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Yamaha Racing
MX1 - Philippaerts new series leader after double podium in Portugal
A sun-blessed and roasting Grand Prix of Portugal at the stunning Agueda circuit was the perfect remedy for the FIM Motocross World Championship after the sea of rain and mud that washed out the Spanish visit last weekend. The splendid stage for round three of fifteen, south of the city of Porto, witnessed the Yamaha Monster Motocross Team score a double podium result with David Philippaerts finishing second and Josh Coppins third on the works YZ450FMs.
Philippaerts won a moto and was second in the other race, while Coppins seized his first silverware of the season after a thrilling move past champion Steve Ramon for third spot on the final corner of the last lap. On the podium Philippaerts picked up the red-plate to signify his new status as MX1-GP championship leader for the first time. He is also the first Italian to sit at the top of the points table since the inception of the MX1-GP class in 2004.
The dry circuit provided a technical test for the riders with the combinations of jumps and alternate line options meaning that the 'perfect' lap was tough to find and mistakes were heavily punished by the high pace.
 Philippaerts suffered a fast crash on Saturday that left the Italian with a sore back and lack of sensation in his arms during the qualification practice. He was still a bit stiff Sunday morning but put aside any discomfort to remain one of the protagonists in the first moto. After hunting down Billy Mackenzie and taking the lead on the seventh lap of twenty-one the 24 year old kept a good rhythm to retain control of the race until the chequered flag. It was his first moto success for the team and his first set of '25' points since the Grand Prix of Belgium last August.
In Moto2 the Italian did not have the best first lap and had to work hard from fifth position to take advantage of another error by Mackenzie and also a crash by Jonathan Barragan to rise to second place. Although he tied on points with overall winner Sebastien Pourcel, the second moto ranking determined the final standing. It was the second consecutive runner-up position for Philippaerts.
Josh Coppins tried a new rear suspension set-up on Saturday as well as some experimentation with different Pirelli tyres. The New Zealander was unable to match the pace of his peers at the start of both motos (even though he exited the gate in the top five both times) but was easily one of the strongest riders at the end of the races. In the first he pushed Mackenzie hard to take fifth but it was his determination and dogged pursuit of the lagging Ramon in the final two laps of the second sprint that really gave an indication of the Kiwi's 'steel'.
Closing down some four seconds to the back of the Belgian, Coppins took the fight for third right to the last corner where he cut tighter and snatched the position - and the last podium spot - by four tenths of a second. The result was a message but the manner in which he delivered it was equally devastating, that Coppins - who missed five weeks of riding through two broken twos on his right foot prior to the start of the campaign - is hungry for the title.
The championship standings now make good reading for the team. Philippaerts holds a 6 point gap over Ramon while Coppins is third and just 19 behind. Yamaha are second in the manufacturer's standings by 6 points.
The Yamaha Monster Motocross Team now travel back to their Italian base near Parma for several days and a free weekend before packing up and heading east across to Europe to the impressive Sevlievo circuit and the Grand Prix of Bulgaria. The meeting will precede the squad's home round at Mantova seven days later.
David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team: 2nd
"I am really happy to have the red plate because this is the first time for me. The first moto was unbelievable. My start was pretty average but I passed Mackenzie and Barragan and found some effective lines. When Sebastien came near in the last moments I looked to pull another second on him and controlled it until the end. I started well in the second moto but on the second corner my line meant that I had to be careful and lost some time, which let Sebastien and Mackenzie escape. It was a long race so I did not want to go crazy at the beginning and also the track was not easy. I knew the others would slow their pace by the end so I wanted to be strong the whole distance. My aim now is to try and stay in the top five each GP and this will be good for the championship."
Josh Coppins, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team: 3rd
"It was an exciting end to the Grand Prix and one that even I did not expect. I could see that Steve was fading and, of course, after last year I always like to pass Steve, so I put in that extra effort. He went wide in the last corner and I could not believe that. My eyes lit-up and I made the pass.
“We tried a new rear shock during Saturday which was a bit softer and suited me better. We also tested some tyres with a different compound moose and also sliced some of the nobs on the rubber. I think we had a pretty good set-up so I was happy with the bike. The extra options the team provided made things even better, which I was surprised about.
“It was finally nice to have a real race; a race where the best rider wins instead of the terrain being good for some or just being a lottery. Today it was Pourcel but it was a GP where the degree of racing fitness and skill comes into it and that was really positive.
“It has been a tough season for me so far with a few 'downs'. I don't quite have the speed at the moment, especially at the start of the race; all I have is the consistency in the laps I make. I have to be patient, which is hard because I am not a patient person! With sixth, fourth and third things have gone well but you always want better. Everyone around me has been really supportive and I am sure I will get up to a higher level very soon. I was one of the strongest out there at the end, and this makes me proud."
Mino Raspanti, Racing Manager, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team:
"I really great Grand Prix for us; to have both riders on the podium is really good. They continue to work hard and perform well. David's win was deserved I am very happy for Josh also. These are some difficult moments for him but he is trying so hard. David and Josh are both happy with the bikes and Josh more so after we made a small change with the shock. We will work now and look ahead to Bulgaria, and Mantova the week after."
MX2 - Sensational Cairoli sweeps Portuguese GP
 MX2-GP World Champion Antonio Cairoli stormed the Grand Prix of Portugal at a sun-soaked Agueda circuit in front of 18,000 spectators to win both motos and claim his first victory of the season and also take the lead in the 2008 standings after three rounds of fifteen.
Despite still suffering from the last affects of a throat infection - he only stopped taking antibiotics on Friday - Cairoli was back to his stylish and ruthless best; the sort of form and spectacular flamboyance that won 13 from 14 Grand Prix in 2007. The Sicilian of the Yamaha Red Bull De Carli team defeated main title rivals Tyla Rattray and Tommy Searle with two dominant displays on his YZ250F.
Across the dry, stony and technical terrain the reigning number one shone as brightly as the blue sky overhead. A fantastic duel with Searle in the first laps of Moto1 was decided when Cairoli attempted and succeeded with an audacious overtaking move that saw him gain the lead and brake away from the Briton. The second moto was over from the second corner, when number '222' was in no mood for further games.
