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KTM Racing
MX2 - Searle tops MX2 podium; Rattray has Red Plate as championship leader
Red Bull KTM factory rider Tommy Searle stopped the hearts of all spectators of the second MX2 moto in Sevielo, Bulgaria on Sunday when he swept past fellow KTM rider Shaun Simpson in the last seconds of the race to take the top podium spot in the GP.
On a day when rain fell to soften the hard track and reshuffle the cards just before the second MX2 moto, Red Bull KTM's Tyla Rattray made a good comeback from a tussle with Toni Cairoli in the second moto to finish overall second. Shaun Simpson was on the podium for the first time in third place to complete a complete clean sweep of the podium for KTM.
 Elated Tommy Searle
"I am very happy because this is my first victory of the season and my second career GP win," Tommy said. "I really enjoyed the battle with Shaun. I knew that Tyla and Cairoli were quite far back but I did not want to take any risks. The track was quite tricky as I wanted to be sure to try to pass Shaun at just the right time." The last minute pass by the young British title contender was certainly the highlight of the race weekend at this circuit in central Bulgaria.
Rattray overcomes clash with Cairoli
Tyla Rattray, now again in front in the championship standings and owner of the red number place said he regretted the incident with Toni Cairoli, the current MX2 champion, saying that although it was part of racing he was sorry it had happened. "I always like to ride clean but I also always race for the win." After the tangle Tyla managed to work his way back up through the pack on a circuit and in conditions where it was difficult to make up ground. After his third place in the first moto he finished fifth in the second, collecting enough points for the second podium place on the day.
First GP podium for Shaun Simpson
Shaun Simpson, riding for Team KTM UK, one of the new KTM-supported teams was naturally delighted to be up with Searle. He led the race right from the beginning and said he didn't expect to be on the podium this early in his career in GP racing. "This is a very new experience for me," he said. "This is a track that suits me and I already knew in race one that I was fast. I couldn't believe I was in front of Tommy in the second moto. It was fun and now I know I am getting faster I have good hopes for the rest of the season and I want to improve in every GP.
Problems for Goncalves in heat one
Rui Goncalves, the third Red Bull KTM factory rider had difficulty with pain in his arms in the first moto, finishing in tenth place. The second heat proved more successful after some adjustments to the bike's setup. "I had a lot of problems with my arms in the first heat. It was very distracting and hard to ride. It was easier in the second with a different setup but I did not have a very good start. I was also behind Cairoli and Tyla during their incident. I went on to finish seventh and of course I never give up." The Portuguese Red Bull KTM rider said he is looking forward to next week's ride in Mantova, Italy, where he had a good race in the pre-season Starcross event. "It's now my aim to finish every GP and to pick up as many points as I can," he said.
MX1 - Jonathan Barragan denied victory in last minutes of MX1 in Bulgaria
KTM Team Silver Action rider Jonathan Barragan looked certain to take victory in the second moto and seal his MX1 Grand Pix win in Sevlievo, Bulgaria on Sunday when a mistake in the last stretch of race two denied him the overall victory.
On a day where rain fell before the second race to create a whole different set of conditions on the normally hard packed track, the Spanish KTM rider did go on to be second overall to rescue a podium place and pick up more valuable championship points.
Last minute mistake on tricky wet circuit
"I am very sad, "the Spanish rider said. "I made a mistake in the last lap and lost my position. Without this I know I would have won today. I was very fast this weekend and I know I can win races. Now I will concentrate on a good result next weekend in Mantova, where I had a good result in the pre-season Starcross event. I'm going to do my best to get back in the championship and to finish every race with as many points as I can."
Max Nagl looks ahead to Mantova
It was also a disappointing day for Red Bull KTM factory rider Max Nagl of Germany. Despite snatching the holeshot in both heats of the MX1, Sunday was not his lucky day. Max went into the race hoping for a top five position but a mistake in heat one cost him his chances then in the second heat his boot got wedged in between the frame and the rear brake and he lost valuable time trying to free it. Overall he finished in eighth position in the GP. Max also goes to Mantova next weekend optimistic about riding on a circuit that he likes and where he has enjoyed good results in the past.
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Yamaha Racing
MX1 - Philippaerts takes first win with Yamaha
In changeable weather conditions and across a tricky Sevlievo circuit, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team's David Philippaerts scored his first success on the YZ450FM with first and second positions in the two motos at the Grand Prix of Bulgaria. After four rounds of fifteen in the 2008 FIM MX1-GP World Championship the Italian has extended his lead in the series to 17 points and also placed Yamaha first in the manufacturer's standings. Josh Coppins was sixth overall and currently lies third.
The hard and fast layout situated deep in the Bulgarian countryside offered two different tests to the riders of the MX1-GP category as the first moto of 35 minutes and 2 laps took place in sunshine but a grey sky and rainfall created a slick and greasy terrain for the second outing.
 Philippaerts made the most of two decent starts to obtain his prize. The 24 year old escaped the attentions of Billy Mackenzie and Marc de Reuver to lead the first sprint from start to finish. In the second wetter race he fought with Jonathan Barragan and was ultimately unable to match the Spaniard's pace. Entering the last lap Philippaerts was resigned to his second consecutive runner-up position until the leader crashed and allowed Sebastien Pourcel and the Yamaha representative to pull through. Second spot in the moto was enough to secure the overall and his second career MX1-GP success.
Josh Coppins ended the day disappointed with sixth position but a set of average starts and some hesitancy on the first lap of Moto1 meant that a better placing was not possible. The Kiwi qualified quite well, (Philippaerts was eighth after being baulked on his two flying lap attempts) with the sixth best lap-time on a dry track that saw the protagonists of the class separated by very little. However he was, by his own admission, 'too slow' in the opening stages of Moto1 and although he pulled through the pack well and was all over the back wheels of Marc de Reuver and Barragan contesting second place, he crossed the finish line in fourth. The second moto was even tougher as he touched with his team-mate along the start straight and had to be determined to cut through from a mid-pack position on the first lap.
The course was not easy for overtaking, making Coppins' job even harder; he took 14 points for seventh at the flag. The 31 year old is still well in touch with the title chase.
Yamaha Van Beers' Aigar Leok was 17th, one place ahead of UTag Yamaha.com's Carlos Campano.
The world championship table still shows both Yamaha Monster Motocross team members within the top three. Philippaerts holds a bigger margin over world champion Ramon and Coppins is 34 points away. Yamaha head the manufacturer's standings by 5 points. The squad are well-placed for round five and their home Grand Prix at Mantova in Italy next week.
