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HONDA RACING INFORMATION
Crowd: 29,346 (weekend figure)
Weather:
Saturday – Overcast with rain 20 deg C
Sunday – Overcast with heavy rain 22 deg C
Marc De Reuver and Martin Honda CRF450 victorious in Italian MX1 GP
 Honda Martin’s Dutch rider Marc De Reuver gave Honda and the factory CRF450 their first overall win of the 2008 season with a super-consistent display in the Grand Prix of Italy – round five of the 15 round FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship – held at Mantova. By finishing third in both races De Reuver was able to edge out Frenchman Sebastien Pourcel and home rider, Italian David Philippaerts for the overall win while Honda’s second best performer – CAS Honda’s Billy MacKenzie – finished seventh overall.
De Reuver fired a warning shot to all the competition by being fastest in each and every one of Saturday’s practice sessions as well as the all-important timed qualifying session which meant the tall Dutchman took pole and had first pick of the start gate for Sunday’s points paying races.
Torrential overnight rain made the Mantova circuit difficult and slippery for the two 35-minute plus two lap motos but that didn’t stop De Reuver and MacKenzie from charging to the front of the pack in moto one. Running third and fourth until MacKenzie crashed on lap 14, De Reuver secured Honda’s third moto podium finish of the year by hanging tough – after crashing no less than twice – for third. MacKenzie meanwhile remounted for ninth place.
Honda Martin’s Julien Bill and CAS Honda’s Mike Brown both got involved in a turn-two pile-up. Although both riders battled hard from there on Brown could finish no better than 18th while Bill pushed to a 24th place finish after riding with bent handlebars.
Moments before moto two started the rain that had been threatening to fall all day finally arrived which meant the conditions were even worse for the second encounter. This time all four factory Honda riders started inside the top 10 with Bill leading the way ahead of De Reuver, MacKenzie and Brown. While both De Reuver and MacKenzie were able to push forward through the pack on the slippery jump-filled circuit, Bill and Brown slipped back down the standings as both riders hit trouble.
When Spanish rider Jonathan Barragan crashed out of third place on lap six the overall win was as good as in the bag for De Reuver and the Dutchman was easily able to collect his second third place of the day to collect a confidence boosting overall win for the Honda Martin team. MacKenzie had a much more consistent ride in moto two to finally finish fourth which was good enough to put the British rider in seventh place overall.
While Brown bounced back from a mid-race crash to a 15th place finish for 17th overall, Bill was forced to retire with goggle problems and had to settle for a no score on the day.
American female racer Ashley Fiolek acquitted herself well on the LS Motorsport Honda CRF250 to finish fifth overall in the second round of the Women’s World Championship. Finishing with a 5-4 scorecard Ashley elevated herself to third place in the championship standings behind Livia Lancelot and reigning champion Katherine Prumm.
The FIM Motocross World Championship will now take a one week break before continuing with the Grand Prix of Great Britain on June 1 at a brand-new venue for motocross – Mallory Park.
Roger Harvey – Honda Off-Road co-ordinator:
“When Honda decided to come back into motocross more seriously again the target was to reach the top step of the podium this year and that’s exactly what we’ve achieved with Marc De Reuver this weekend. He was fastest all day yesterday and although he didn’t win a race today he kept it together for the overall and it was great to see him on the top step of the podium and more importantly it was great to see Honda in first place which is where they should be – let’s hope it’s just the start of it.”
“Billy Mackenzie was pushing hard today and in race one he made a mistake after hitting a rut he hadn’t seen because he was so close to De Dycker and he crashed but remounted for ninth. In the second race he was good and rode strong and consistent, it’s just a shame he lost a few places in the first race.
“Julien Bill struggled a bit again today. He rode okay in the first one after crashing in the start but had to pull out of the second race with goggle problems due to the rain.
“Mike Brown was reasonably consistent all day but he didn’t get the results either he or Honda would like to see.
“All the riders seem to be settling in well with the bike. We’re obviously working very closely with Honda and there’s a lot of information being passed from Europe back to Japan and vice-versa. Everything seems to be gelling nicely now and Marc’s results today proved that improvements are being made and that will help increase confidence throughout the team.
“Our female racer Ashley Fiolek was again consistent even though the conditions aren’t helping her and things would be easier for her if the weather was kinder. She was fifth overall today and now sits in third place in the championship so we’re obviously very pleased with her performance too.”
