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TEAM SUZUKI
DESALLE LEADS WORLD MX1 AT GLEN HELEN
Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 was able to toast its second victory from just three rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship as Clement Desalle notched a perfect weekend at Glen Helen for the U.S. Grand Prix.
 The Belgian sealed pole position and then won both motos on his works RM-Z450 in front of an attendance of 22,000 under varying weather conditions in California. Desalle regained the red plate as MX1 standings-leader after grasping his second champagne bottle of the season and was masterful across a difficult circuit.
Rain throughout Sunday morning meant that the long, fast and big jumps of the historic layout in San Bernardino became slippery and very muddy. Thankfully, strong winds cleared the grey clouds by midday and also started to dry the soil so that a very damp first moto gave way to demanding bumps and ruts by the time of the second gate-drop.
Desalle proved that he had found an unmatchable rhythm across the course during a dry Saturday when he sped to an undisputed pole position. Two excellent starts meant that the 21-year-old could forge his pace at the front of the field. Antonio Cairoli and later Max Nagl gave chase to the rear Pirelli of the RM-Z450 deep into the 35 minute and 2 lap distance but neither could dislodge '25' from his position of control.
Team mate Steve Ramon was 13th overall but his result was determined by a fall on one of the steep hills in the first moto that damaged his motorcycle and forced a DNF. The former World Champion rode to seventh place in the second race.
Former World Championship runner-up Kevin Strijbos only just missed out on a podium finish with his RM-Z450 but the Belgian was a welcome sight back at the front of the GP field and collected fourth overall.
After three rounds of the World Championship, Desalle has regained the top spot of the standings and the red plate for the second time. He leads Nagl by six points and Cairoli by a hefty 24. Ramon is 11th.
The team will now refill the crates and pack in preparation for round four and the Grand Prix of Brazil at Indaiatuba next weekend.
Clement Desalle:
"It was a great weekend for me and I have never taken pole position and won both motos before. I also stayed on two wheels and came away without any problems, which is important because the track was dangerous and you had to make quick decisions. I kept in my comfort zone and really enjoyed it."
Steve Ramon:
"My riding wasn't bad but I couldn't find a good rhythm in the first moto and five minutes before the end I made a mistake going down the hill. It was a pretty big crash. The handlebar was bent and the clutch lever had folded down so I had to stop. No points, no good. I was top-five at the start of the second moto but lost two positions on the second lap; however my speed was good. Near the end I had a problem with a lapped rider and I twisted my foot trying to pass him. I had to slow down in the last half-a-lap. What can I say? I cannot be too disappointed because the last few weeks were terrible for me but I had the energy to complete the moto at least. I am looking forward to Brazil now."
KTM RACING
Roczen dominates MX2 USGP at Glen Helen
Red Bull/Teka/KTM Factory rider Ken Roczen dominated the MX2 class at the U.S. Grand Prix of Motocross held at Glen Helen Raceway to lead every lap in both motos and finish ahead of team-mate Jeffrey Herlings on both counts. The GP also saw the return of Marvin Musquin after a long injury pause.
 The German teenager, who celebrated his first career win in the AMA SX Lites in the closing round of the competition earned first gate pick after winning Saturday’s qualifier by 16 seconds over Herlings. He nailed the holeshot in the first moto with Herlings and Musquin on his tail. Roczen and Herlings pulled away but Musquin washed out in the second corner before scrambling to get back in the race from near last. The French rider, who is competing for the Red Bull KTM US team in the AMA outdoors in 2011, crashed once more on the deeply rutted track and had to return to the pits for some adjustment to his front brake.
Meanwhile Roczen had no trouble taking the first moto win.
“I like to consider this as one of my home races now that I have been living in California the first half of the year. It feels great to get a win here for my European team but to also have my American team celebrate with me,” commented Roczen. Herlings went on to finish second while Musquin was back at nineteenth.
KTM fans were looking for a showdown between the team’s two talented teenagers and were not disappointed in the second moto when Roczen and Herlings again delivered stunning performances. Roczen pulled the holeshot with Herlings on his tailpipe and they stuck close together for three-quarters of the race before Herlings fell slightly off the pace and settled into second. At the finish they were 1-2 again, while Musquin had a much better showing to be a confidence building sixth at the flag.
Ken Roczen: “I had some good fights with Jeffrey. I made some mistakes, which I am not very happy about but I like to ride in the mud. Here its kind of sandy and I knew Jeffrey was going to be fast but I won both motos and it was good.”
Jeffrey Herlings: “I’m really satisfied and it was a good weekend. I wanted to go for the win in the second moto but I made a big mistake and almost crashed so I decided to slow down and just go for second.”