David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 1st:
"This is a really good result for me. I tried to win both races but Barragan was very fast in that second moto and I had some luck when I saw him crash. I was pretty tired by that point and I could not stop Pourcel taking the lead. The track was very different in the afternoon. The rain had made it very slippery and some more lines appeared. The mud went softer and got bumpier. The bike is really good and the team are working hard. I'm happy for this; a good day!"
Josh Coppins, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 6th:
"I thought that things would turnaround for me this weekend but I am really disappointed with how the motos went. My starts were not good, which is unusual for me, and I was too slow at the beginning of the first moto. I wanted to do better for the second moto but David cut across me coming out of the gate; that's OK though because I would have done the same if I also had the holeshot. I was stuck in the middle of the pack and by the time I passed riders there was too big a gap to rise any further. This is not what I wanted ahead of Mantova, which is perhaps the hardest track of the year for me and I am losing my patience; it has been a hard start to this championship."
Mino Raspanti, Racing Manager:
"A very good weekend. David won the GP with some luck, thanks to Barragan's crash. He was already looking quick and motivated through the practice sessions and playing with the bike but found two slower riders in the Timed Practice that ruined his laps. Anyway, he still got the starts from eighth in the gate. Josh was fourth in the first race which wasn't so bad and his speed in the last ten minutes was very good. His start was a handicap and he could not find his pace like before. The bikes performed well and the riders felt good; we just need to understand why Josh couldn't get going in that second moto."
MX2 - Cairoli seventh after first corner incident
MX2-GP World Champion Antonio Cairoli finished off a Grand Prix podium for the first time since Namur, August 2007 after suffering a first corner crash in a wet second moto at Sevlievo for the Bulgarian round of the FIM series. The fourth round of fifteen took place under changeable weather conditions that saw the first race occur in sunshine and the second on a slippery and soggy terrain. The Sicilian was seventh overall but had already banked some points with a comprehensive victory in Moto1.
The Bulgarian dirt was hard and flat and together with the layout created a fast course that left little room for error. The start and initial corners were vital in determining the leading positions as lap-times generally remained fairly close and overtaking was difficult.
Cairoli enacted a fantastically close duel with Tommy Searle during the Saturday qualification Heat and got the better of the Briton to secure his second consecutive pole position. The pair briefly resumed their fracas in the first GP moto but the Yamaha De Carli rider unearthed a series of rapid circulations on his YZ250F to break free from his English rival and win his third moto in succession.
The second race could not have started more differently. The 22 year old slid off in front of the pack entering the first right turn and was hit by Tyla Rattray. Then, while pushing to regain positions, was struck from behind by another rider and again hit the ground, losing time to restart. He finished down in nineteenth.
Yamaha Ricci Racing's Nico Aubin also had a contrasting set of results. The Frenchman could not recover well from a start that left him in the bottom half of the top twenty on the first lap of Moto1 and scored thirteenth. He did however reverse his fortunes in the second sprint when he chased Shaun Simpson and Tommy Searle and was less than three seconds from first position by the end of the race. His third place meant a ranking of fifth overall.
Team-mate Davide Guarneri was sixteenth in the final GP standing. The Italian had to qualify via the Last Chance session after a heavy crash during Saturday's Heat race. A fall in Moto1 meant that he was unable to restart, while he was one of the casualties of the first corner mayhem in Moto2. The 23 year old did manage to capture a hard-won tenth by the end of the 35 minutes and 2 laps.
Cairoli's team-mate, Matteo Bonini, made a welcome return to Grand Prix action only two weeks after he recovered sufficiently from a dislocated shoulder. The Italian is lacking race speed and fitness but registered a total of six points with nineteenth overall.
3C Racing's Manuel Monni was a consistent figure around the top ten and earned eleventh position thanks to finishes of twelfth and eleventh.
Cairoli lost a little ground in the world championship standings and rests 4 points behind new leader Tyla Rattray. Aubin is fourth and 43 away from the top three. Guarneri is seventh.
The MX2-GP elite will be in action in the space of seven days as the Italian Grand Prix at the jumpy Mantova circuit constitutes round five.
Antonio Cairoli, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 7th:
"Of course, after the first moto, I expected more from this GP. I had a really good start in the second moto and when I cut tight for the corner my front wheel slipped away. Everyone was really close and Tyla hit me in the back, which caused a lot of pain. I lost time restarting but worked my way back to 12th, and that was OK because Tyla was in the same group and I felt like I was riding really well. Then when I came down one of the hills a rider had stopped in the line in front of me so I had to slow also and I was hit from behind. The handlebars were covered with mud, so I quickly had to clean them and try to go again. I wanted to keep positive and try for points so I kept pushing and reached 19th. I am now second and four points behind Tyla. This is manageable, and the next GP is in Italy so we will be strong. I want the red plate again in Mantova."
Nico Aubin, Yamaha Ricci Racing, 5th:
"I was missing something today. I started badly in the first moto and could not get a rhythm. I tried to push hard but could not pass the other riders, thirteenth was a poor result. In the second race I felt better and faster and was in the fight for first position which was good. I like Mantova and I must get better because we have had four GPs now and I have not made the results that I want. I have a good bike and my physical condition is OK. I just need a little something extra and that second moto was good for my head."
Davide Guarneri, Yamaha Ricci Racing, 16th:
"A bad weekend; too many crashes. I like this track but I had a big crash in the heat on Saturday and hit my head so I had to go through the last chance. My gate was far to the outside. I started way back in the first moto and after a few laps I was up to 14th but I lost the front wheel on a jump and I could not restart the bike. Many riders fell at the start of the second moto and I got pushed outside and also crashed, again! It was very slippery there. I pushed and I rode pretty well to finish 10th which was OK. I lost points today but the championship still has a long way to go."
Matteo Bonini, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 19th:
"I did not feel too bad out there. My shoulder was OK, considering I only started training two weeks ago. I pushed so hard in those two weeks to make this GP that I think it left me very tired today. I gained some points at least and things can only get better. I wanted to make this GP to get some race time before Mantova. The track there is difficult but now I am a little bit more familiar with the speed the guys are making now."
Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing
Double podium in Bulgaria for the GPKR team
Team Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing celebrated another GP win this weekend as Livia Lancelot won the opening round of the Women’s World Championship.
Home of the Bulgarian GP for several years now Sevlievo offered two different types of race this year as the weather changed so fast on Sunday. The first races took place on a dry track in hot temperatures before a storm changed the conditions between the heats.