Marc De Reuver – Martin Honda:
“In all of Saturday’s practices I was first and so I was very confident for today. But then in warm-up this morning all the lines had changed and the track wasn’t flowing as well for me and all of a sudden I didn’t feel quite as confident. I have been feeling sick for the past few days and I am losing my voice plus with the rain overnight I wasn’t really looking forward to today’s races to be honest. In the first heat I got the holeshot but Pourcel passed me, then I made some mistakes and I crashed riding over a hay bail and getting the bike stuck for a moment, then I crashed again but I still managed to finish third - quite easily really.
“In the second heat I didn’t have such a good a start but I worked my way up to third and I was closing the gap with Philippaerts until I stalled the bike. I restarted it quite easily again and got going with no problems and from there I concentrated hard on finishing without crashing. I didn’t know I had won the overall until after I crossed the line and my team were going crazy. It’s the team’s home GP of course and so I’m very happy I could win it for them and for Honda – it made me feel really good. From here I want to podium at every race and I know that I can do that. I also want to win a moto as well as more GPs.”
Julien Bill – Martin Honda:
“In the first moto I got a good start but in the second corner a couple of guys hit me pretty hard from behind and all our bikes were tangled together with mine on the bottom and I had to move their bikes before I could get to mine and I lost a lot of time there. When I got going again I discovered my handlebars were bent and I had a problem with the brakes. I tried hard but I was unable to get back into the points and I felt very disappointed.
“In the second moto I got another great start and I was going well but in the rhythm section I landed very short and I stalled the bike. It took me a long time to restart and after that I also had a problem with my goggles – that’s the way it goes sometimes but still I am very disappointed.”
Billy MacKenzie – CAS Honda:
“In the first race I was sitting in third and I felt very comfortable there. I could see Ken in front of me must have being having problems because he’d slow down and then speed up. The boys were telling me to pass him but I wasn’t sure if I should do it straight away or wait a while and I just got myself muddled up. I went for it and crashed, sliding off and stalling the bike. I ended up ninth.
“In the second race I got a terrible start but managed to battle through quite well by concentrating on riding my own race, the rain was pouring down and I wanted to protect my goggles. I passed Pourcel who was all over the place and then I passed Coppins too and I was in fourth. From there I just took it easy and brought it home because it started to rain more heavily and the track was getting even slippier.”
Mike Brown – CAS Honda:
“I got pushed to the outside of turn one in the opening moto and then after that I got caught up in the crash in turn two. From there on I didn’t really get anywhere and I finished in the same position that I set off in – it was probably one of the worst races I’ve ever ridden and everything I tried just wasn’t working.
“We changed the set-up of the bike for the second moto and that helped a lot. I got a much better start and I was in third I think. Conditions were slippery and I was all over the track, I slipped back to seventh and got a little tight and then I had a pretty big crash. I had problems with vision in the second race also because of the rain. Overall it was not a good day.”
Yamaha Racing
 MX1 - Philippaerts third after impressive Italian GP charge
Yamaha Monster Motocross Team's David Philippaerts was not able to win his home Grand Prix at a wet Mantova circuit but certainly captured the admiration and attention of the 29,000 spectators with a captivating flight from last position to fifth spot in the first moto. The performance on his YZ450FM was backed-up by a strong second place in the following race to allow the series leader to tread the third step of the podium and increase his advantage in the standings even further. Josh Coppins was content with sixth position overall.
Usually a safe bet for reliable weather the Italian round of the series, on this occasion hosting the fifth round of fifteen in the 2008 FIM MX1-GP World Championship, was wet and overcast for both days. Frequent light rain tested the resolve of the sandy all-weather venue and the Monster Energy-backed riders had to contend with both dry and wet motos during Sunday. A slippery, rough and rutted terrain provided a formidable prospect.
Philippaerts, winner of the Starcross International here in February - an event that represented his race debut for the team - was just over half a second from his first pole position on Saturday but second place still marked his best qualification performance in MX1-GP. Coppins had a difficult time on the first day. Set-up issues caused him to lose track time and then he was unable to post a satisfactory lap in qualification. The New Zealander was unable not to get into a groove with the track, of which he openly professes a dislike, but also admitted that the slower, more technical conditions thanks to the rain were more to his benefit. Nevertheless he went to the gate in sixteenth.
