small crashes which made him loose too many seconds. Mission Impossible for Rasmus to get back into scoring points.

Heat 2:
More points in this second heat as Mike fought back from 25th to 16th position. He got some advantage by having a well organised race strategy. He gained 3 places in the last 4 laps of the race which brought him into a final 16th position, taking another 5 points. Both the team and rider where satisfied with this result and can look forward to its home GP at Lommel in two weeks time.

HUSQVARNA
MX2 LUPINO CONSTANT, LEIB AGAIN VERY UNLUCKY

The MX circus stayed for its 10th round at the city of Kegums in Latvia. Finishing 15th in the qualifying race Alex Lupino was not very lucky in the first race. After a good start and 2 laps in 11th position he dropped back to 16th place where he finished. After a bad start in race two he was able to make up his way from 23rd to 11th place at the finish.

Leib has not been able to recover from his injury of the beginning of the season. In race one he had another crash in which he injured his foot, but instead of giving up he was able to fight his way back to 17th position. In race two he started with pain in his foot which did not seem to affect his performance as he ploughed through the field to 12th position until he had to give up due to excessive pain.

QUALIFYING

TEAM SUZUKI

SUZUKIS IN TOP-4 AT MX1 QUALIFYING
Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1's Clement Desalle and Steve Ramon had a positive first day at the bumpy Kegums circuit for the Grand Prix of Latvia and the 10th round of 15 in the FIM Motocross World Championship. The Belgian duo took their works RM-Z450 machinery to second and fourth positions under cloudy skies at the venue south-east of Riga.

The course presented a hard and fast test with small ripples in the fine mud creating a tougher technical challenge as the day wore on. Ramon was second fastest in both Free Practice and Pre-Qualifying Practice but it was Desalle - still nursing a feeling of discomfort in his right shoulder - who made the better start in the Qualification Heat. The winner of three Grands Prix this season headed a four-rider chase for first place with Ramon at the tail of the group and held-off the attentions of Antonio Cairoli for almost the entire distance.

Ramon experimented with a different rear tyre but was largely happy with his set-up while Desalle left his race-machine untouched. The weather forecast predicts dry and similar conditions for race-day tomorrow.

Clement Desalle:
"The day started OK; I took my time on the track because I my shoulder was aching a little bit but I think this is a sign that the recovery is going well. I haven't been able to ride during the week so I was a stiff for that. My start was good in the heat race and I made a good rhythm until Tony came past. I tried to follow him but it was a bit difficult at that stage. I'm happy with how the bike is working and we will see what we can do for tomorrow."

Steve Ramon:
"I've been fast all day and after trying a different tyre my feeling is pretty good on the track, even though there are some sharp bumps coming through and you have to focus a lot otherwise it can catch you out. Bobryshev closed my line coming out of the gate; I think I could have made a better start if it wasn't for that. I'm optimistic for tomorrow. If I can get away with the leaders then it should be a good race for us."

TEILLET 8TH IN LATVIAN MX2 QUALIFYING
Suzuki Europe MX2's Valentin Teillet rode a solid race to secure eighth position in the MX2 Qualification Heat at a cloudy Kegums for the Grand Prix of Latvia and the 10th round of 15 in the FIM Motocross World Championship.

The Frenchman seemed to make a wobbly start to the 20 minute and 2 lap sprint after almost jumping the gate, but kept his cool and even managed to round the first corner just outside the top 10.

From that point Teillet gunned the RM-Z250 to a series of laps to climb to eighth place and complete the race across a hardpack and quick 1500m course that was becoming progressively rougher. Line choice was prevalent but the level of grips and consistency of the mud varied in sections.

The 20-year-old will be chasing his second top-10 result of the season tomorrow in what will only be his third Grand Prix appearance since returning from injury.

Valentin Teillet:
"I almost hit the gate! For the last two GPs I've not been happy with my starts so I've been working on this during the week and was trying to do something better today. I went slightly and then had to brake. It didn't turn out too bad and I was around 11th. We didn't change the set-up much today. This track seems to be different every year. It is really hard out there. The inside lines especially while the outside lines are very soft. I feel quick out there which is very important but at the end of the heat I started to feel a little bit like I wanted to be sick; I don't think it is anything to worry about. Where I am on the gate is fine for tomorrow."

HONDA WORLD MOTOCROSS TEAM
Bobryshev charges through in Kegums qualifier

Evgeny Bobryshev did things the hard way in Saturday’s Qualifying Race for the Grand Prix of Kegums Latvia, charging through to take 6th position. Team-mate Gonçalves also impressed with a solid 8th place finish.

An incident at the start dropped Bobryshev to a virtual last position but he was quickly re-mounted and began to make inroads in the very first lap, slicing through the backmarkers. By end of lap one, he had already elevated himself to 16th position as he picked off those in front with clinical accuracy.

The powerful Russian was riding hard, selecting difficult lines and using them to his advantage. He was quickly into the-top ten and then began to zone in on the top-five. However, time would run out in the 20 minutes +2 lap moto and 6th position was as far as he could come, but only 15 seconds behind race winner Antonio Cairoli.

Rui Gonçalves once again had good speed out of the start, running 2nd in the early stages. His challenge would fade a little however as the Portuguese moved into energy conservation mode, ahead of what is expected to be two gruelling 35 minutes + 2 lap motos tomorrow, settling for a finishing position of 8th.

Evgeny Bobryshev, Honda World Motocross
“I had big crash at the start when I tangled with Desalle I think. He moved into my line and I had nowhere to go! I need to make sure that I get clean starts tomorrow as it is so important to get away at the front.”

Rui Gonçalves, Honda World Motocross
“I will settle for 8th in today’s qualifier. I did not want to over-push today as I am conserving myself for tomorrow. The track is quite rough already and I want to make sure that I have all my energy for tomorrow’s motos.”