On Saturday the track was in perfect condition and once more Sébastien Pourcel was the fastest rider in all the sessions scoring his third consecutive pole position. Fastest during the free practice periods Livia Lancelot didn’t find a clear lap during the timed session and qualified third in the Women’s class.
In both heats Sebastien had average starts but recovered pretty well during the first race and passed Mackenzie for third then the British rider hit him in a corner. Seb crashed, started seventh then crashed again during the next lap. Restarting 12th he took his time to recover and then pushed hard again to finish eighth.
His second start was a little bit better and it took him a few laps to find his lines as the track was damaged by the storm. After six laps he started his comeback and reached second position four laps before the end of the race. He never stopped pushing and got a nice present when Barragan crashed and offered him his second heat win of the season. Third overall on the day Sébastien is currently seventh in the standings.
Missing a good start in the first Women’s race Livia Lancelot bounced back to second position and then passed Larissa Papenmeir for the lead during the third lap. She controlled the race until she got amongst the lappers who sometimes reacted slowly to move when they saw the blue flag. Livia lost four seconds to Papenmeier in a single lap and was passed by the young German lady who won the first race.
The track was slippery for the second heat and Livia showed how fast she is when the grip is average. Passing her main rivals on the jumps she took early the lead to win the race and the overall easily. She is now the leader of the first ever Women’s World Championship.
Sébastien Pourcel: “The qualification session was again great for me and I was the fastest during all the sessions on Saturday. My first start was average, I was coming back strongly but when I passed Mackenzie he didn’t try to turn but just came on me to cut my line. I crashed and during the following lap I crashed again! Then I recovered took it quietly and came back eighth.
“My second start was a little bit better but during the first part of the race I didn’t feel comfortable, the track was wet and I was sliding and my lines were not so good. It took me some laps to recover and then I came back into third behind Barragan and Philippaerts. They were far ahead but Philippaerts made a mistake and I came back to him then passed him for second place then pushed hard to reduce the gap with Barragan. He made a mistake and I passed him then I was surprised to see the chequered flag, as I didn’t realise that the race was finished. It’s good to be on the podium even if it could have been better without this collision during the first race.”
 Livia Lancelot: “It was a great weekend with two different races. The track was hard and it was hot for the first race - then it rained and was of course slippery. My start was not so good in the first race, I came behind Papenmeir and looked at her lines. I passed her as I was faster and then secured a small gap. I lost some concentration and some time when I came on the lappers and didn’t realise that she was coming closer. I lost four seconds and she passed me three laps before the end, I couldn’t pass her back as there was one good line on the track.
“When I saw the rain coming before the second heat I was confident, my start was good and in the second downhill I passed everyone. Not so many girls were jumping the double jumps and I made a big gap to secure the heat win. It’s great to be first leader of the World Championship, now I will have a few days to recover before Mantova where the goal will be to keep the red plate!”
Patrick Geladé: “It’s another good weekend for us with strong races from Livia and Sébastien. For several weeks now Sébastien has brought us strong results, in the GPs as well as the French Championship and with his third pole position in a row he confirmed his potential. We have to continue to work on the start, it’s our next goal and despite his collision during the first race Sébastien claimed another podium. Livia surprised me this weekend, she worked hard during two months to be ready for this race and she got very good results. Concerning Kevin (Strijbos), he visited his doctor last Thursday and it seems that he could be back for the French GP.”
Team Suzuki
RAMON JUST MISSES BULGARIAN PODIUM
 Team Teka Suzuki WMX1 rider Steve Ramon narrowly missed out on a podium position at the latest round of the 2008 FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship held at Sevlievo in Bulgaria as he finished in fourth place overall on his factory RM-Z450.
Ramon's team-mate Ken De Dycker had a disappointing day meanwhile and could only muster a 10th place overall finish.
Conditions at the Sevlievo circuit were perfect for moto one and the jump-filled hillside racetrack that's boasted by the race's organisers to be 'The Greatest Motocross Track in the World' provided some of the best racing seen in the 2008 championship season so far.
Moto one saw both Team Teka riders mired in the mid-pack from the start as Ramon got closed off in turn one by the riders on either side of him and De Dycker was unable to get off the line as well as he'd have liked. With Ramon 11th and De Dycker 20th both riders had to battle hard for their eventual positions of fifth and 10th.
After heavy rain dampened the circuit between motos, Ramon and De Dycker both got slightly better starts than in the opener on the now much more slippery Sevlievo circuit. This time reigning World Champion Ramon pushed from seventh to fourth passing and heading eventual race winner Sebastien Pourcel for a few laps mid-race before losing a position to the Frenchman but being gifted third by Barragan on the last lap when the Spaniard, who was leading, crashed.
With a 5-3 scorecard, Ramon missed out on third overall by a measly two points but was still satisfied with his speed, fitness and fuel-injected factory 450.
"My biggest problem today was my starts," explained Ramon. "I got a bad start in moto one - I aimed for the inside but it was a little bit slippery and the rider in front of me got a bit sideways and left me with nowhere to go. I had a difficult first lap and had to push hard to try and get to the front and I moved from 11th to fifth but I couldn't get by Coppins - there was only one good line and he was on it also.
"Again in the second moto I didn't get a good start but I moved forward and Pourcel only passed me after I clashed with Lauris Freibergs who I was lapping. I was riding well and we were easily catching the leaders - Barragan and Philippaerts - but it's a pity that I wasn't closer at the start because I'd have been challenging for the win or maybe even the podium.
"Overall I was very happy with my riding today and my speed was good and I'm still second in the championship even though I lost a few points to Philippaerts but there's still a very long way to go."
De Dycker was only able to charge to 11th in moto two as he was finding it difficult to make up time on the ultra-fast Sevlievo circuit. After finishing 10th overall on the day, the former championship leader knows what he has to do if he's to return to full race winning form.
"For sure I need to work on my starts because I didn't have such good ones today - I just wasn't getting the jump," said De Dycker. "I was able to come through a little bit but it was so hard because the track's not very technical here, it's very fast and that makes it very difficult to pass. My speed was okay though and I was always moving forward - I think all day only one rider passed me."
As well as Ramon's podium near miss in MX1, Team Suzuki Inotec rider Xavier Boog also took his full-factory RM-Z250 to fourth overall after tying on points but losing out on the better-second-moto-tie-breaker rule with Shaun Simpson. Boog, who's been constantly improving on the factory bike this season put in 7-4 finishes to give Suzuki their strongest showing in MX2 for some time.