Yamaha Ricci Racing's Nico Aubin, who celebrated his 20th birthday yesterday with a pit-board salutation from his team in the first session Saturday morning and also received a pie in the face from his French peers in the evening, was 5th overall with results of 8th and 4th. The Frenchman suffered from a crash in the first moto that caused him to lose positions but was more consistent in the second after sprinting away from Stephen Sword.
 Team-mate and Grand Prix of Spain victor Davide Guarneri admitted that the heat of the scorching Saturday timetable left him fighting for breath during the qualification race in which he captured third. The Italian rode to a decent 5th after vying for fourth during one stage of the moto but had to pull up to avoid his fallen team-mate which kept him outside the top four. In the second race a poor start meant a lot of work but he came through the pack before being hit to the ground by local hope Rui Goncalves. From that point 12th was all he could salvage to take 7th.
Cairoli's triumph means that he now holds an advantage of 5 points from Rattray. Guarneri is fourth and Aubin in seventh.
Alessandro Lupino qualified for his second Grand Prix of the season and just the third of his career. The teenager scored two points with 19th position in Moto1.
Some good news for the De Carli crew is that Matteo Bonini has recovered from his dislocated shoulder and subsequent operation and will begin to ride this week. The Italian could be in action as early as the Grand Prix of Bulgaria in a fortnight but will almost certainly bring the team back to full strength for their home round at Mantova on May 18th.
The fourth round of the FIM World Championship will take place at the Sevlievo circuit in two weeks time. The Grand Prix will also witness the start of the inaugural Women's World Championship.
Antonio Cairoli, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli: 1st
"I am starting to get a much better feeling with my bike because in the winter we tested and practised a lot with the 450. It was nice to have a 'normal' race because with the sand and then the mud last week I did not get a chance to have a look at my condition. I am really happy with the race today though.
“We had some fun in that first moto and Tommy had some good lines. His style is similar to mine; we both play a lot with the bikes on the jumps. We fought for three or four laps but then I had some more speed through one section and decided to make the break once the move worked. I only stopped taking antibiotics for my throat infection on Friday, so physically it was a hard day and now I can look after my body with the free weekend we have. Taking the lead in the championship is important but there is a long journey ahead still."
Nicolas Aubin, Yamaha Ricci Racing: 5th
"The result is not so good and I could not take two top four positions, which I was capable of. I need better starts in the next GP. I'm pleased with my speed and physical condition I just need to get nearer the front right at the beginning. The level in MX2-GP this year is very close so getting those good starts is more important than ever."
Davide Guarneri, Yamaha Ricci Racing: 7th
"It was so hot and hard today. In the first moto I made a good start, around the top seven. When I was in sixth I tried to pass Sword but in one corner I found Aubin had crashed and was right there in the middle of the line and I lost some time there, fifth was OK though. In the next moto I was quite far back at the start and after two laps I pushed hard and passed many riders. I was in the top seven and tried Goncalves for sixth but in one corner he went straight on and took me out. I was a bit tired when I restarted and took twelfth."
Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing
Sébastien Pourcel gives Kawasaki its first GP win of the season
After two difficult rounds for the Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing team Sébastien Pourcel claimed the fourth GP win of his career in Agueda, Portugal After two very wet events there was at last a dry GP in Agueda, a regular venue for the FIM Motocross World Championship. Travelling straight from Spain to Portugal the team members as well as the riders enjoyed the sunny weather even if it was pretty difficult to get used to the high temperatures. As usual in Portugal the organisers did a perfect job preparing the layout.
 Sebastien was the fastest rider on Saturday and dominated the two free practice sessions and later the timed practice period to collect his second consecutive pole position. Starting the opening race in fourth place Sébastien moved to second at mid-race distance behind David Philippaerts. After pushing hard during the last 10 minutes to catch the Italian rider, a mistake during the last lap cost him a possible heat win.
Sebastien’s second moto start was not as good as his previous one but he took advantage of his inside position on the start-gate to reach third behind Steve Ramon and Billy MacKenzie. For several laps he battled with the reigning World Champion and finally took second position at mid-race distance. Billy MacKenzie was leading but he crashed during the 14th lap and offered the win to Sébastien who then just controlled his rivals during the last few laps.
Sébastien was the only GPKR racing in this GP as Kevin Strijbos underwent surgery earlier in the week and Alexandre Rouis failed to qualify once more.
Sébastien Pourcel: “It’s great to win here today as I didn’t get any significant results during the first two GPs. Yesterday I was again the fastest rider during the practice sessions and it was important to confirm these performances during the race day. I had two good starts even if I did miss the jump out of the gate in the second moto. After that I didn’t make any mistakes except during the last lap of the first race when I pushed hard to join Philippaerts. I know that I can go faster but I want to be consistent as the championship is long and my goal now is to be in the top five every weekend. For the team it’s a great result, Kevin is injured and it’s mentally good for everyone to celebrate a GP win. I want to dedicate this win – my fourth one with Kawasaki – to M.Hoslet who passed away last week and helped us a lot with his son in Belgium.”
Roger Pourcel: “We’ve all known for a few weeks that we were ready to win some races but we didn’t get any success so far and so we are delighted today. Sebastien put probably too much pressure on his shoulders in the Netherlands and the racing conditions during the first two GPs didn’t help him. Here in Portugal it was different, he confirmed his speed during the qualifying sessions and today on a hard and dry track he was one of the fastest riders. He did the best lap times in each race and with this GP win he offers a great present to the team.
"I’m also happy for Kawasaki who have supported us for 17 years now – we have a very good bike and for sure we’ll offer the brand some other great results. Alex still has some troubles to be aggressive on his bike and we will work in this direction. But at the moment he is not fast enough to qualify but I’m sure that it will change soon.”
KTM Racing
MX2 - Second and third MX2 places in Portugal for Rattray and Searle
Red Bull KTM riders Tyla Rattray and Tommy Searle took the minor podium places on Sunday in the MX2 Grand Prix of Portugal, conceding defeat only to title holder Antonio Cairoli of Italy.