“We were very proud to see Kenny (Roczen) and Jeffrey (Herlings) finish so well today. It is great to see both of our team riders up front. I also would like to give credit to Marvin (Musquin) because I know how hard it is to return from injury and I am happy with his second moto result. He will need a few more weeks to build up his speed and he’ll be back on his game,” commented Red Bull/Teka/KTM Team Manager Stefan Everts.
Nagl earns an impressive MX1 second at USGP
Red Bull/Teka/KTM Factory rider Max Nagl put together two solid performances for a 3-2 result to take home second overall at the U.S. Grand Prix of Motocross held at Glen Helen Raceway on Sunday to set the stage for a great result in the team overseas excursion.
 Nagl got off to a great start in the first moto and was in fourth going into the first corner while his team-mate and reigning MX1 World Motocross Champion Tony Cairoli nearly grabbed the holeshot and was second at the turn. Cairoli looked solid but Nagl bobbled a few corners in and dropped to sixth. By lap eight he had moved himself into podium position after passing Kevin Strijbos while Cairoli had been slowly gaining on race leader Clement Desalle and was set to challenge him for the lead. He was all over the French rider’s back wheel halfway round the last lap when he cross-rutted and had to setting for second. Nagl joined him on the podium in third place.
Nagl repeated his first moto start as he rounded the first corner of the second moto in fourth position but shortly into the first lap Cairoli crashed on an uphill with Steven Frossard and the two riders dropped to the back of the pack.
By now the event announcers were hailing Nagl’s ride as impressive as he fought his way through the pack. He moved up to fourth then slipped back Evgeny Bobryshev for third around the large sweeper on lap six. He made the same pass on Strijbos on lap eight to advance to second behind Desalle and with five laps to go Max had him in his sights. At one point he narrowed the gap to four seconds and despite a mistake three laps before the flag, he put in a very strong showing in the final two to be just 1.5 second behind the Frenchman. Meanwhile Cairoli made a huge effort to gain ground and was eleventh at the flag.
Max Nagl: “It was a great weekend for me and it was a difficult track after the rain and there were lots of ruts after the rain in the morning. Now I only need to work on my starts. I really felt comfortable on this track and was able to make some important passes today. I am very happy with my race results today and because I got more points toward the title. It would be great to get the red plate maybe if not in Brazil a bit later on in the championship.”
Cairoli said he was a little disappointed with the result as Glen Helen is one of his favourite tracks. He said he had fared quite well in the first moto but a mistake in the final stages meant he wasn’t able to tackle Desalle for the lead. Then after a bad start in the second moto, his luck ran out as the race progressed when he broke his clutch lever in a crash.
“I made two stupid mistakes but all in all it wasn’t such a bad weekend. I was fourth in the championship and I gained some points and am now third so that’s a good thing.”
HONDA WORLD MOTOCROSS TEAM
Bobryshev earns superb maiden podium in USA
 Evgeny Bobryshev, of the Honda World Motocross Team, has taken his first ever podium in the MX1 class, at this weekend’s Grand Prix of Glen Helen, USA. The big Russian put together two excellent motos, finishing 6th and 3rd respectively, to take 3rd in the overall classification.
The riders awoke to a very different track to the one they tackled in Saturday’s qualifying heat. The sky was overcast and the rain was falling heavily as they went out for morning warm-up. And although by the start of the first moto the rain had ceased, the track was still incredibly slippery and boggy in sections.
The first moto proved difficult for both Honda World Motocross Team riders. Bobryshev utilised the power of the Honda CRF450R well as the gate dropped – rounding the first turn in 5th – but would struggle to find his groove and began to drop off the lead bunch, slipping back to 6th. team-mate Gonçalves had a nightmare start getting caught up mid-pack, eventually emerging in 13th. Both riders would begin to find their rhythm as the moto progressed but would fail to alter their position dramatically come race end. Bobryshev finishing in 6th, Gonçalves 12th.
Better was to come in the second moto as both riders got starts and were within the top five come the end of lap 1. Gonçalves and Bobryshev cemented their top five status with a series of consistent laps in the middle section of the race and as the moto reached its conclusion, a top three position looked possible for Bobryshev as Strijbos came in to sight.
By the closing laps, Bobryshev and Gonçalves had once again adopted racing formation, 4th and 5th respectively as they closed down Strijbos. Bobryshev would make the pass on the penultimate lap but this was not enough to elevate him to an overall podium position, he needed the help of team-mate Gonçalves to deprive Strijbos of the 4th place points.
Fortunately Gonçalves obliged, taking the position just before the last-lap board, but things did not end there! Gonçalves continued to push and got on to the back-wheel of his Russian team-mate, threatening the pass that would knock Bobryshev off the podium. However, he managed to hang on, crossing the line in 3rd with team-mate in tow, to earn his maiden podium in the premier class.