Considering his handicap Coppins produced two excellent starts. The 31 year old almost had the holeshot in Moto1 and actually accomplished the honour in Moto2. Philippaerts' was holding third position approaching the fourth turn of the opening lap in Moto1 when a rider fell in front of him. The pack was still very congested and the hold-up caused another person to hit the Italian and put him on the ground. Restarting from last the 24 year old took almost two laps to steady himself but then exploded on a 30 minute whirl of lap-times and overtaking moves that saw him pass 16 riders and arrive to fifth position behind his team-mate. His progress was cheered by the crowd on virtually every lap and he deservedly earned plaudits from the team and his followers.
Coppins hit the front in Moto2 but was passed by eventual winner Max Nagl. Philippaerts, in third spot and through the first turns safely this time, gave chase to the German but it wasn't until the final circulations that he was able to break down a barrier of some five seconds to the back wheel of the leader. Coppins took another top-five finish with a relatively lonely ride but was satisfied with his day's work.
Van Beers'Aigar Leok obtained his best moto result of the season with a decent eighth place in the first moto but the Estonian was unable to finish the second outing.
The points table makes favourable reading for the team and also for Yamaha. In just his second season in the category Philippaerts is already setting a high pace for the title. With 28 points advantage over world champion Steve Ramon Philippaerts has a gap of just over one moto. Coppins is keeping close and is only 10 points adrift of the Belgian. Yamaha head the manufacturer's standings by 8 points.
The world championship now pauses for a week before the series reconvenes at the new Mallory Park circuit for the British Grand Prix on June 1st.
David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 3rd:
"Someone went down in front of me and when I was hit from behind I went over the bike that was lying on the ground. It was a big crash and also disappointing because I knew it would be hard to win the GP after that. I tried as hard as I could. I was watching my lap-times and I knew they were fast; I did the best lap of the race near the end and that was a good thing. In the second moto I pushed to get near to Nagl so that he would see me and maybe make a mistake but it was raining a lot and I did not want to make a mistake. I thought of the points and did not take any risks. I wanted to win here but to be on the podium is OK. The bike and the team are so good and this is a big reason why we have this lead in the championship."
Josh Coppins, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 6th:
"It is quite close at the front of the championship and we saw another new winner this weekend. I am the only guy from the first few in the standings who has not won yet, but it will come. I think everyone knows that I have had a hard couple of weeks and I am not riding as well as I would like, so I think we did a good job in the motos; I believe fourth and fifth was not too bad. I closed some points to Ramon and pulled away from Mackenzie. I was pleased with my starts today even if I did ride badly in the first ten minutes of both motos; I was just too slow. In the last ten minutes I am as fast as the leader but I am too stiff and not relaxed in the first moments of the races. My confidence is getting better though. I don't like this track and it is the only one of the fifteen that I struggle with, so that's another reason why I am pleased with the result. I am looking forward to England now; that is like a home GP for me. I like to think I have a chance to win there."
Massimo Raspanti, Racing Manager:
"This was good for us because from a bad day David still make a positive result. After the first two laps his speed was fantastic in the first moto. Josh was a different rider to the one we saw on Saturday so we are happy for him. He is still third in the championship but gained some points on Ramon."
MX2 - Cairoli lights-up Mantova with second 2008 victory
MX2-GP World Champion Antonio Cairoli bounced back from his mishap in Bulgaria, defied two injured ribs and also recovered from a second corner crash - similar to countryman David Philippaerts in MX1-GP - to win his second Grand Prix of the season at Mantova. The fifth round of fifteen in the 2008 series was again cursed by rain; bad weather has now affected four of the five events run so far. 29,000 people still braved the damp conditions to watch the Yamaha Red Bull De Carli rider take his second success in a row after victory in 2007 at the Italian Grand Prix.
Despite the grey clouds and rain overnight the MX2-GP motos were thankfully devoid of showers. Cairoli started the weekend positively with a strong performance in his Heat race to earn his third consecutive pole position. The Sicilian needed a painkilling injection for both days of action but even the rutted and rough Mantova sand did not seem to put him off his stride.
The first race started dramatically as the reigning number one - using special colours on his kit and helmet - was felled by Erik Eggens in the second corner. Retrieving his YZ250F Cairoli began one of his 'comeback specials' and over the course of the next 35 minutes and 1 lap passed more than 20 riders to reach an incredible fourth place.