Tommy and Tyla came in second and third in race one and then reversed the order for race two, a sure fire indication that both are in good form after the mud bath race last weekend in Bellpuig, Spain. Rui Goncalves the team's third factory rider came in sixth in front of his home crowd in Agueda, Portugal to wind up a solid weekend's racing for the team.
No Red Number Plate
Tyla was very disappointed to relinquish the coveted red number plate for the first time this season but promised that he an Tommy planned to mount a real challenge for the championship title this year. "Still I was happy with my starts and with my riding style. I lost some time in the first heat and it took me some time to catch up with Tommy and Toni (Cairoli) but I finished in third and I did not crash. In the second heat I was squeezed a bit by Tommy and Toni in the first part of the race but I came back from eighth to third then Tommy had a small crash and I finished second." Team boss Stefan Everts said he expected the weekend's result would in fact be positive for Tyla as it would strengthen him mentally and make him determined to take on the challenge of beating the title holder.
Tommy is back in contention
Searle, who will race in the USA from 2009 is clearly back in form after two difficult races in the first two GPs of the season in the heavy wet sand of Valkenswaard, Holland and in the severe mud of Bellpuig. "Today was good but it could be even better," Tommy said. " I got the holeshot in the first heat and I was out in front for quite a long time so I was able to show Cairoli that I have the speed. Then I had a small crash in the second heat but if that had not happened I would have been able to catch him. I am very happy because this was a proper race for me. It was tough but I had no problems like I had here last year and that's a sign that I am much fitter." Everts too was happy with Tommy's racing. "It was a very nice battle with Antonio. He was right up there with his speed and his lap times and I only think it is a matter of time before he beats Cairoli."
Rui enjoys racing in front of home crowd
Rui Goncalves rose to the occasion in front of his home crowd and said the level of support he got from the fans was a real energy booster. "I was very satisfied with my riding. I rode well, I got some good lap times, I pushed hard and got some good points," he said. He too drew praise from Everts who said he showed his real aggressive riding style. "Today he showed us that he just doesn't ride well and aggressively during the week but also at the weekend as well. That was the real Rui," Everts said.
Also putting in a solid weekend's racing under extremely hot and tiring conditions was the young Belgian rider Jeremy van Horebeek of the KTM supported team GP Juniors Team Champ who was twice tenth to finish at eighth place in the GP ranking order.
Tyla now has to relinquish the lead in the championship by five points after Cairoli's double victory on the hard and bumpy surface of the Portuguese track. Tommy Searle is in third place and Rui Goncalves is in fifth.
MX1 - Barragan the leading KTM in Portuguese MX1 GP
Jonathan Barragan of Spain was the leading KTM factory rider in Agueda Portugal on Sunday riding in the MX1 Grand Prix for Team Silver Action just narrowly missing third podium place.
Red Bull KTM factory rider Max Nagl was still feeling the effects of sunstroke and was only able to finish in eleventh place.
Barragan looking ahead and feeling fit
"I am very happy with the results today. Things are going in the right direction for me and we were able to pick up quite a few points/ Now I am seventh in the championships and there is a long way to go so we can still fight for the title," Jonathan said. " I am now feeling very good about Bulgaria. I like the track there and I am going to fight for a podium." Barragan is also now completely fit and no longer had problems with soreness in the tendons in his arms that gave him some concern in the pre-season races."
A learning experience for Nagl, Everts says
Team boss Stefan Everts said it was possible that Nagl had a tough weekend because it was here at Agueda that he broke his collarbone last year and he had to get over that. "Max was definitely not feeling the best this weekend and I think the accident from last year might have been on his mind. Overall he did well this weekend. He finished the races and had no crashes and no big mistakes. This is all part of the learning process and we know that this year is an important year for him to gain experience and learn a lot."
Molson Kawasaki Racing
Sword fights to fourth in Agueda
The Molson Kawasaki team celebrate in Portugal as Stephen Sword’s run of good form continues with the Scotsman scoring fourth place overall while Frenchman Gautier Paulin edges into the top-10.
Just one week after the wet, windy and muddy mess of Bellpuig perfect track conditions and hot and sunny weather greets riders, teams and fans alike for round three of the FIM Motocross World Championship at Agueda in Portugal.
 With Gareth Swanepoel still on the sidelines as he recovers from wrist surgery it’s up to Molson teamsters Stephen Sword and Gautier Paulin to represent the team in MX2 on their factory KX250F-SRs.
After qualifying well the team’s expectations of good results are high and those expectations are raised when Paulin and Sword enter turn one of moto one at the head of the pack. After being forced wide by Tommy Searle the pair settle inside the top five and are ideally placed for good points scoring rides and neither racer disappoints.
“In the first heat I got a great start between Gautier Paulin and Tommy Searle who was on the inside and kind of pushed us wide,” said Sword. “Antonio Cairoli and Tyla Rattray came past me and I stuck on the back of them for a good while and I was running good lap times – 1:48s – but eventually they were able to break away. I feel like I’m lacking confidence at the moment and it’s costing me probably a second a lap at the moment but that’s gonna come. I finished fourth in the end which I’ve got to be happy with.”
Paulin was also satisfied with his first race in dry conditions this year. “In the first race I took a good start and I rode okay,” claimed Gautier. “In some places I was riding a little bit too slow and I wasn’t jumping the uphill triple so I was losing some time there also. In the last few laps I had a problem with my rear brake – a stone damaged the brake hose – which also didn’t help but I was still able to finish ninth which I’m quite happy with.”
The pace in moto two seemed even hotter than in the opener and Sword had to fight hard for a fifth place finish on a much rougher track than in the first race. “I was fourth at the start of the second race behind Rattray for a good while – the first two had gone – and then I sort of lost contact with him and had Aubin quite close behind me giving me some grief but then I broke him and thought I had a safe fourth until I washed out on a corner over at the back.