Evgeny Bobryshev, Honda World Motocross:
“I feel great, more than great to be first time on the podium. I have not done this on my own, it is a real team effort. We are a good group and feel more like a family and I think we are building something really special here. I was a bit disappointed with first moto but scored some good points. I needed to improve the way I was riding and in the second moto that happened! Finished 3rd and 3rd overall. I feel I have taken a big step now.”
Rui Gonçalves, Honda World Motocross:
“First moto I had some problems at the start and really struggled to come back with the track conditions being so tough. In-between motos I was not feeling so good and had some stomach pains but visited the medical centre and got a remedy to the problem. Second moto was much better, I got the start and was running with the front group. I felt like I was getting stronger as the moto went on and was challenging right up until the end.”
HONDA RACING
Weather: Cold, rain, later sun and wind
Temperature: Ambient 18 degrees C
Attendance: 22,000
BOBRYSHEV SCORES HISTORIC MAIDEN PODIUM
Clement Desalle won his second race of the 2011 FIM Motocross World Championship, but Honda World Motocross Team’s Evgeny Bobryshev captured plenty of attention for taking the factory CRF450R to third position overall for his first career podium at a tough and changeable Glen Helen in California for the U.S. Grand Prix - round three of fifteen in the series, watched by 22,000 spectators.
The new sections and corners of the long Glen Helen circuit were partially eradicated in their significance by poor weather on Sunday morning. While the first moto was wet and swampy strong winds soon drove across blue skies and the terrain dried to create a bumpy and technical surface.
Bobryshev scored his first career podium – and the first noteworthy result by a Russian in the FIM Motocross World Championship since Vladimir Kavinov won the 1980 Russian 250cc GP – thanks to results of sixth and third in two physical motos. The 23-year-old fought with team-mate Rui Gonçalves in the second race and defeated the Portuguese to the flag by just over a second. Gonçalves was riding with a stomach bug and could do no better than twelfth in the opening sprint. His fourth in the second outing helped towards a final ranking of seventh.
Another rider enjoying a positive second moto was LS Honda Racing’s Shaun Simpson. A crash at the start of Moto1 meant that the Scot had to climb from almost last to sixteenth, but a better launch and faster rhythm later in the afternoon drew the former British champion up to sixth - his best MX1 moto classification to-date and enough for eleventh overall on the day.
Team-mate Ken De Dycker was unlucky in California. The Belgian scored just one point after a fuel pump problem in the first moto and then ran out of gas within sight of the finish line in the second race.
Swian Zanoni competed in the MX2 class on his CRF250R, but was battling against an injured thumb sustained in a practice crash the week before the grand prix. The Brazilian was initially doubtful of risking the ailment further ahead of his home event next week, but felt able to contest both motos and scored twenty-eighth and twenty-third positions.
In the MX1 world championship standings Rui Gonçalves leads the way for the ‘red’ crew and lies sixth, sixteen points away from the top three. Bobryshev is seventh and just two points behind. Shaun Simpson is fifteenth and Ken De Dycker sixteenth.
Round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place at Indaiatuba for the Grand Prix of Brazil next weekend.
Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda World Motocross):
Race Result: 6th/3rd Championship position: 7th
“I think all the riders who have been to the podium for the first time can understand how excited I feel. I need someone to pinch me because it is like I’m dreaming. I struggled in the corners in the first race and thought a lot about my riding in the break. The second went really well. In past races I have been at the front and then slowly fading back, but this time I was able to keep my position with the leaders. I didn’t know I was third and was so happy to find out when I crossed the line. It was something like 4am for all the people in Russia who were watching, so they did not stay up all night for that second moto for nothing. We have a really strong group in the team and everyone is really behind me. I have to thank them all a lot.”
Rui Gonçalves (Honda World Motocross):
Race Result: 12th/4th Championship position: 6th
“I had some stomach problems in the first moto and was having cramps. I couldn’t stand-up or ride properly. I was tense and didn’t have much energy. In between motos I went to the medical centre and they gave me some pills that helped a lot, but I still felt like I wanted to throw-up. I was happy with the second moto and could push more from the first lap until the last. We have a week now to get better for Brazil.”
Shaun Simpson (LS Honda Racing):
Race Result: 16th/6th Championship position: 15th
“This morning started off good in the warm-up as I was fastest and I think that bit of rain helped me out. It slowed the track down and gave it a few more lines. I was hopeful of a good day. In the first start I was looking to get away in the top ten and made a mesh of it. I hit Frossard’s rear wheel and went down. The track was very one line and I fought back to sixteenth which I was reasonably pleased about. The track was better for the second moto and I managed to find my rhythm. I felt good out there. I made a mistake, but clawed back distance on Steve Ramon and when he made an error up Yamaha hill I got him. I pushed in the last four or five laps. This is the sort of form I felt like I had in me and it is nice to show people that I can do it. There are a few smiles on faces and Brazil would have been a long trip without that second race.”