The only chance of triumph in front of his many fans lay in his capabilities to own the second moto and the double world champion duly obliged. He set a distance from the pack almost immediately and clinched his fourth race win of the year, and fourth from the last six.
 Yamaha Ricci Racing's Nico Aubin was unfortunate not to take his first podium finish of the season after he rode brilliantly to celebrate his first chequered flag by beating Tommy Searle in Moto1. The Frenchman led the opening stages of the race before the Briton took control. Aubin was able to keep in his rival's wheel tracks and on lap 14 of 18 regained the advantage. The next sprint was a different affair as Aubin could not find sufficient speed to enter the top five and ended up sixth, for fourth place overall. The top four were separated by only three points in the closest GP ranking of the season.
Team-mate Davide Guarneri was disappointed to have to withdraw from the Grand Prix. The Italian suffered a slow but awkward crash on Saturday and immediately feared he has broken a ligament in his right knee. Although the extent of the damage will not be known for a few days and when the Spanish GP winner has a scan, Guarneri - who has already suffered a similar type of injury - was understandably feeling low after this latest setback.
The rest of the De Carli team made the qualification cut. Matteo Bonini, still finding his way back to full speed after recovering from a dislocated shoulder, endured a hard day of work. He was out of the points in Moto1 but rallied to take fifteenth for six points in Moto2. Alessandro Lupino finished in the points on both occasions for the first time in 2008. The teenager was twentieth in each moto.
The MX2-GP stars, like their MX1-GP counterparts, will be in action again in two weeks time when the British Grand Prix, at a new track within the Mallory Park motorsports venue, hosts the sixth stop in the 2008 FIM competition.
Antonio Cairoli, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 1st:
"For sure I wanted to win both races but the second corner was a big problem. Out of the gate I started well but then I had some contact with Tommy. I tried for a good line in the second corner but Eggens was on the inside of me and decided to come across to the outside and hit my front wheel.
I lost time taking and restarting the bike but then I pushed hard. I thought that it might still be possible to win the GP so I gave it everything I had. I put my head down and concentrated on good lap-times and catching the next rider. We have had a lot of wet races now and these are not my favourite conditions; although the track was not as slippery as Bulgaria!"
Nico Aubin, Yamaha Ricci Racing, 4th:
"I was very happy with that first moto. When Tommy passed me he was very fast but he was attacking so much and I could still follow him. I knew he would not be able to do that the whole race so I kept close and picked the right moment. I don't know what happened in that second moto. I did not get the start I wanted but it was not that bad. I just could not find the same speed as the first heat. I tried some new lines but it wouldn't come. It was positive to get that win but my goal right now is to make good results in both races."
Matteo Bonini, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 21st:
"During the week I could not train well because I was very tired after Bulgaria, which was my first GP of the year. I did not get a good start in the first moto and there were a lot of problems in the second corner that held me up. I tried hard to push and regain positions but I felt short of breath and had to lower my rhythm. Things were better in the second moto, including my start but after 20 minutes I felt tired and then just looked to getting as many points as I could. I took one more position on the last lap which was good but overall I still frustrated because I worked very hard in the winter and because of the injury it is like I am starting at zero. At least it can only get better."
KTM Racing
Rattray and Searle take minor podium places in Mantova
Red Bull KTM factory rider Tyla Rattray of South Africa overcame flu to race to second podium place in the Grand Prix of Italy on the sandy Mantova circuit on Sunday while team-mate Tommy Searle was third.
Despite a formidable finish by title holder Antonio Cairoli of Italy in the second MX2 race of the day, Tyla was able to amass 42 championship points to keep ownership of the coveted red number plate as the championship leader. After five rounds, Rattray now has 199 points, a mere three point lead on his arch rival, while Tommy Searle, his Red Bull KTM factory team-mate is close behind with 191 points. Searle finished third in Mantova.
Tyla keeps leader's Red Number Plate
"I'm very happy to still have the red number plate," Tyla said after the race. "Today I started to feel better after having had the flu this week and my results were quite ok. The track was very bumpy from the rain and we had to work on the bike's settings." Tyla was third in heat one and said that was because he was behind Cairoli when the Italian crashed and he lost time because of the incident. "I got a good start in the second heat but I took the first corner a bit too wide and I got overtaken." With rain falling and the track getting cut up, Rattray said he didn't want to push too hard in the second heat and take any unnecessary risks. He finished behind Cairoli but in front of team-mate Searle in heat two, a result he said was "fine for me".