"Fourth overall is my best ever result and I'm very happy," said Boog. "I'm very happy with my riding today and the bike just keeps on getting better and better and I feel very good on it. I hope I can keep on improving each week and maybe reach the podium soon."
HONDA RACING INFORMATION
Crowd: 27,146 (weekend figure)
Weather:
Saturday – Clear, bright and sunny, 22 deg C
Sunday – Changeable, sunshine changing to cloudy with showers, 15 deg C
De Reuver best Honda rider at Sevlievo – MacKenzie holds onto fourth in series standings
Italian rider David Philippaerts increased his lead in the FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship taking the overall win at round four of the series held in Sevlievo, Bulgaria. The super-fast hillside circuit saw the two races held in very different conditions – strong sunshine and a dry track for moto one and under cloudy skies on a dampened circuit for moto two – although the racing was fast and furious in both 35-minute plus two lap motos.
 Dutchman Marc De Reuver was Honda’s strongest performer in MX1 taking fifth place overall riding his factory CRF450. The Honda Martin Racing rider scored a fine third place in moto one to take his maiden MX1 podium appearance of the year before backing that up with a solid second moto fifth. De Reuver’s team-mate Julien Bill and CAS Honda’s Billy MacKenzie were also able to race their Hondas to top-10 finishes while American CAS Honda rider Mike Brown just missed out in 12th place overall.
Sebastien Pourcel took pole position during Saturday’s qualifying session with a time of 1:46:767 while MacKenzie was best Honda rider in fifth, De Reuver was 10th, Bill 12th and Brown a disappointing – by his standards – 22nd place some 3.571 seconds down on the French pole sitter.
Sunday’s moto one saw Billy MacKenzie and MX1 series leader Philippaerts exit turn one side by side but the Italian edged into the lead before turn two allowing MacKenzie to watch his lines and bide his time as he waited to attack the leader. But rather than being the aggressor MacKenzie found himself hunted down by De Reuver who moved into second as arm pump forced the Scotsman to spiral down to 15th by the race’s end. De Reuver held the pace of the leader until he too lost his rhythm mid-race allowing Spaniard Jonathan Barragan by and into the runner-up position. De Reuver hung tough for third to secure his maiden MX1 podium of the year.
Swiss Honda Martin Racing rider Julien Bill also scored by far his finest performance of the year so far with a hard fought for sixth place after he battled through the pack from ninth. CAS Honda’s Mike Brown suffered similarly to his team-mate with arm pump but was able to tough it out to 12th.
After a heavy half hour shower between races, track conditions were much slicker for moto two which was led by Barragan until he crashed on the very last lap allowing Pourcel to steal victory. De Reuver and MacKenzie were Honda’s best performers this time in fifth and sixth while Bill and Brown also navigated inside the top-10 with eighth and 10th place finishes. Barragan’s mistake not only lost the overall win for the Spaniard as it also knocked De Reuver from third to fifth in the final standings.
Despite suffering his worst result of the year in moto one MacKenzie stays as Honda’s leading rider in the MX1 championship in fourth place now 49 points behind the leader. De Reuver jumps up to ninth, Brown rises to 11th and Bill also climbs to 16th.
Honda scored their first Motocross World Championship podium of the year with 17-year-old American female rider Ashley Fiolek who scored third overall on an LS Motorsport CRF250 in the opening round of the five-event Women’s World Championship. Fiolek finished behind Livia Lancelot and Maria Franke but ahead of the reigning Women’s World Cup champion Katherine Prumm on her way to third in her debut in World Championship competition.
The FIM Motocross World Championship continues next weekend in Mantova with the Grand Prix of Italy on May 18.
Roger Harvey – Honda Off-Road co-ordinator
“It was good to see Marc De Reuver running the pace we know he is capable of and him finishing third in moto one on a circuit that probably doesn’t suit him too well – with it being hardpack – is excellent. He was very unlucky not to score his first podium of the year – coming into the last lap he was third overall but when Barragan crashed he dropped to fifth – so I’m quite disappointed for Marc and the Martin team because it would be nice to see him on the podium.
“The rate at which Billy MacKenzie dropped off the pace due to arm pump in moto one was quite disappointing. It’s sort of understandable a circuit like this with there being so many big hills and it’s also very fast in between. Of course it’s the same for everybody and it’s a shame he could do no better than 15th. The second moto was slightly better for Billy, he felt his arm pump coming and just had to back it off a bit.
“Mike Brown also suffered with arm pump today – he’s suffered badly with it before so we could almost expect it – but he still rode quite well and got a great start in moto two from a gate where he was at a big disadvantage.
“Julien Bill made a great overall improvement today and he finished well in both races for the first time this year.
“I’d like to give Ashley Fiolek a special mention who is an American Honda supported rider who came to ride in the Women’s World Championship. Thanks must go to the LS Motorsports who supplied a bike and technical support and in return got their first podium in World Championship motocross when Ashley finished third overall. Congratulations to Ashley and thanks to American Honda for allowing her to come across.
“Also a mention must go to Marvin Musquin who rides for the NGS Honda team who had an excellent ride in the first moto even though he was in an incredible amount of pain with his leg. What had happened was that a stone had fallen inside his boot and was rubbing against his leg causing quite a bit of discomfort. I was especially pleased with how hard he charged all race – even at the end – and Marvin is definitely someone we’ll be looking at for the future.
“Overall I’m quite pleased but our MX1 results should have been a lot better than what was achieved. We’re at Mantova next weekend and that should suit all our riders so I’m looking forwards to that.”
Marc De Reuver – Martin Honda
“The timed qualifying session was really hectic and I did a fast lap which I thought would be good enough for top five but when they told me I was only 10th I was really surprised but all the times were very close so I was still quite happy.
“I know that on this track it’s important to get a good start and that’s exactly what I did in both races and I was also quite aggressive in the early laps.
“In both races I lost my rhythm a little bit, made some mistakes and lost a little bit of time but then I came good again at the end of the races. Since Portugal things have been getting better and better for me and today I only missed out on the podium because Barragan crashed on the last lap of moto two. Top five is good and next week is a good track for me.
“We did some testing on the suspension in Italy last week and now the bike is working really well for me and things just keep getting better and better now my confidence is coming back.”
Julien Bill – Martin Honda
“In the first moto I had a mid-pack start but I came through the pack from 12th to sixth and I was fighting with the best riders and so I was really happy with my speed and my fitness and I feel it was a good race.