Ken De Dycker (LS Honda Racing):
Race Result: 29th/20th Championship position: 16th
“It was a really bad day with two DNFs. There is nothing we can do and we must just keep working. We are already quite far behind in the points and have to hope for some better results in the next races. For a positive… my riding was good and better than the first two GPs, my back also feels stronger. If we can improve a bit more then I hope we can be on the podium soon.”
Swian Zanoni, (Honda Brazil):
Race Result: 28th/23rd Championship position: NA
“I injured my hand coming here and I knew it would be hard. The practice yesterday was tough and I had to think about whether I wanted to make the injury worse, but decided that I wanted to try the first moto at least. The conditions were not easy, but I was happy to finish this GP in the USA and next week will be something special.”
Roger Harvey, Off-road Manager, Honda Motor Europe:
“A great achievement for Evgeny and one we were hoping for together with the team. He did really well to put in that strong second moto and we’re really happy with our first trophy of the season. The same could be said for Rui, who was not 100% but put-in a gutsy performance and it was nice to see both factory bikes having a battle at the end there. The second moto was the pick of the bunch for us as Shaun Simpson put in the kind of ride we know he is capable of. The LS boys didn’t have the best of luck, but we can go to Brazil looking to do better.”
YAMAHA RACING
MX1 - Philippaerts 6th at U.S.GP
Monster Energy Yamaha saw two of their riders classify in the top ten of the MX1-GP standings at a windy and changeable Glen Helen for the Monster Energy U.S.GP and the third round of fifteen in the FIM Motocross World Championship. David Philippaerts was able to score 6th position overall on the factory YZ450FM while Anthony Boissiere marked a career-best MX1 finish with 9th. Series leader coming across the Atlantic, Steven Frossard, suffered crashes in both races and was 18th.
The Californian circuit had undergone some changes for 2011 and the second edition of the American event this century. New corners and an attempt to slow the average speed of the longest layout on the calendar mattered little with the heavy rainfall of Sunday morning. The mud was thick and slippery. Strong winds however managed to change the climate by the afternoon and the terrain was soon dry and bumpy.
The team had been testing the week before coming to the USA and were able to make some small modifications to the suspension. The extra work helped as the Glen Helen bumps were physically difficult and required the riders to take risks to maintain a fierce pace.
Former world champion Philippaerts was restricted by two poor getaways from the gate. The Italian enacted one of his usual hard-charges to reach 5th in the first moto but faced a harder task across the ripples of the track in the second and crossed the line in 9th.
Boissiere ripped along the start-straight in Moto1 to seize the holeshot and then fought among the top ten to earn a well-placed 7th. In the second race the Frenchman was 12th and ended the day content with his best effort yet since climbing on the YZ450FM.
Steven Frossard was not able to keep the red plate he earned at round two in Holland. The French rookie was set for 7th in the first affair after a lacklustre start until a mistake on the last lap dropped him three more positions to 10th. A collision with Antonio Cairoli on the first lap of Moto2 meant another trawl through the pack and Frossard was looking towards a top fifteen slot until another slip and a damaged motorcycle ended his race in the closing stages.
Frossard and Philippaerts are now fourth and fifth in the standings and split by five points. Frossard trails Clement Desalle by 32. Boissiere is thirteenth.
Monster Energy Yamaha will now remain outside Europe and travel south to Indaiatuba, north of Sao Paolo, for the Grand Prix of Brazil and round four of the FIM World Championship next week.
David Philippaerts:
This was a better race for me here than last year but we had some trouble with the starts today. I pushed really hard in both motos and I had a bit more luck in the first race but was really far behind at the beginning of the second. The results I took today are not the ones I want but this was the best I could do here. The track was difficult with many jumps and bumps, even dangerous in some places. I hope for better next week.
Anthony Boissiere
Steven Frossard:
It wasn’t my weekend. In the first heat I had a bad start and I didn’t have a good feeling. I tried to come back and reached seventh but then made a mistake on the last lap and crashed. In the second heat I couldn’t improve the start and when Cairoli made a mistake I landed on him and we both fell. I pushed really hard to recover, perhaps too much because I crashed again and the handlebar was destroyed. I then looked to take some points but it was not possible.
Anthony Boissiere:
I am very happy today with my first overall top ten finish. In the first race I made the holeshot, which was perfect and then took seventh which is my best MX1 result so far. The second moto start was not great but I came back to twelfth and that was OK. The bike was awesome and to feel that power on the start straight was crazy! We are all motivated for good results.
MX2 - Osborne 5th and three Yamahas fill U.S.GP top ten
 Three YZ250F riders ended the United States Grand Prix the third round of fifteen in the FIM Motocross World Championship in the top ten of the MX2-GP standings at the Glen Helen circuit in California. Bike it Cosworth Wild Wolf Yamahas Zach Osborne placed 5th against adversity at his home event while Monster Energy Yamahas Harri Kullas was 6th and Christophe Charlier was 7th.