Searle hampered with arm pain in heat one
Tommy Searle was hampered with arm pain in the first heat and was quite satisfied with his fourth place. "I made some mistakes and just tried to stay on the bike," he said. "I did try to catch Tyla and Cairoli in the second heat but I wasn't able to manage it. Also the track was ruined after all the rain at the weekend." Tommy will now return to the UK for some concentrated training ahead of his home GP in two week's time.
Shaun Simpson of KTM UK finished fifth, KTM rider Jeremy van Horebeek of Belgium and GP Juniors Team Champ, finished seventh, one place ahead of the third Red Bull KTM factory rider, Rui Goncalves of Portugal.
 Rui Goncalves satisfied with rhythm
Rui Goncalves, who celebrated his birthday on Saturday at the track-side Red Bull Energy Station, said that even though he finished in overall eighth position he was happy with his riding and rhythm on the Mantova circuit. "I crashed twice in the second heat and I had to go into the pit lane and try to straighten my handlebars so I lost quite a lot of time," he said. "Overall I am quite satisfied. I am still working well with Stefan Everts (Red Bull KTM Team manager) and my mechanics."
MX1 - Red Bull KTM factory rider Max Nagl of Germany was on top form in the second race of the MX1 Grand Prix of Italy in Mantova on Sunday to be first past the chequered flag ahead of David Philippaerts and Marc de Reuver.
On a day where rain attacked the track in the second half of the MX1 competition, Nagl put in one of his most impressive performances for the current season for overall fifth place on the day. It was a significant improvement on his twelfth ranking in the first race and the first time since joining the MX1 class that he had lead the rest of the field home.
Double holeshot for Nagl in Mantova
"I got the holeshot in the first heat but I was a bit late in the break so I got passed in the first corner. Then I was tucked in behind Ramon and I couldn't see the line and I crashed. Then I had to work my way back from the back of the pack and I couldn't manage better than twelfth," Nagl said. He again took the holeshot in the second heat and although he was passed by Josh Coppins in the early stage be managed to retake the lead, got out in front and stayed there. Clearly satisfied with his ride in the second heat, Nagl said that the track had got very rough and cut up due to the rain that fell, particularly at the start of the second MX2 race.
KTM team boss Stefan Everts has declared 2008 a learning and experience season for Nagl, who is riding for the Red Bull KTM factory team for the first time in 2008.
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Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing
Third consecutive GP podium for Sébastien Pourcel
Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing’s Sébastien Pourcel won his third heat of the year in Mantova and for the third time in a row he reached the podium with a second position overall in the Grand Prix of Italy.
The weather was not as sunny as expected this weekend in Mantova and this event was run under cloudy and sometimes rainy conditions, which affected the circuit. Sébastien didn’t feel confident on Saturday and his run of pole positions was interrupted as he finished the timed session in seventh place.
 It rained during the night but the track was pretty well prepared for the first race where Sébastien had a great start. Leading the pack from the first lap he did a perfect race, winning his third heat of the season with a strong advantage over De Dycker.
The rain fell again during the MX2 podium ceremony just before the start of the MX1 race and Seb had a bad start in around 10th place. By the end of the first lap he was fifth but struggled on this slippery track and was unable to hold off De Reuver, MacKenzie or De Dycker. He finally finished sixth missing the GP win by a single point!
Sebastien’s team-mate Alexandre Rouis qualified for the first time in his career and finished the first race in 25th position and retired in the last race due to a broken chain.
Three seconds faster than her rivals during the qualifying session, Livia Lancelot wasn’t as strong on Sunday. Coming to the lead after four circulations of the opening race Livia stalled her engine in a corner and lost six places. Sixth in the first race she made a similar mistake in the next one and lost her second place finally finishing third behind Laier and Prumm. Missing the podium by a single point Livia is still leading the series by two points ahead of reigning Women’s champion Katherine Prumm.
Sébastien Pourcel: “Last year I scored my first MX1 GP podium here and for sure it’s good to be back on the podium here today. But I’m not happy as I also need to score as many points as possible as the first two GPs were not good for me and this weekend it was possible to win. The first moto was good, I had my best start of the season and then pushed to increase the gap on De Dycker.