“Luckily I kept the engine running and I didn’t lose too much time. Aubin seemed to have a second wind because Tommy crashed and I think he could see him ahead and I knew Rui Goncalves was around six or seven seconds behind so I knew I had a safe fifth and some good points in the bag with fourth overall.
“It was always gonna be hard to get a podium here but fourth is good and I’ve bumped myself up a few places in the championship and I feel now that I’m well on my way to being regularly up at the front.”
Paulin had a tougher time in moto after not getting such a good start but he fought hard and hung tough to finish 11th.
“In moto two I found a good rhythm and was pushing hard – my position in the race wasn’t better but I felt my riding was. The track was rough but my bike was handling perfectly and the power was good also. After today I’m very excited for the rest of the championship and my motivation to do well is at 100 per cent.”
Molson Kawasaki’s satellite MX1 rider Tom Church unfortunately failed to qualify on his KX450F after being bumped out of a qualifying position in the final minute of the timed practice session just one week after scoring his best ever MX1 GP result in Spain. “I’m obviously very disappointed,” said Tom. “Not qualifying for a GP is one of the worst feelings in the world and it’s difficult to describe how I’m feeling right now. All I can do is to put this behind me and concentrate on the future – some of my favourite tracks in the series are coming up and I know I can finish top-10 again like I did last weekend.”
The FIM Motocross World Championship continues in two weeks time with round four at Sevlievo in Bulgaria on May 11.
Josh Coppins
Coppins on the podium in Portugal
 Great weather conditions have complimented a thrilling third round of the FIM Motocross World champs held in Agueda, Portugal. Factory Yamaha Monster racer, Josh Coppins, showed his fighting spirit to claim his first podium of the season with an outstanding final corner dash in the sweltering Portuguese heat.
Missing out on the holeshot in Moto 1 to Spaniard, Jonathan Barragan, Coppins battled to find his rhythm in the opening laps and lost a few positions due to an aggressive pace. After settling into his comfort zone he put in some consistent lap times and fended off an attack by nemesis Steve Ramon. With five minutes to go on the clock, Coppins broke the Belgian and succeed in closing down fast starter Billy MacKenzie. The Scotsman managed to hold onto his position with Coppins breathing down his neck at the chequered flag, finishing 5th.
The second moto seemed to be a carbon copy for the Kiwi as he settled into 5th position, again riding his own pace. The lead changed hands when MacKenzie threw it away to Sebastien Pourcel, putting the Frenchman in virtual GP overall victory. While the heat took it’s toll on the riders the pace started to slow however Coppins picked up his lap times and shut down Steve Ramon with two laps to go. The Belgian let up his guard in the last turn before the checkered flag and Coppins pounced on him to snatch away third place and an overall spot on the podium.
“I could see Steve was fading and I put in some extra effort to catch him on the last lap.” explained Coppins. “He went wide and I couldn’t believe my eyes so I took the inside and made the pass right on the finish line. It’s been a tough start to the season and I don’t have the speed at the moment. All I have is consistency and I need to patient which is very hard at this time as I want to win. I’m doing the best I can and I’m sure that the next race will be much better.”
Coppins has moved to third in the MX1 standings and has reduced the points deficit to 19 from fellow Yamaha Monster team-mate David Philippaerts. Coppins will take advantage of a free weekend to gain some more bike time before heading to Bulgaria for round 4 on the 10-11 May.
HONDA RACING
Crowd: 18,130 (weekend figure)
Weather:
Saturday – Sunny, 26 deg C
Sunday – Sunny, 24 deg C
CAS Honda’s Billy MacKenzie retains fourth in MX1 Championship with solid performance at Agueda
 After an abundance of rain and mud in Spain, the sunny skies and baking hot temperatures at Agueda made the Portuguese Grand Prix a much more pleasurable experience for everyone involved at round three of the FIM MX1 World Motocross Championship. As well as the conditions improving so did the performances of the CAS Honda and Honda Martin team riders with Billy MacKenzie, Mike Brown and Marc De Reuver all able to pack themselves into the top 10 of the overall results while Julien Bill suffered and struggled all day with an injured finger.
Sebastien Pourcel was the overall winner in the MX1 class this weekend with a 2-1 scorecard, the Frenchman also set the fastest lap during Saturday’s timed practice session. Pourcel didn’t have it all his own way during qualifying though as both De Reuver and MacKenzie sat in pole position for a while before Pourcel set an even faster lap in the dying seconds of the 30-minute session. MacKenzie finally finished second, De Reuver fifth, Brown 18th and Bill 20th.
Under sunny skies on Sunday, it was Spaniard Jonathan Barragan who took the holeshot in moto one but a charging MacKenzie soon took over the lead before a dose of arm pump ruined the Scotsman’s concentration and caused him to make a string of small mistakes. Billy slipped to fourth at the finish while De Reuver came home in seventh after setting consistently fast lap times throughout the 35-minute plus two lap moto. Brown was ninth with Bill 11th - by far their best results of the season so far.
Moto two saw De Reuver and Brown head the pack into the first but it was the reigning MX1 World Champion Steve Ramon who came out of it with the lead. MacKenzie was near the front of the pack and soon fought through to second where he tailed the Belgian for one lap before making a move for the lead then trying to forge a gap. Stretching his lead to as much as five seconds at one point MacKenzie unfortunately made an unforced error on lap 14 when he looked in full control. He crashed and remounted in fourth place.
Meanwhile MacKenzie’s CAS Honda team-mate Mike Brown was charging hard and had moved from eighth place to sixth before passing MacKenzie – who had also lost a position to Josh Coppins - for fifth with three laps to go. De Reuver had been as high as sixth place in the middle section of the moto but slipped to eighth after losing out in a battle with Barragan. Bill DNFed when the pain from his finger became too much.
MacKenzie who is Honda’s highest points scorer in the MX1 championship now holds fourth place in the series standings with 79 points to the 102 of championship leader David Philippaerts. Brown holds 12th place on 42. De Reuver is 14th for the Martin Honda team while Bill who has a torrid season so far is 25th.
The world championship takes a one-week break continuing in Sevlievo for the Grand Prix of Bulgaria on May 11.