Sunshine through practice and qualification on Saturday let the riders discover an altered Glen Helen layout that was still heavy on the throttle and provided one of the longest laps of the series (a time of almost three minutes). Persistent rainfall through the first half of Sunday created two distinct motos as the southern Californian sunshine belatedly arrived with strong winds in the afternoon.
Osborne was the best Yamaha runner on the day but his race programme did not start well after he crashed into the slimy mud avoiding fallen world champion Marvin Musquin on the second corner. The British Champion was nursing a sore wrist from a blameless accident on Saturday but was still able to work his way back from almost last to 9th spot. In the second moto a better start saw him tussling for positions in the top five and he gained ground to pass Max Anstie and secure 4th. The 21 year old also recaptured the Marty Moates Cup award as best American rider from both classes on the day.
The first Yamaha rider across the line in the first moto was Harri Kullas. The Finn made an excellent start and ran as high as third before being overtaken by Anstie. His 4th place was still a personal best result in only his second GP season. In Moto2 Kullas fell in the same spot where Osborne had hit the dirt earlier in the day and begun a path back to 11th for his overall ranking. Team-mate Christophe Charlier was not among the leaders out of the gate and was frustrated not to find an effective rhythm. The Frenchman was 8th on both occasions.
Gautier Paulin came to America having not ridden for several weeks due to a ruptured intercostal muscle in his back. The Frenchman was impressively fast and could take 6th in the first moto but his participation was halted with a mechanical problem early in the second. Osbornes team-mate, Arnaud Tonus, was lucky to walk away from a crash on one of the biggest and fastest jumps on the track on Saturday. The Swiss was holding third in the first moto until another fall pushed him down to 7th. After tangling with another rider exiting the first corner of the second race Tonus then had to retire after a broken front disc brake had damaged his wheel.
In the world championship Osborne is fourth and 30 points from further promotion. Tonus is sixth with Paulin seventh and Kullas eighth.
The MX2 competitors will now remain outside Europe and travel south to Indaiatuba, north of Sao Paolo for the Grand Prix of Brazil and round four of the FIM World Championship next week.
Gautier Paulin:
This was tough for me. I had bad luck in Valkenswaard when I hurt one of my intercostal muscles. I was not training for two weeks and was a bit worried and afraid how I would feel physically on Sunday morning. Thankfully I was able to ride without any medication. I had a good start in the first moto but someone pushed me wide in the first corner. I was in eleventh and came back to sixth and had some fun racing hard with Searle. I was at the front of the second moto and hitting the ruts smoothly but then we had the problem with the bike. We haven’t had any good fortune but we will keep working and keep our heads high.
Zach Osborne:
I had a tough day today. I crashed yesterday and my wrist is painful. I had a scan and nothing is broken but it was still sore. It was actually a late decision about whether I would ride or not. In the first race Marvin went down in the second turn and I tried to go around him but I fell down when I turned. I came back to ninth from almost last and did a lot of risky passes that perhaps I shouldn’t have made to get up there. In the second race I had a decent start and worked forward the whole race. I felt a lot better on the bike. I didn’t have anything for the front three today but my fitness is good and I just need to pick up my starts a little bit because you cant win a GP if you getaway in eighth. I wanted to win my home GP but in the circumstances Im happy. Im also really happy with winning the Moates Cup as best American for the second year.
Harri Kullas:
I was third at the beginning of the first race and tried to look at the lines of the others and meet the speed of the first two. Things were going well and I couldn’t catch Anstie but I kept Searle behind me. I was really happy with fourth. In the second moto I was in the pack and couldn’t complete the first jump and hit someone. I picked up the bike but then a guy hit me and we both went down. I then charged as hard as I could even though my leg was hurting a bit. I was not so happy with the second race but will remember the first from here.
KAWASAKI RACING
MX2 - Third consecutive podium for Tommy Searle
Tommy Searle recorded his third consecutive podium finish for Kawasaki Team CLS in the American round of the FIM World MX2 Championship series.
The Englishman had great hopes for the GP at Glen Helen in California, but morning rainfall caused unexpected misfortune as surface water infiltrated his eye protection on the opening lap of the first race and forced him to discard his goggles a few laps later as the dirt thrown up by the rear wheels of his rivals caused him to eventually stop to clean out his eyes. Despite the handicap Tommy was able to sure forward from an initial 8th to finish 5th and he once again proved his pace in race two as he held down a challenging third place for many laps before being forced to slacken his pace as the effects of a week of sickness took their toll. Nevertheless he remained third to the end of the race and that was sufficient to secure his third podium trophy in three GPs and maintain his challenge for the world championship title.