“I am unhappy with the second race, I made too many mistakes and nearly crashed five or six times. I didn’t feel confident for this heat, the same feeling as during the qualification session on Saturday. The track was difficult with many ruts and also some jumps were pretty dangerous as we saw with the big crash of Barragan. Next week I will go to the French Championship in Villars sous Ecot knowing that will be another good practice session before the British GP.”
Livia Lancelot: “I had a good feeling with the track on Saturday and posted a fast lap to take the pole position. Today was different, my start was not so great but I passed Steffi Laier for the lead then I made a mistake and stalled the engine. I had some troubles to start the bike again and came back to fifth right behind my main rivals.
“My second start was better, I came second behind Laier but she was faster. Then I battled with Katherine Prumm, I was in second position when I made the same mistake and stalled the engine for the third time this weekend. That never happened since I started training in March so I guess I probably made some mistakes with the brake pedal. But I keep the red plate and I will have it for the French GP - that’s good for the fans even if my goal is of course to keep it for the entire season.”
Alexandre Rouis: “On Saturday I had a big crash during the first free practice session and I was scared for the qualifying session but I posted the 28th lap time and got my first ever qualification. I missed getting a good start in moto one and so I concentrated on my own race with a lot of pain in my body due to my crash on Saturday. My second start was better but the chain broke during the first lap and I had to retire.”
Patrick Geladé: “Sébastien was excellent in the first heat, he was easy on the bike and got an important win. When the rain fell before the second moto we knew that it would be different, like it was during the qualifying session. But he finished second overall and that’s a good result, he is coming back in the standings with three podiums in a row.
“We were happy with the qualification of Alex Rouis, it was important for him and also his mechanic as both work hard and I hope that now he will be stronger on Saturday.
“Concerning Livia, she missed a good opportunity to make a break in the championship - she made several mistakes which cost her the podium but she is still leading the series before the French GP in one month’s time.”
Roger Pourcel: “I was not expecting so good results from Sébastien when I saw the track. He wasn’t confident on the bike during the practice sessions but this morning he had a better feeling during the warm-up. He had a great start in the first race and then increased his gap each lap to easily win the race. The track was wet for the next heat and he made several mistakes, he was pushing too hard and lost some positions but he got a podium and that’s great. He is consistent since Portugal and there are still 10 GPs to go so everything is possible.
“Alexandre Rouis qualified for the first time of his career and everyone in the team was happy for him as he works hard. The first race was difficult for him but he finished it, then in the second the chain broke and we must see why as it’s the first time we had such problem. Livia was faster than her rivals on Saturday but she was stressed on Sunday for the race. She did well in the first race as she came to the lead but she lost too much time when she stalled the engine. Her start was worse for the second race, then she made the same mistake but lost less time and only missed the podium by a single point.”
Kawasaki Racing Team MX1
Top ten for Tanel Leok in Italy
Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tanel Leok and Manuel Priem mix it up in round five of the FIM MX1 World Championship held at Mantova in Italy.
Rain once more hit the MX1 Motocross World Championships with the Italian GP being the fourth race out of five to be affected by damp conditions. Luckily the Mantova circuit is mostly sand, which meant the racing on the jump-filled circuit situated in an amphitheatre type setting in downtown Mantova was as excellent as ever.
 After identifying a problem with the riders not getting great starts on their factory KX450F-SRs Tanel, Manuel and the entire KRT team worked hard on finding a solution to solve the problem. And with much better starts made by both riders in both races it seems the team have taken a vast step in the right direction. But even though Manuel was able to gate in the top-10 this week, the resulting carnage of a first lap pile-up in moto one meant that Manuel was physically unable to finish and clocked up his first – and hopefully only – DNF of the year.
“We changed a few things on the bike in order to help with the starts and it really seemed to help this weekend,” said Manuel. “In moto one I got a good start in about seventh or eighth place and then Bill made a mistake and went down. I had nowhere to go and I crashed too and then one or two guys hit me also. I was a little dizzy, my foot hurt and when I got back to my camper I realised my wrist was sore also.
“My trainer taped my wrist up for the second race and at the start things were going well. I was able to pass Tanel and Ramon and I was very happy with my riding but then my thumb was starting to feel bad and I couldn’t hold on so well. From there I took it easy and I finished 10th. Now I have two weeks to get fit again in time for the British Grand Prix.”