“In the second race I also didn’t get such a good start and I found it a little bit more difficult as the track was rougher but in the final five laps I was catching Coppins and I’ve got to be happy with that. I finally finished eighth in moto two and so my results this weekend have been a massive improvement for me. I’ve also climbed up in the points standing and so I hope I can continue with this kind of results.
“The next few GPs are all on hard tracks which is good for me and so I hope I can keep getting top eight results and maybe even improve on that. I’d like to get on the podium but I realise all these guys are really fast and very strong so it will be tough but I will keep on trying.”
Billy MacKenzie – CAS Honda
“The first race is one that I want to forget ever happened. I almost holeshot – I definitely got to the first corner first – and for the first 10 minutes I was feeling good, I was behind Philippaerts and that’s exactly where I wanted to be – I wanted to be putting the pressure on him – and I was just waiting to pick my moment. I made a little mistake and De Reuver went by and then I messed up every single corner of the next lap and from there I just pumped up – it was the worst I’ve had all year.
“I struggled for the whole race after that point and I was getting passed everywhere, whenever I went wide someone would get me on the inside and vice versa. I just couldn’t do anything right and I was just going slower and slower. Being back in 15th place is not good enough and I was very annoyed and so was everybody else so I knew I had to do better in the next one.
“Philippaerts cut me off at the start of the second race but I found myself in third and was feeling very comfortable on the bike. Barragan and Philippaerts pretty much took off and I didn’t really have an answer for them even though I kept them in sight for two or three laps. I was pushing quite hard and I could feel my arm pump coming so I was hanging on going up the hills and then when I’d get to the corner at the top I could barely turn the thing so I calmed it down a bit and let the bike do all the work. I was behind De Reuver and on some parts of the track I would catch him and on other parts he’d pull away, I found some good lines and caught him a little and then the next lap he found them too! I’m happy to finish the day with a top six because if I’d have had another race like the first I wouldn’t have enjoyed the trip home at all.”
Mike Brown – CAS Honda
“In the first race I rode a little tight in the beginning and got arm pump for half of the race – it was so bad I couldn’t even use the clutch. In the last 15 minutes I loosened up and I started riding a lot better and overall it was an okay ride and I pulled through to 12th.
“In moto two I got a great start and was around fourth place but a couple of guys passed me and then I crashed on the inside of a corner and struggled to restart the bike. I was a long way back and so then I had to pull through the pack again. Overall I’m happy with the way I rode even if my results weren’t as good as I’d like them to – or they should – have been.”
Ashley Fiolek – LS Motorsport Honda
“I wasn’t sure really what to expect when I came here, it’s a lot different from home so I just tried to do my best and then see what happened. I’m definitely glad that I got on the podium – there are so many fast women here and it’s tough to do well so I’m pleased I finished where I did especially with the mud. The women I normally race with in America are fast but here is where the fastest women in the world are and that’s why I came here to race with them. I’m gonna keep on working and training hard and hopefully I can win a moto next weekend.”
Molson Kawasaki Racing
Bad luck blights Molson in Bulgaria
The Molson Kawasaki MX2 team riders run strong in Sevlievo until terrible luck strikes If it wasn’t for bad luck in Bulgaria the Molson Kawasaki team would have had little to no luck at all as after Stephen Sword and Gautier Paulin raced their factory KX250F-SRs to fourth and fifth place in the opening moto at round four of the FIM World Motocross Championship in Sevlievo a double no score second time out tried and tested the team’s spirit to the max.
As early as in the first practice session on Saturday it was obvious that Sword and Paulin were in great form on the jump-filled, super-fast hillside circuit as they carved their factory bikes to great times in all sessions. Then in their qualifying heat the pair finished second and third to easily qualify and ensure they’d get a great pick at the start gate for Sunday’s points paying races.
 When the gate dropped for moto one it was Sword who came out of the corner with the holeshot even though he’d been far from quickest out of the gate. “I didn’t get out of the gate so well but I got fantastic drive up the straight and through the first corner to take the lead,” claimed Stephen. “Once out front I had a bit of a dilemma on my hands as I wasn’t sure which lines to take. The outsides were drier and looked quicker while the inside looked slippery. I figured if I went on the inside to protect my lead they’d be able to blast around the outside of me so I went wide but a few riders went by me and blocked my line and I ended up fifth – I couldn’t believe it!”
One of the riders to take advantage of Sword’s ill-conceived line selection was team-mate Gautier. “In the first race I got a very good start mostly because my bike is very good,” said Paulin. “Stephen was in front of me and I passed him and after Searle and Cairoli passed me I found a good rhythm. It was a good race for me and I was catching the leaders for a while but then Stephen passed me and I ended up fifth. My speed was equal to that of the leaders but I just made too many mistakes and they were able to pull away.”
Sword was also affected by Gautier’s errors but eventually found a way past. “I got stuck behind Gautier who’d passed me on lap one for a little while and the leaders gapped us which is a shame because I know I had the pace to run with them,” added Stephen. “I finished fourth in the end and I was really happy with that.”
Paulin is equally happy to finish fifth, one place behind his team-mate. “I was really happy with that result,” claimed Paulin. “I feel it is the best I have ridden since my hand injury – Spain was a better result of course but that was in strange conditions.”
With heavy rain falling between motos it looked for a while as though moto two might be a mud race but luckily conditions cleared although the circuit was much slicker. Sword got away from the line in third place behind fellow Brits Tommy Searle and Shaun Simpson but a technical problem with the steering would end his race before the first lap was out. “The start was pretty good again and I was in third which was perfect,” said Sword. “I knew nobody was going to be trying any big moves on the first lap because it was so slippery. I felt really good and totally in control of things and was ready to bide my time before making my move. Then going underneath the Red Bull bridge the bike came out of the rut and I jumped off the track. I thought I’d be able to continue but when I turned to get back onto the track the handlebars turned in my hands and I realised then that something had broken and that was it.”
Paulin meanwhile had got snarled up in the first turn carnage that also involved Toni Cairoli and Tyla Rattray and unfortunately had technical troubles of his own…
“Rattray made a big mistake in turn one and I hit him and then someone hit me and it was all a bit crazy in there,” explained Gautier. “I got going okay again but I must have damaged the front brake disk and it was so bent that it was pushing my brake pads apart constantly so it felt like I had no front brake which caused me to crash. I came into the pits and my mechanic changed the wheel and I was able to carry on which was good because I’m not used to riding mud so much so it’s good to get more experience in it. My lap times were good and I felt like I was riding well and I was running the pace of Rattray although I was one lap down.”