 Teenage team-mate Max Anstie once again stepped up his challenge as he becomes more acquainted with the world scene and, in only his 4th GP, came within a lap and a half of recording his first podium.
The young Brit powered up the leaderboard in the first moto to finish third and again forced his way through the pack in race two to hold down 4th place behind team-mate Searle. This would have been sufficient to earn him his first GP podium, but the youngster was caught by surprise by a sudden charge from American Zach Osborne which cost him 4th in the moto and third on the day to team-mate Searle. Nevertheless the learning curve continues and Max has now moved forward to 5th place in the championship in this, his rookie season in the GPs.
Tommy Searle: “My first race didn't really go to plan; I crashed on the first lap and I got some water in my goggles. I had to take them off after a few laps and that made racing difficult; I was behind Harri Kullas and normally I’m faster than him but every time I came behind him I took mud and sand in my eyes. In the end I had to stop to clean my eyes, so I was really disappointed to finish the race in fifth position. The second race was better as I finished third and that earned me yet another podium. I was expecting more from this weekend but in the circumstances it was not so bad as I was sick all week. I am still right in there in the points and my day will come soon.”
Max Anstie: “It was nice to be back in the US for a couple of weeks to prepare for this Grand Prix, and that showed as I came so close to the podium finish I had aimed for at this GP. The track was still muddy in some places during the first race so it was not easy to pass but I quickly moved forward from 8th at the start to take third place halfway through the race, but the leaders were too far ahead by then for me to catch them too. I quickly got through to 4th place behind Tommy in the second race and it looked like I was headed for the podium, but Zach Osborne surprised me on the next to last lap when he came with a rush. I was a little frustrated to lose my first podium so late in the race, but I finished the day with the same points as Tommy and my speed was good, so this was another step forward and helped me move up to 5th in the points.”
MX1 - Barragan overcomes illness for 8th in California
Jonathan Barragan overcame a week of illness to maintain his top 8 world ranking with 8th place in the third round of the FIM World MX1 Motocross Championship at Glen Helen in California.
The Spaniard had been taken ill the previous weekend and suffered from erratic breathing, the long flight from Europe to the Pacific coastline certainly affecting his physical strength, for many years one of his great assets. A poor getaway in the opening race left Jonathan 12th at the completion of the opening lap but he bravely battled for the entire race to be rewarded with 9th place at the chequered flag. He improved on this with a battling 8th placed ride throughout race two and will now concentrate on regaining full fitness before the next leg of the overseas tour in Brazil next weekend.
His Kawasaki Racing Team colleague Xavier Boog also battled hard all weekend without attaining the results which his efforts deserved. An early fall in the first moto after gating in the top 12 restricted the Frenchman to 14th at the finish despite a strong resurgence during the closing stages; he followed this up with a 10th placed finish in race two.
The weekend started well for the Kawasaki Bud Racing team as Gregory Aranda, returning to the GP stage from pre-season injury, immediately posted the fastest time during the Pre-Qualifying practice but his recent lack of race experience inevitably took its toll during the racing. However he battled bravely to 11 championship points to indicate that he will soon be a force to be reckoned with on the world stage again.
Team-mate Davide Guarneri faced a difficult weekend after crashing so heavily during the first practice session that he broke his helmet and suffered slight concussion. He too battled bravely on to chase through the field for 13th place in race one but was restricted to 16th in the second race after tensing up and suffering the inevitable tiredness.
Jonathan Barragan: “I didn’t felt so well when I came here, as last Saturday in Spain I was sick and went to the hospital; I got some treatment, but it was impossible for me to breathe normally this weekend. The track was a little bit strange with many lines before the big jumps, but in general I liked it. In the first race I simply made a bad start, but I was able to fight back through to ninth place by the finish. With an eighth place in the second race I took some good points in both races and expect to be feeling in better condition next week in Brazil.”
Xavier Boog: “I can’t say that I’m satisfied with my results today, I’m not here to battle for a tenth position. We’ve worked this winter to score podiums, and at the moment it’s just not happening. On Saturday I crashed during the qualifying race and fell on my left shoulder; it was painful but it didn’t bother me for the races. In the first moto I had a good rhythm and was in the top twelve, but I crashed and lost a lot of positions. The track was rougher for the second race and I had a better race to finish tenth.”
Davide Guarneri: “Everything went wrong for me right from the first practice session, when I crashed hard, broke my helmet and suffered a slight concussion. Then in the qualifying race I crashed again and had to pull out, so I had a bad choice of gate for the main races and I was in pain everywhere in my body. I fought through to thirteenth in the first race, and I felt stronger in the second moto but I was riding too stiff and after twenty minutes I started to feel tired. Now I will fly to Brazil on Tuesday, but I need to rest and recover before this event.”