Roger Harvey – Honda Off-Road co-ordinator: “Starting with the CAS team first and Billy MacKenzie. He’s shown that he’s got the speed but he’s still making little mistakes and we can’t accept that because he’s now able to win GPs anywhere but keeps making silly mistakes like the one he made in the second race today. His speed is really good – I’m very pleased with that – and the bike seems to be working well and he’s happy with the bike, we’ve just got to iron out those little slips.
 “Mike had a good day today. He struggled coming into the weekend, starting in free training then got it together. He made some changes to the bike between qualifying yesterday and this morning’s warm-up session and they worked very well, he got more and more comfortable and was charging, charging, charging right through the race – typical Mike really.”
“Moving over to the Martin team and Marc De Reuver was not so bad. He showed he’s got the speed but his conditioning isn’t there probably because he missed some time at the beginning of the season but there’s no point making excuses – he’s got to get fitter.”
“Julien Bill had a thorn in his hand and he said couldn’t hold on but that’s no excuse – he should have just got on with it.”
”The performance of the CRF450s – both the CAS and Martin bikes – is something I’m really pleased with and all the riders were up there off the starts so that’s a good sign.”
Billy MacKenzie – CAS Honda: “All day yesterday was really good for me. The weather was really hot and it was important to stay hydrated because I knew race day was going to be tough. My times were good in all the sessions, I’d put a really fast lap in and be fasted then Pourcel would put an even quicker one in at the end of the session, I wasn’t really too bothered. The same happened in qualifying and I thought I had it in the bag but he came and did it again. Second was good enough and I was pleased with the way I was riding and I was riding a lot smoother than the other guys – I could see they were really hanging it out to get a good time – but I was conserving my energy for the races.”
“In the first race I didn’t get off to a great start – I had my finger on the clutch all the way up the start straight because there was so much grip and I was trying to keep the front end down. I went wide in the first corner then made a load of passes on the first lap and kept going from there and eventually did Philippaerts – I did everyone. I got into the lead and was pulling away from them all but lost a little bit of concentration and got a little bit of arm pump mid-race and started overshooting corners and making small mistakes. I ended up finishing fourth, it was okay but my second races are always a lot better so I was looking forward to that.”
“I got a much better start and followed Ramon for a lap then passed him for the lead. He followed me for about 10 minutes but then I had a pit signal to ‘push hard’ so I put one hard lap in and I managed to break him – I went from two seconds to five seconds ahead. I thought I had it under control and I was just trying to pick my lines, take my time and get into a flow really because I though it would be a good idea to save some energy for the last 10 minutes. I made a little mistake and lost my balance then the front wheel washed out and I crashed. I tried not to panic because it’s so easy to break your rhythm with a crash like that. When I got going again I had Coppins behind me and I knew that if I beat him I’d finish on the podium so I was a little bit worried about that then he made a real hard pass on me and I almost went down. The red mist came down a little bit and I went after him but made a couple more mistakes and had to basically just bring it home from there.”
Mike Brown – CAS Honda: “This is where things started getting better for me last year and this year I think I had the same results as then but I know I rode a lot better – I was catching the other guys at the end of the race so it gives me a lot of confidence going into the next few rounds.”
“The second moto start was awesome and I went into the first corner in the lead but went a little bit wide and got out into the soft stuff and came out of it in third. A few guys got me in the beginning of the race and so I know I have to work on my speed in the early part of the moto but the longer the race went on the faster I got and I started finding better lines. My fitness is as good as anybody else’s – they may be a little bit faster but I’m stronger – so I’m gonna work on my speed in the next couple of weeks and see how things pan out from there.”
Marc De Reuver – Martin Honda: “I was really surprised on Saturday because I was fastest for a while and sitting on pole but a few guys went quicker and I couldn’t so I ended up fifth which was really good for me. In the first heat I screwed up the start but made up a lot of places in the first few turns and I just rode my own race because it was so hot and I wanted to have consistent lap times. I finished seventh and was happy about that.”
“In the second heat I got a really good start – I got the holeshot – but I slipped a little in the first turn and MacKenzie hit me and I lost a little balance and a few places. So I did the same as in the first race – outside on the second turn, inside on the third – and from there I rode a really good race until four laps from the end where I was physically drained. I know I have to work on my fitness but I’ve got to remember that this is the first grand prix this year where I’ve done two full races and the heat is so intense here. I know I’m capable of finishing better than seventh and eighth but it’s not too bad either.”
Julien Bill – Martin Honda: “Today was difficult with the hot weather. In the first moto I got a good start and rode a lot better than I had in the previous GPs and finished 11th. In the second race I got a bad start and I had a lot of pain in my finger because I have a splinter in there. I was running outside of the points and the pain was so bad and I couldn’t hold onto the handlebars properly so I had to retire from the race. It was not such a good day for me.”
Billy Mackenzie
Mackenzie sixth in Portuguese sun but so close to victory
In wildly contrasting weather conditions to the sheets of rain and swampy mud that ruined the Grand Prix of Spain just seven days before, Billy Mackenzie was a protagonist and led both races under blue skies and plus-thirty temperatures at Agueda for the Grand Prix of Portugal last weekend. The factory Honda rider would eventually have to accept sixth position overall as two costly errors in both sprints saw a likely victory slip through his fingers.
The FIM World Championship arrived to its third stop of fifteen in the schedule and was graced with an overdue blessing of sunshine. 24 year old Mackenzie was consistently quick across the distinctive red dirt during a stifling set of practice and qualification sessions on Saturday. Onboard his factory CRF450R the British Champion negotiated the technical, rough and jumpy layout that he described as needing more potency with the ‘head rather than the right hand’.
After being denied pole position by just half a second Mackenzie was quick out of the blocks in both 35 minute and 2 lap motos. He chased and harried Spaniard Jonathan Barragan and set the pace at the front for four laps before succumbing to the speed of eventual winner David Philippaerts.