Despite the no scores Sword sits in sixth position in the MX2 championship while Gautier is 12th and both riders will be looking to turn their fortunes around at round five of the championship next weekend at Mantova in Italy.
The Molson team’s MX1 satellite rider Tom Church also had problems of his own in Sevlievo. After qualifying well during Saturday’s timed session Tom took ill overnight and felt way below par during Sunday’s two races. “I’m not sure what the problem is,” explained Tom. “As soon as I got back to the hotel last night I was sick and I continued to vomit all night. I tried my hardest during the races but I just felt so physically drained it would have been foolish and potentially dangerous to continue. I must first overcome this illness then concentrate on the rest of the season starting with Mantova next weekend.”
Kawasaki Racing Team MX1
Leok and Priem battle on in Bulgaria
Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tanel Leok and Manuel Priem have a difficult day as they battle against bad starts and the other riders at round four of the MX1 World Championship held at Sevlievo in Bulgaria.
Changeable weather spices proceedings up at round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship at Sevlievo in Bulgaria as moto one is held in perfect conditions while moto two is a whole lot slippier as rain between motos makes the excellent Sevlievo circuit super slick!
While the track conditions pose no problems to Tanel or Manuel who are both potently quick once they’re going but getting out of the all important start proves to be a problem for both riders.
 It was Leok who was the most successful KRT team rider on the day as he steered his factory KX450F-SR through the pack to 11th overall. “The first race was really good,” said Tanel. “I had a little bit of a bad start but I came back good and I finished seventh even though it’s very difficult to pass here – everything was just going good.
“Race two was okay also. Again my start was not so good but I had a good first lap and I came through the pack okay. Coppins made a little mistake and I tried to pass him on the inside but my wheels washed out in all the mud and I crashed. It took me a little while to start the bike and I lost a lot of places. I only finished 14th but I know my speed is really good. My shoulder is also better now and I’m able to practice during the week, I expect to improve more and more now each week.”
Priem’s starts were a big problem and he was unable to get off the line inside the top-20 in either race. Super fit and super fast – Priem’s lap times at the end of moto two when the Sevlievo circuit was at its gnarliest were comparable to those of the leaders – Manuel’s 14-12 scorecard offers no indication of his true pace.
“My speed was good today,” reckoned Manuel. “But I really need to practice and find some technical solution to make the starts better because today I had two bad starts and the track is so fast here and the difference in speed between the riders is so small that it’s difficult to come back.
“The first race was okay but the second race was better because I had some very good lines and I was able to catch up to De Dycker, Brown and Nagl to finish 12th. My speed and fitness I am very happy with – my fastest lap in the second moto was the second to last lap – but my starts are letting me down at the moment – if I could start top five or top 10 things would be much easier. We will test hard now and hopefully we’ll have a solution for Mantova.”
The fifth round of the FIM World Motocross Championship takes place next weekend at Mantova in Italy on May 18.
Tanel Leok
CRASH COSTS LEOK TOP 10 RESULT IN BULGARIAN GP
Round 4 of the 2008 MX1 motocross world championship series took the faithful to a remote, yet beautiful location. Sevlievo in Bulgaria has secured a well-deserved reputation as one of the prominent venues of the series. The winding, ochre coloured track is perfectly etched in the contrasting lush green grass that surrounds it. Almost old-school in layout, this track provides plenty in the way of challenges to the world's best motocross riders.
Despite forebodings of rain, good weather welcomed the GP circus as the world's top pro's got stuck into their Saturday afternoon tasks of qualifying for Sunday's race. Tanel Leok squeezed the throttle on his factory Kawasaki for all that he was worth, and managed to qualify in 9th position for the main event on Sunday.
The Estonian Express still has not made peace with the Fairy of Good Starts, and was noted down in 13th position after 1 lap. Following lanky Belgian Ken De Dycker opened up some doors for him , and he moved up to 10th position as the first third of the race was consigned to history. Amongst the victims were Sebastian Pourcel, Mike Brown and rapid starter Billy Mackenzie. Having made use of De Dycker's slipstream for long enough, Tanel clambered all over the back of the Belgian's bike, which brought the two of them within striking distance of Julien Bill and CLement Desalle as well.
THe pressure counted, and De Dijcker was consigned to memory, with Bill next in the sights. IN the meantime, Pourcel was mounting a strong comeback, and closing in on the factory Kawasaki rider. With two laps two go, Tanel passed Desalle, and blew down Bill's neck with Pourcel in hot pursuit. The last lap was a real nerve wracking affair for the various camps, but each rider held the plot upright, and Tanel crossed the line in seventh position, a split second behind Bill.
Heat two started off altogether better for the Estonian Express. He shot straight into the top 10, and immediately started hounding Bill, who was holding sway just ahead of him. After passing Bill, he had some distance ahead of - and behind him. All looked set for another strong top 10 finish, but a mistake in lap 14, just when he had passed Joshua Coppins, cost him a bag full of time, and he dropped down to 15th spot, behind team-mate Manuel Priem. With little time during which to recover, the best that he could do was consolidate his position, and he even managed to gain a spot in so doing, crossing the line in 14th position.
The slight mistake cost Tanel dearly, dropping him out of the top 10 overall for the day, and demoting him one position in the world championship rankings to 10th. The next stop in the world series is at Mantova in Italy, where Tanel collected some silverware in an international event at the beginning of the season.
Josh Coppins
Coppins frustrated with Bulgarian MX GP result
Factory Yamaha Monster racer Josh Coppins was dissatisfied with his performance at the fourth round of the FIM Motocross World champs held in Sevlievo, Bulgaria. With scattered showers mixing up the track conditions, Coppins battled with starts in both motos which consequently lost the New Zealander valuable points in the MX1 title chase.
 Coppins was the fastest rider in the Sunday warm up session and felt confident for a good race result however a bad start in moto 1 ruined the Kiwi’s chances of challenging for the moto win. Coppins progressed up the rankings during the 35 minute moto and shut down the leading pack of fellow team-mate Philippaerts, Barragan, and De Reuver with minutes left on the clock. A last lap charge had Coppins breathing all over De Reuver but to no avail has he crossed the line in fourth, only eight seconds adrift of winner, Philippaerts.
A rain shower between motos would make for a wet second race. Coppins had a mammoth task ahead as he hit a rider going down the start straight and was pushed back in the pack. Fallen riders on the first lap held Coppins up again as he was left outside the top ten with tons of work to do. Seventh spot was the best the Kiwi could produce as the checkered flag was waved for the end to a tough GP.