Gregory Aranda: “I was surprised to get the pole position in the pre qualifying session, but unfortunately I didn’t got a good start in the qualifying race. In the races I had arm pump and it was impossible to push; I didn’t have so many races during the last month and it was my first Grand Prix this season, so I am am sure that my results will improve in the coming races.”
STEVE RAMON
A mixed weekend for Ramon at USGP
Steve Ramon showed very good speed and endurance all weekend at the USGP, but unfortunately a big crash in the opening moto damaged his bike beyond repair, forcing the ex double World Champ out of contention for a decent overall result.
Sunday morning started well for the popular Belgian, whilst despite heavy rain Ramon was ‘gelled’ with the rough, rutted circuit during morning warm-up and he looked forward to a solid result.
The gate dropped for moto 1 and Ramon powered his Rockstar Energy Suzuki out the gate, heading through turn one inside just inside the top 10. Quickly getting into a good rhythm the ‘Bomb’ sat in 7th place battling with Bobryshev, Philippaerts and Boissiere. With just 3 laps remaining Ramon got cross rutted on a fast downhill section and went down hard. Despite re-mounting Ramon realised his bike was badly damaged and was forced to return to the pit. A disappointing end to a good race.
Despite a few knocks and bruises from race one, Ramon lined up ready for battle in moto 2. The gate dropped and once again the number 11 Suzuki was lightning fast heading into the first turn. Immediately getting into his ultra-smooth rhythm Ramon powered around the rough circuit in 6th position. Lap after lap Ramon and Simpson raced hard, but with just a few laps remaining Simpson grabbed the upper hand. At the chequered flag it was a 7th position for Ramon.
Steve Ramon:
"My riding wasn't bad but I couldn't find a good rhythm in the first moto and five minutes before the end I made a mistake going down the hill. It was a pretty big crash. The handlebar was bent and the clutch lever had folded down so I had to stop. No points, no good. I was top-five at the start of the second moto but lost two positions on the second lap; however my speed was good. Near the end I had a problem with a lapped rider and I twisted my foot trying to pass him. I had to slow down in the last half-a-lap. What can I say? I cannot be too disappointed because the last few weeks were terrible for me but I had the energy to complete the moto at least. I am looking forward to Brazil now."
GAUTIER PAULIN
Bad luck for Paulin at USGP
Despite a solid race to 6th position in race one at the USGP this past weekend, a DNF in race 2 with a technical issue meant a premature end to Gautier Paulin’s weekend, and has put a dent in the young Frenchman’s championship points.
Having qualified in 5th on the famous hillside circuit of Glen Helen, USA, Gautier Paulin looked forward to Sunday, with the hope and expectations of a good result.
In moto 1 a poor start left ‘GP21’ fighting hard from 10th position on the opening lap. In a field stacked with talent Paulin had to scrub and rail his Yamaha around the fast circuit, fighting for every opportunity to move forward in the pack. At the end of a tough race Paulin had moved up into 6th position.
Paulin looked forward to a better result in moto 2, but it was not to be. A technical issue early in the race put end to his weekend.
Gautier Paulin:
This was tough for me. I had bad luck in Valkenswaard when I hurt one of my intercostal muscles. I was not training for two weeks and was a bit worried and afraid how I would feel physically on Sunday morning. Thankfully I was able to ride without any medication. I had a good start in the first moto but someone pushed me wide in the first corner. I was in eleventh and came back to sixth and had some fun racing hard with Searle. I was at the front of the second moto and hitting the ruts smoothly but then we had the problem with the bike. We haven’t had any good fortune but we will keep working and keep our heads high.
LS HONDA RACING
Season's best for Simpson, De Dycker unlucky
 MX1 rookie Shaun Simpson stormed to a strong sixth in the second moto of the US Grand Prix in Glen Helen, California. Shaun produced his best ever moto result in the MX1 class after taking 16th coming through almost from dead last in the opening moto when he had a crash in the start. Belgian ace Ken De Dycker was terribly unlucky not to bag more points in the US. A fuel pump problem prevented him from finishing in the opening race. While Ken produced an inspired ride in the second moto, posting the third fastest lap of the race, he ran out of gas in the penultimate corner. Former LS Honda Racing star Clément Desalle claimed the overall GP, ahead of Nagl, Bobryshev and Strijbos.
After an unusual overcast sky and cool temperatures in the morning the San Bernardino setting of the Monster Energy American GP finally bathed in sunshine on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately the LS Honda Racing’s riders didn’t get the grid positions they wanted in in the qualification race. Shaun gated in the middle of the pack to finish 13th, De Dycker suffered a disappointing engine failure relegating him to a lowly 31st position on the gate.