“In the first race I didn’t get off to a great start – I had my finger on the clutch all the way up the straight because there was so much grip and I was trying to keep the front end down. I went wide in the first corner then made a load of passes on the first lap and kept going from there and eventually did Philippaerts – I did everyone. I got into the lead and was pulling away from them all but lost a little bit of concentration and got a little bit of arm pump mid-race and started overshooting corners and making small mistakes. I ended up finishing fourth, it was okay but my second races are always a lot better so I was looking forward to that.”
In the second race he quickly pushed the Honda into the lead again, after passing world champion Steve Ramon, and fronted the pack for over half the distance until a simple mistake proved expensive.
“I got a much better start and followed Ramon for a lap then passed him for the lead. He followed me for about 10 minutes but then I had a pit signal to ‘push hard’ so I put one hard lap in and I managed to break him – I went from two seconds to five seconds ahead. I thought I had it under control and I was just trying to pick my lines, take my time and get into a flow really because I thought it would be a good idea to save some energy for the last 10 minutes. I made a little mistake and lost my balance then the front wheel washed out and I crashed. I tried not to panic because it’s so easy to break your rhythm with a crash like that. When I got going again I had Coppins behind me and I knew that if I beat him I’d finish on the podium so I was a little bit worried about that then he made a real hard pass on me and I almost went down. The red mist came down a little bit and I went after him but made a couple more mistakes and had to basically just bring it home from there.”
With fourth and sixth positions Mackenzie ended up three points away from the lower step of the podium. He lies fourth in the world championship standings, 17 points from second.
Mackenzie’s race schedule continues next week and his third meeting in 21 days will take place at the hillside Lyng setting in Norfolk for the fourth round of eight in the Maxxis British Championship. Grand Prix events in Bulgaria and then Italy follow hard upon.
CAS Honda
SO CLOSE FOR MACKENZIE IN PORTUGAL
Flying Scotsman Billy MacKenzie is sitting in fourth place in the World Championship following an eventful weekend at the Portugal GP in which he led both MX1 races.
The CAS Honda rider dominated both races, but arm pump in the first and a lapse in concentration in the second saw valuable points slip away.
The weekend also saw fellow team member Mike Brown hit a rich vein of consistency that bodes well for the CAS Honda outfit.
Saturday’s qualifying strategy went according to plan, with MacKenzie in second place and Brown in 16th.
On race day, the sandy Agueda circuit baked in the sunshine in stark contrast to the monsoon conditions experienced just a week earlier in Spain.
Billy led from the start in the first race – an advantage he held on to for 12 minutes before arm pump hampered his performance. He eventually finished in fourth place. Meanwhile, Brown rode strongly, fighting his way from 12th to finish in eighth place.
In the second race, MacKenzie again snatched an early lead, which he held on to until ten minutes from the end of the race, when he slipped on a tight right-hand hairpin. It was enough for the pursuing pack to overtake him and lack of composure prevented him from improving upon a disappointing sixth place – one place behind team mate Brown, who enjoyed a storming second half to the race.
It meant that on the day MacKenzie finished sixth overall with 33 points, while Brown finished seventh, with 28.
“It showed that Billy can run at the front and Mike is improving all the time,” said CAS Honda team manager, Neil Prince.
“Billy now lies in fourth place, only 20 points behind the leader. Both riders worked hard all weekend in hot conditions – and Billy will learn from his mistakes.”
Billy said, “I just need to put the small mistakes behind me & I will be not only leading the races but winning them!”
Mike stated, “I’m very happy to be back where I was last year at the finishing flag & there’s more to come.”
Team Suzuki
TOUGH TIME FOR TEKA SUZUKI IN PORTUGAL
The Team Teka Suzuki WMX1 win streak in the 2008 FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship was finally broken at Agueda in Portugal as neither reigning MX1 World Champion Steve Ramon or series leader Ken De Dycker could finish on the podium on what proved to be a very tough day for the Teka team.
 In hot and sunny conditions - completely different to those experienced in Spain just one week earlier - Ramon was able keep a hold of his second place in the series with 6-4 finishes while De Dycker turned a six point lead into a 25-point deficit after suffering all weekend long with blistered hands which caused him to struggle to get to grips with the Agueda circuit.
Moto one saw both riders get average starts with Ramon in ninth at the end of lap one and De Dycker 11th but while Ramon was able to charge to sixth place by lap six Ken hit trouble on lap three. "The first race I had a crash," explained De Dycker. "The front slipped away and I crashed into a marshal and then got stuck in the green fence. By the time I'd got out of that and got going again I was over half a lap behind and then it was really hard to come back - it was very hot and I wasn't riding so well."
Ramon meanwhile was charging hard to catch Josh Coppins. "I really had to push hard in the beginning to close the gap to Josh but it was not possible to pass him," said Ramon. "Then I had to back off because I was getting a little bit tired in my legs and in the end I finished in sixth."
De Dycker was only able to claw back to 14th position by the finish and surrendered his series lead to Italian rider David Philippaerts. And things got worse for De Dycker during the second race. "I didn't get such a good start in the second moto either but I felt I was riding better. I was in a lot of pain from my blisters as early as the first lap and I crashed a couple of times because I couldn't hold onto the bike very well. After that it wasn't worth me carrying on.
"I'm disappointed to lose the championship lead and also about having a bad day. It was my own fault and maybe I wasn't well enough prepared and I maybe I needed to do more riding on hard tracks - it's been more or less impossible this year because the weather has been so bad - because even in Spain things weren't so good for me and I didn't have such good times."
Ramon's second moto started much better than his team-mate's, taking a monster holeshot on his electronically fuel injected RM-Z450. "The second moto I holeshot easily and I was riding well. Billy MacKenzie passed me but I was able to follow him comfortably. Pourcel came by and then Billy crashed so I was still second but then I made some small mistakes and started getting some cramp in my legs. From there it was difficult for me to ride well and it was possible for Josh to pass me in the last corner - I planned to go inside but I jumped in a little bit too fast and I went too far outside and he came by.
"I'm not so happy, my goal was to be on the podium and I did not make that goal. Being second in the series is still good but I wanted to do better today so now I must look toward the next race and I try again."