“I’m quite frustrated at the moment,” admitted Coppins. “I was pleased with my qualifying yesterday and this morning I was fastest in warm up which put me in a good mindset. I didn’t get the starts I needed today and in the first moto I took too long to get going. After the 10th lap I stepped it up and closed down the front pack but too late to gain some vital positions. The second moto start was a disaster and I was way back in the pack which, with the track being really fast and one-lined after the rain, meant that it would be difficult to make up lost ground. I have to say my starts and not being fast enough in the opening laps let me down this weekend and this is something I have to work on for the next GP.”
Coppins still occupies third in the MX1 championship standings and is 34 points adrift of fellow Yamaha Monster team-mate, David Philippaerts who leads.
With no time to rest, the Factory Yamaha Monster rider will head to Mantova in Italy for round 5, next weekend. (17-18 May).
CAS Honda
Billy MacKenzie holds on to 4th overall in the World Championship
The long trip to Sevlievo in Bulgaria was certainly worth it for the CAS squad, picking up more points for their World Championship goal.
Saturday was a sunny day and the track dry and fast, Billy held is own in qualifying sitting in 3rd spot but eventually qualifying in 5th, which was excellent. Mike struggled a little with the fast track and qualified further down the field.
On Sunday the weather had changed a little, in the first race Billy took the holeshot and was then passed by Philippaerts, Billy made a mistake and didn’t seem to recover after this, he had slight ‘pump up’ in his arms and dropped back. He came home in 15th place. Mike was 4th round the first corner and after struggling with the speed of Sevlievo and trying to find good lines, crossed the line in a credible 12th position.
The track was slightly wet for the second race after a few showers and the CAS boys took the holeshot again, this time it was Mike, a few laps later he was riding with the pack in 4th place, but went down, dropped back to 13th. After this he regained his composure, overtook a few riders to 10th place, holding back Ken DeDycker for the remainder of the race. Billy was out of the gate in 5th place, set a good pace, and rode a much better race, passing the chequered flag in a well earned 6th place.
Team Manager Neil Prince said, “The second race put a smile back on the face of the Team after a slightly disappointing first race.”
Mike Brown stated, “I was pleased with my performance in the second race however I much prefer a more technical track personally.”
Billy MacKenzie who picked up enough points to keep him 4th overall in the World Championship said, “Race one was desperate! I was frustrated that the speed I had just wasn’t quick enough to win the race. My second race was much better though.”
Shannon Terreblanche
TERREBLANCHE MOVES UP IN WORLD STANDINGS
Sevlievo in Bulgaria holds kind memories for Shannon Terreblanche. In 2007, during his rookie season in the motocross world championships, he posted a strong qualifying result here, and missed his first GP point of the series by the narrowest of margins after an epic battle with Dennis Verbruggen.
 Returning to the fray older and wiser in 2008, Shannon arrived at Sevlievo hoping to build on the momentum that he had generated with his best ever GP result at the previous GP of Portugal. The first order of business, of course, was to cross the qualifying hurdle on Saturday afternoon. A reasonable launch got the South African into 14th spot at the start, just 2 shy of the magical 12th spot. His new found race aggression served him well , and he made early passes, including one on team-mate Erik Eggens to move into 11th position before too long.
Maintaining concentration at this stage of proceedings was of utmost importance, but Shannon went one better. He kept the pace relentless, and outfoxed Briton Jake Nicholls as well to move into the top 10-. Compatriot Tyla Rattray, as is his wont, was conducting the orchestra from the front, but Shannon was doing the Rainbow Nation proud as well with his tenth spot finish, relieving him of the stress of having to qualify in the last chance qualifying session.
Shannon started the first heat slightly shy of the points in 24th position. He was hot on the heels of a group of riders, including team-mate Eggens, Belgian Joel Roelants and compatriot Wyatt Avis, whilst former team-mate Evgeny Bobryshev, in turn, was closely shadowing Shannon's Beursfoon Suzuki. Within a few laps, the South African teenager worked his way into the points, holding steady in 20th position. Bobryshev, with whom he has had a friendly rivalry since they became team-mates in 2005, kept him honest, and the pace was relentless throughout the race.
At mid race distance, Shannon was holding a steady gap behind Frenchman Jeremy Tarroux and ahead of Bobryshev, but new dangers in the form of Matti Seistola and Carl Nunn had appeared breathing down Bobryshev's neck . At the front of the race, a fierce battle was raging between Tyla Rattray, Antonio Cairoli and Tommy Searle, but the contests throughout the field were no less intense. With growing confidence, Shannon managed to fight off all of the substantial pressure behind him, and eked out the slimmest of advantages over Nunn to rake in the last point on offer.
The predicted rain made a belated appearance between the two races, and the track was rendered ultra-slippery for the second race. Shannon produced the goods this time, and started in the top 10. The treacherous, conditions, which were lying in wait to snag a good few riders during the course of the race, however, got the better of him in the early laps, and he went down, which knocked the stuffing out of him a bit and deprived him of the use of his goggles, dropping down to 16th spot. Concentration and smoothness would now count for more than anything, and the South African was a picture of concentration as he clicked off lap after lap.
The MX2 class was providing more value for money, with another nail-biting battle unfolding at front, and as the race wound down, the track was becoming grippier, offering a bigger margin of safety. With Joel Roelants close enough to count the hairs on his neck, Shannon made a last lap surge to protect his position. In so doing, he managed to pass Italian Matteo Bonini, finishing the race in 15th position after a satisfyingly solid ride.
With two more points scoring finishes under his belt, Shannon finished 18th overall for the day, and has improved his world championship standing by one position to 26th, on equal points with compatriot Wyatt Avis. The celebration fires in the South African camp burned all the much higher for the fact that Rattray had reclaimed the world championship lead by finishing second overall on the day.
Shannon travels back west with his team and will stop over in Italy to prepare for next weekend's Grand Prix at Mantova.
Matiss Karro
KARRO MISSES QUALIFICATION IN BULGARIA DESPITE STRONG SHOWING
After a strong run of late during which he won a junior European Championship motocross event and came within a whisker of his first top 10 in a Dutch Championship event, Matiss Karro received the nod from Youthstream to measure his worth at the very pinnacle of the sport, the MX2 world championships. The first stop in his further climb up the steep GP ladder was Sevlievo in Bulgaria.