Sunday morning would see even worse weather conditions at the Californian track. The longest layout of the GP season was transformed into a treacherous, muddy affair after heavy rainfall in the morning. Suitable conditions for LS Honda’s Simpson who rode his CRF450R to the fastest time in warm-up. Luckily the typical strong winds managed to dry blow the track later on. With a temperature of 18° C the riders were treated to European conditions in the first of their overseas events. Getting a great start was always going to be difficult for De Dycker given his bad gate position, but team-mate Simpson had an even bigger challenge on his hands when he crashed at the start. De Dycker had just forced his way from 18th in the early stages of the race to 11th after six laps. With his fuel pump issues getting increasingly bigger Ken pulled out of the race. Simpson looked on course to a top-15 in spite of his disastrous start, however the friendly Scotsman had to settle for 16th, just 0,749 behind Estonia’s Tanel Leok.
A much better start in the second race provided Simpson with an opportunity for a great result. Well inside the top-10 for the first two laps Braveheart rode a consistent, spirited moto to grab sixth ahead of Steve Ramon, Jonathan Barragan and David Philippaerts. De Dycker once again started mid-pack to go from strength to strength. The tall Belgian was without a doubt one of the fastest men on the bumpy demanding track, but was denied the rewards of his efforts when he run out of fuel in the very last lap when he was circulating in ninth position.
Shaun Simpson: “In the first start I was looking to get away in the top ten and made a mess of it. I hit Frossard’s rear wheel and went down. The track was very one line and I fought back to sixteenth which I was reasonably pleased about. The track was better for the second moto and I managed to find my rhythm. I felt good out there. I made a mistake, but clawed back distance on Steve Ramon and when he made an error up Yamaha hill I got him. I pushed in the last four or five laps. This is the sort of form I felt like I had in me and it is nice to show people that I can do it!”
Ken De Dycker: “It was a really bad day with two DNFs. There is nothing we can do and we must just keep working. We are already quite far behind in the points and have to hope for some better results in the next races. For a positive… my riding was good and better than the first two GPs, my back also feels stronger. If we can improve a bit more then I hope we can be on the podium soon.”
SHAUN SIMPSON
Simpson sixth at US Grand Prix
LS Racing Honda rider Shaun Simpson recorded his best MX1 Grand Prix result to date when he placed sixth during the second moto of the US event, which marked round three of the 2011 FIM Motocross World Championship. A fall at the start of the first race spoilt what otherwise was a marked improvement in fortunes for the young Scot, who has so far not enjoyed the best of luck during his debut season in the premier class.
Changeable weather conditions at the famous Glen Helen circuit in California meant racing was as tough as ever amongst the World's elite motocross riders. Rain on Sunday morning made the track, which had under gone modification for the GP from its normal national format, soft and swamp like in places. In contrast the deciding race of the day took place on a much drier and rougher surface due to the effects of strong winds and blue skies later in the afternoon.
Saturday's qualifying schedule that was conducted on a dry and fast track was not particularly to Shaun's liking, with the former MX2 British champion failing to feature in the top ten in free practice, pre-qualifying practice and the qualifying race itself. Eventually Simpson was to finish in thirteenth position to at least give himself a reasonable gate pick for Sunday's two main motos.
The inclement weather on Sunday morning was to Simpson's favour, and with slower speeds overall, Shaun showed the real potential of him and his CRF450R as he went quickest in morning warm up with a time of just over three minutes. This was a much welcomed boost of confidence for the twenty-three year old, who has yet to show his true form since stepping up to the MX1 class a year ahead of schedule.
Typically Shaun's luck was not to follow through, after making a good start in the first moto he was soon on the deck as he clipped the rear wheel of a fellow charger. Down, but not out Simpson showed great resolve as well as speed as he battled back from last to sixteenth to put him in good shape for his next outing. A more successful launch in the second moto saw Simpson running in the top ten and soon up to seventh, before claiming sixth spot just before the chequered flag. This was enough to give him eleventh overall and leave him fifteenth position in the general standings.
With a slight smile on his face, Shaun explained, "The morning started off good in the warm-up as I was fastest and I think that bit of rain helped me out. It slowed the track down and gave it a few more lines. I was hopeful of a good day. In the first start I was looking to get away in the top ten and made a mess of it. I hit Frossard's rear wheel and went down. The track was very one line and I fought back to sixteenth which I was reasonably pleased about."
"The track was better for the second moto and I managed to find my rhythm. I felt good out there. I made a mistake, but clawed back distance on Steve Ramon and when he made an error up Yamaha hill I got him. I pushed in the last four or five laps. This is the sort of form I felt like I had in me and it is nice to show people that I can do it. There are a few smiles on faces and Brazil next weekend would have been a long trip without that second race," ended Simpson.
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 "Clement Desalle")
 "Ken Roczen")
 "Max Nagl")
 "Rui Gonçalves")
 "Harri Kullas")
 "Max ANSTIE")
 "Shaun Simpson")
 "Clement Desalle")