Kawasaki Racing Team MX1
Leok and Priem battle hard in Portugal
Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tanel Leok and Manuel Priem scrap it out at round three of the FIM MX1 World Championship at Agueda.
Hot and sunny weather is warmly welcomed for round three of the FIM Motocross World Championship at Agueda in Portugal just one week after the mud and rain of the Spanish GP in Bellpuig. Although the conditions are much better than at round two, KRT riders Tanel Leok and Manuel Priem are still forced to battle hard for every point in two gruelling motos on the very technical Agueda circuit.
 A mid-pack start for both riders in moto one means that both Tanel and Manuel have their work cut out. Tanel battled with Julien Bill and Clement Desalle on his way to eighth after seemingly taking some time to find his rhythm. “Today’s races were not so good,” said Tanel. “I was eighth place in the first race and I know I can do much better than that. I’m happy with my riding because I was able to push hard to the end and I was catching people up. With my injury I haven’t been riding a lot, I’m not able to practice so I’ve been going straight to the race and that’s tough you know. I’m fit but in the first few laps I don’t feel so comfortable.”
Priem’s on good form but after pulling through to 10th from a 20th place start he slips off and has it all to do again. “The first race I was running 10th until I made a small crash,” explained Manuel. “When I remounted I was in a group of around eight or nine people and I was ne of the fastest riders in this group but if I left the best line to try to pass someone I’d make a small mistake and end up being passed myself. I made a few mistakes and so this happened a few times and I finished 17th. My riding wasn’t so bad but I was maybe too aggressive for the track conditions – some places had good grip but others were slick and it was easy to spin out.”
Moto two was equally tough for Priem who crashed on lap two and was hit by local wildcard Paulo
Goncalves. “In the second race I got a mid-pack start and on the second lap I crashed. I couldn’t start the bike for a while and was half a lap behind but my lap times were good and I battled to the finish to get one point. It was worth it because everyone in the team works very hard for me and so it’s my job to work very hard on the track also.
“I’m happy with my riding in the second race and I feel I rode much better, in the last 10 minutes they were showing me the blue flag because Pourcel was near but he never got any closer. I have mixed feelings about today, my results weren’t so good because I had some bad luck today but I think my riding was pretty good today.”
Although Leok’s result is much better than Priem’s he is much less happy with his riding. “The second race was really bad. I found it hard to pass and I tried hard but in the end I could only finish 10th. Hopefully I can practice more before Bulgaria and do better there.”
The results of today’s races mean that Leok improves his championship position at Priem’s expense as Tanel now sits one place higher in ninth while Manuel slips from eighth to 13th.
The next round of the FIM World Motocross Championship takes place at Sevlievo in Bulgaria on May 11 but before that the full KRT team will be in action on May 4 at Tongeren.
Tanel Leok
LEOK UP TO NINTH IN WORLD STANDINGS
 What a difference a week and an extra few thousand kilometres can make. Barely a week ago, the motocross world championship elite were splashing their way through mud and slush that would not look out of place in an over-the-top disaster movie. Conditions were so atrocious that the second race of the MX1 GP in Spain was cancelled, an almost unheard of event in a sport known for its adherence to the tenet "the show must go on," come hell or, quite literally, high water.
Anyhow, time marched on, distance interspersed, and now the flags were waving in Agueda, Portugal, for round 3 of the world series. Having slowly, slowly shaken the still nagging pangs form his shoulder injury, Tanel Leok was in near top fighting form as he set out of practice on the track which, in stark contrast to the week before, was in beautiful condition and basked in blazing sunshine. As his return to full fitness gradually returned, so did his "Estonian Expressness," to coin a phrase, and in qualifying practice, he was clearly near to hitting his peak again, qualifying as he did in third position, less than a second shy of fellow Kawasaki rider Sebastian Pourcel on pole.
A fairly decent start launched the green clad and - mounted rider into the race just outside the top 10. Within a lap, Tanel was mixing it with the top 10 riders. Holding your own amongst the front runners in a motocross GP is no easy task, but the Estonian is never one to shy away from a battle, and following reigning world champion Steve Ramon, he edged ahead by two positions to claim the flag in 8th spot after a hard race.
The second race was a run of the mill affair for the 22-year-old. He started in ninth position, dropped down a few spots after a mistake, and then reclaimed his positions again to finish in 10th position. The two top 10 finishes were good enough to ensure Tanel of 9th overall for the day, and he has also improved his world championship standing by one position to move to ninth spot.
Tanel was pleased and disappointed in equal measure after the race. ON the one hand, consistency has returned to his racing with solid points scores in both races, but but on the other hand his ideal is to move further up the field, and challenge for podium finishes again, whilst that elusive first GP victory is still very much on the shopping list as well.
Shannon Terreblanche
TERREBLANCHE SCORES BEST EVER GP RESULT
The motocross GP circus remained in the Iberian Peninsula for the third GP of the 2008 season. A day's trek brought the teams from Spain to Agueda in Portugal. Shannon Terreblanche was still smarting from his slip-up the week before which saw him miss qualification in Spain under difficult conditions. The selfsame period last year was very difficult for the young South African. He was right in the midst of a very steep learning curve, and qualifying for GP races did not yet come as a matter of course. Now, with a year's worth of extra experience under the belt of his No Fear pants, he knew that qualifying should normally be on the cards, if not exactly a breeze.
The sun beat down on Southern Europe when the world championship elite rolled out for qualifying on Saturday. Matters went pear-shaped for Shannon fairly early, as he crashed at the start of the qualifying race. Normally, this would spell a KO, but the setback of the week before had injected the teenager with a healthy dose of determination, and he gave pursuit immediately. After one lap, he was already in 19th position, 7 spots shy of the magical top 12 which would ensure direct qualification. A race long battle with Frenchman Stephen Frossard ensued, and the titanic battle pulled both riders through the pack. Lap after lap Shannon's position improved. With a lap to go, he got by semi-factory mounted Joel Roelants, and slotted into 11th spot, gleefully capping a strong race with a berth in Sunday's GP.