The track at Sevlievo is intimidating at the best of times. Always immaculately prepared, the beautiful facility belies the high grade of difficulty built into the track. With a combination of massive elevation changes, gut-clenchingly large jumps, off cambers, and every other obstacle in the motocross textbook thrown in, this is not a track for the uninitiated. Although unfamiliar with the track, Matiss made good progress between the free practice session and the timed practice session, shaving a good few seconds off his lap time. Qualifying on this track was always going to present a major challenge though, but the Latvian teenager is not known for shying away from a challenge, and he gamely set off for his qualifying race.
A rather crucial ingredient of the recipe for success in the short, sharp qualifying races is a good start. Unfortunately for Matiss, on this occasion he had a dollop too little of the start ingredient, and he was mired down in 17th spot when proceedings got going. Worse than this, he was surrounded by top class talent, like Evgeny Bobryshev, Gert Krestinov, Dennis Verbruggen and the like, and as these experienced riders pulled out the heavy artillery, the sixteen year old dropped down to 20th spot. His characteristic never-say-die attitude kept him going, and although he was a way off the magical 12th position which would ensure direct qualification, he was circulating well, posting lap times just a smidgen off those achieved by the vastly more experienced riders just ahead of him.
Nearing the end of the 20 minute race, Matiss closed in on Deny Philippaerts, who achieved start status when he missed clinching the European championships by a single point in 2007. With a few laps to go, he passed Philippaerts, and homed in on Frenchman Julien Vanni, but his spurt was not enough, and he finished the race in 19th position, disappointed, but a wealth of experience richer.
Not qualifying directly from the race, Matiss had to to go through the nerve-wracking experience of trying to force qualification out of the last chance qualifier. Only six out of 25 riders would go through in this last round, and the odds were truly stacked against the youngster. The way the races panned out, the last chance qualifying session stacked with heavyweight talent, with riders like Davide Guarneri, Joel Roelants, Dennis Verbruggen, Carl Nunn et al all having to make their way through the late afternoon session.
Matiss posted a few early fast times, and held his own on the top 6 for a while, but as the more experienced riders got into the swing of things, he steadily dropped down the list, and realistically speaking, he was battling heavy odds on the day. In the end he finished 17th in the rankings, not good enough for qualification, but drawing comfort form the fact that his lap time was squarely within the vicinity of those posted by recognised riders such as Dennis Verbruggen, Gert Krestinov and Rob van Vijfeiken.
Undaunted, Matiss travels to Mantova for the first of two GP's to be held on Italian soil this year.
Team Suzuki - Qualifying
RAMON 4TH ON BULGARIAN MX1 GATE
 Qualification for the Grand Prix of Bulgaria - the fourth round of the FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship - saw Team Teka Suzuki WMX1 rider Steve Ramon finish in fourth position on his factory RM-Z450 with team-mate Ken De Dycker ending the session in 11th.
The jump-filled, hillside Sevlievo circuit was in prime condition as good weather and brief showers kept the loamy soil surface in excellent condition for the official timed practice session.
Reigning World Champion Ramon - who currently holds second in the MX1 series standings six points behind current leader David Philippaerts - held pole briefly until Frenchman Sebastien Pourcel took over. Slipping as low as seventh for a while Ramon retaliated with a fast lap in the dying moments of the session to place his Suzuki in fourth.
"I was fastest for a while and them some other guys came past me and I found it difficult to put in another fast lap as every time I tried to go faster a slower rider on a sighting lap would get in my way and slow me down," said Ramon. "I managed to go faster again though and ended up in fourth place which I'm quite happy with.
"I feel good on the bike and my riding is going well, the bike is performing perfectly and the track is good - there's a lot of grip and it's possible to use a lot of lines. The start will be important in tomorrow's races as usual but I'm feeling fit and strong and I hope to win or be on the podium at least."
De Dycker - who led the MX1 World Championship before the last round in Portugal - qualified in 11th position, 2.201 seconds behind the pole setter. Although De Dycker qualified outside the top-10 for the first time this year, he still feels confident of placing on the podium in tomorrow's points' paying races.
"Hard-pack tracks certainly aren't my favourite because I'm not so used to them but I'm still able to ride fast on them," said De Dycker. "The surface here is getting ruttier and rougher all the time which will suit me more so tomorrow I need to get two good starts and then stay on the pace with the leaders. I want to be back on the podium and I have to prove to myself and also everyone else that I can do it again so my goal is to finish in the top three or top five at least."
The weather forecast for tomorrow's races is for sun with patchy cloud and the possibility of some showers. The ambient air temperature should be in the region of 22 degrees Celsius.
KTM Racing - Qualifying
What the Red Bull KTM MX1 & MX2 riders are saying in Bulgaria
In Sevlievo, Bulgaria for Sunday's MX1 and MX2 Grand Prix, the Red Bull KTM factory riders put in a good day's training and practice on Saturday and all go into Sunday's races confident and optimistic.
MX1:
Max Nagl (MX1) was second behind Sebastien Pourcel in Saturday's Time Practice, with Jonathan Barragan of the KTM-supported Team Silver Action in third place.
Max Nagl: "I like this track very much. The last time I rode here was back in 2002 because I was injured in the other years. Since then they have changed part of the track but I like it all. It's very different from Portugal. It is fast and there are a lot of nice jumps. If you are confident you can go fast. I was much better in the afternoon than in the morning practice. Stefan (team boss Stefan Everts) gave me some hints about the lines. I listened to him, it worked better for me and I was second. Tomorrow I hope to finish in the top five and I want to take the holeshot."
Qualifying Race 1 MX2
Tommy Searle came in behind Antonio Cairoli in second place in MX2 Qualifying Race One but gave the reigning champion plenty of competition. He too is confident for Sunday.
Tommy Searle: "I like the circuit very much. It feels good to race here. I had a good battle and lots of fun riding against Cairoli. I was in front for about three quarters of the race and then he got past me. But I finished second and I gave him a good fight. I feel I'm going to be able to step it up in the race tomorrow.
Qualifying Race 2 MX2
Team-mate Tyla Rattray triumphed in the MX2 Qualifying Race 2 while the fourth KTM factory rider, Rui Goncalves was a solid fourth.
Tyla Rattray: "It was a good race and I took the holeshot. There are some very fast places on the circuit. It was a bit wet at the beginning but it is drying out so it will be a very tight race tomorrow. This is a good track and I like it a lot."
Rui Goncalves: "I started well and I was in third place. I was putting in some good lap times and had a good rhythm. Then I slid over and crashed. I dropped back to fourth place and I wasn't able to finish higher than that. It was a good race for me and much better than the free practice this morning. I like the track and I am optimistic. Tomorrow I hope to get out there and open the throttle."
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