With the first challenge behind him, Shanter was intently focused on his next goal, which was to move onto the world championship scoreboard. He fluffed the start somewhat in race 1, and hovered just on the edge of the points scoring range in 20th position. He was always at or near the points, and as a long race neared the end, he made a definite claim on 20th spot for a solitary point. Although it was only a single point, it was a psychological turning point of sorts, for now he was on the score sheets and of the party.
Confidence is a marvellous thing, and Shannon went into the second race like a schoolboy on his way to his girlfriend's house, secure in the knowledge that her parents aren't home. He had no inhibitions this time around, and his start served him far better as a consequence. At the end of lap 1, the scorers noted him down in 11th position. With a couple of heavyweights behind him, he was always going to have a battle on his hands, and he dropped down the field a bit as a few more experienced riders snuck past. His determination was undented, however, and he fought it out, finally crossing the line in 14th position, his joint best finish ever in a Grand Prix race.
Shannon has now well and truly marked a peg on the world championship ladder. At the moment the 27th spot in the championship is all his, and now the objective is to move ever up. This is the highest that he has ever been in the world standing, and his goal is to work diligently toward working himself into the top 20.
Shannon travels back to his base in Belgium, and on Thursday he will participate in the next round of the Dutch Championship series in Rhenen.
Wyatt Avis
Wyatt Avis scores best results of the season in Portugal
The LS Honda rider Wyatt Avis scored his best results of the season at the third round of the World Championship Series in Agueda, Portugal last weekend. Avis rode a strong race in the first moto and finished in twelfth position. In the second moto Avis crashed when he rode in second position and had to retire from the race.
After his bad luck at the Grand Prix in Spain, Wyatt was determined to do things better in Portugal. The weekend started out well for the South African because he qualified himself directly for the race on Sunday. In his qualifying heat he rode almost the whole race in ninth position but due a mistake in the closing stages of the race he lost several positions and he finally ended the heat in twelfth position.
First moto:
The start of the first moto was good and in ninth position he came out of the first corner. Wyatt found his rhythm straight away and managed to stay in the top ten till the middle of the race. After several nice battles Wyatt crossed the finish line in twelfth position in the first moto.
Second moto:
When the gate dropped in the second moto Wyatt went into the first turn in third position. During the first lap he worked himself up to second position and tried to close in the gap on the leader. In the second lap Wyatt crashed and with a damaged machine he had to retire from the race.
Wyatt finished seventeenth overall in the Portuguese Grand Prix. After three rounds he sits in 24th position in the World Championship Standings. This Thursday Wyatt will participate in the third round of the Dutch Open Championship Series in Rhenen.
Team KTM Racing - Qualifying
MX1 - Max Nagl struggles with sun in Portugal
Red Bull KTM MX1 factory rider Max Nagl put in a difficult day on the track in Aguela, Spain ahead of the Portuguese MX1 Grand Prix on Sunday, suffering from slight sunstroke from the hot Portuguese sun.
Max Nagl: "I didn't feel so well today, particularly between free practice and the time practice when I had to take a rest. I think I have been too much in the sun. I made some mistakes today. I don't really like this track so much. It’s hard to get a good grip and the surface is always changing."
MX2 - Reds Bull KTM riders Tyla Rattray, Tommy Searle and Rui Goncalves all put in good results in the qualifying races for Sunday's MX2 Grand Prix with Rattray winning race one and Searle second, Goncalves sixth in race two.
Tyla Rattray: "I am very pumped ahead of tomorrow's race. Today I had a big holeshot, I was out in front and put in some good lap times. This is a good track and it's one that I like. It was very hard at the beginning but after we had ridden on it for a while it was fine. Tomorrow it will be very hot and this will be one of the most difficult aspects. But I am used to such weather from South Africa and it wont worry me so much."
Tommy Searle: "It was good for me today. I was always right behind Cairoli. I did make a couple of small mistakes and I wasn't able to overtake him but I have a good feeling for tomorrow. I like this track very much. Its hard and bumpy but that's no problem and for sure I will have a good day."
Rui Goncalves: "I had a very bad start today and I did a wheelie right at the start. That was my mistake. Tomorrow it will be very hot but I am used to it. Tomorrow I hope to get a much better start and to have a good race in front of my home crowd."
Team Suzuki - Qualifying
TEKA SUZUKI TEAM IN MX1 TOP EIGHT
Team Teka Suzuki WMX1 riders Ken De Dycker and Steve Ramon - who are currently running first and second in the MX1 World Championship - both qualified inside the top eight for tomorrow's GP of Portugal, the third round of the series.
Conditions at the technical Agueda circuit were perfect as great weather and constant grooming kept the red-soil surface in prime condition for the official timed practise session.
 Reigning MX1 World Champion Ramon set a great time in the final few minutes of the half hour qualifying session that was just over one second slower than pole setter Sebastien Pourcel. Ramon held third position briefly but got knocked back one position by Estonian rider Tanel Leok who bettered Steve's time on the very last lap.
"It's really difficult to put a smooth fast lap in here and you have to push hard and ride aggressive to get a good lap," said Ramon. "Near to the end I was a little bit more aggressive and I came to third. Leok pushed me back a place but I'm really happy with fourth and it was a good session for me.
"Tomorrow I will try the best I can; it's really hot so I think that unless the weather changes the races will be really tough physically. I knew it would be warm but this is completely different to what I expected especially and it will be important that I prepare well and ensure I'm well hydrated.
Current MX1 championship leader De Dycker suffered with pain from a throttle hand injury and could only finish the session in eighth place on his RM-Z450 but is still confident of a good result in tomorrow's races.
"It's a little bit painful because the grip is always right there but I have to race through it and there will be no problems with it tomorrow," he said. "I struggled in the beginning of the day to find any good lines or to get on the pace but in qualifying it just got better and better and I was able to do many laps.
"I finished eighth but all the times were very close and I know my bike will help me get a good start even if I'm not in the best position on the line. Racing is also very different to doing one fast lap and I know that if I get away with the leaders I will be in a good position to do well."
The weather forecast for tomorrow's races is for bright sunshine with temperatures in the region of 26 degrees Celsius.
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