Now back to full strength after his early season shoulder injury Tanel was on the gas so hard that the team deemed it necessary to fit a bigger fuel tank to his KX450F-SR as the Estonian is so aggressive with the throttle. Like Manuel, Tanel also found his starts were better although he still had plenty of passes to make on his way to the front of the pack.
“The starts were much better this week but even though in the first heat I was higher up the pack than I have been I found it difficult to ride my own race because all the time I was stuck behind someone and I was finding it difficult to pass.
“In the second race the conditions were real bad, I had to throw my goggles away and then it was even more difficult to pass. As soon as I passed Ramon I was able to really push on and then try and chase down Pourcel and Coppins. But then I had a big crash in the rhythm section and lost a little time but I was still able to finish eighth.
“Seventh in the first race and eighth in the second race is not so bad – they’re my best results this season except for in Bellpuig which was a strange race – and I feel like I’m starting to get there again after my injury.”
With Tanel’s 7-8 scorecard good enough to give the Estonian rider eighth overall on the day, Leok now holds 10th place in the championship with the possibility of climbing higher in the next few rounds. Manuel’s unavoidable first race DNF means he slips to 14th place in the championship although with better starts and a little luck it’s possible he’ll be climbing back into the top 10 quite quickly.
Molson Kawasaki Racing
Paulin pushes on while Sword’s sideswiped in Mantova
It’s all go in Mantova as Molson Kawasaki rider Gautier Paulin finishes inside the top-10, Stephen Sword is T-boned out of contention and MX1 rider Tom Church has his strongest race of the year
so far.
Wet weather couldn’t dampen the Molson Kawasaki team spirit in Mantova, Italy for the fifth round of the Motocross World Championship. With the supercross style Mantova circuit being somewhat wetter than expected, conditions were tough for both the MX1 and MX2 competitors.
After qualifying well in Saturday’s heat race Stephen Sword was all fired up for a great day at the races but close encounters with other riders hold back the #7 Molson Kawasaki rider from reaching his full potential on the day.
Sword’s troubles began at the start of race one and although he eventually pulled through to sixth place it was a long tough race.
“I didn’t get the best of starts in the first race because Tyla Rattray came across a few of us just out of the gate,” said Stephen. “In the first turn I was just behind Cairoli right on the inside and I could see we were passing a lot of people as they went wide and we also had a better line for the next corner. But then Cairoli went down in front of me and so I had to jump out of the rut and got stuck in the bank and lost a few positions there.
"From there I just stuck with it and stayed strong to the end of the race and finished sixth which makes for a good amount of points so I was reasonably happy even though it had been a tough race for me.”
 Sword’s team-mate Gautier Paulin had an equally tough time of it in moto one. ““Because I had to qualify from the LCQ it meant I had a terrible start gate from 25th pick,” explained the flying Frenchman. “In the first race I didn’t get a bad start, I was around 12th and I passed some riders to move into the top 10. I had a little problem with the front brake but I was able to still ride well and I was chasing Van Horebeek until I broke my right footpeg and crashed over a jump. It was a strange race for me with so many problems but I was still able to finish 11th and I was quite happy with my riding too.”
With the track drying quickly for moto two both Molson riders once more didn’t get the best of starts but were soon headed forward. “I got a better start in the second moto but got caught up with a couple of people in turn one and I hit a soft spot as well which cost me some drive,” said Sword. “I felt pretty good in the first few laps and I was coming through quite well. I made a pass right around the outside of Rui Goncalves and then in the next corner he just hit me flat out in the side. It was totally uncalled for but I suppose that’s just racing. After that my bike was totally bent – the handlebars, the subframe, everything!
“I thought I’d try and stay out there and see if I could pull back into the points but I crashed after getting cross-rutted – it was so hard to ride with the bike being as bent as it was. I’m looking forward to Mallory Park now because I need to regain a lot of points.”
Even with a terrible start Paulin’s race was going much better than Sword’s however. “In the second race I had a very bad start again – maybe 29th position on the first lap. I was coming through the pack okay, my physical fitness was good, my riding was not so good and I was making a lot of small mistakes but still I finished ninth which is good so I am happy.”
The Molson Kawasaki team’s MX1 satellite rider Tom Church rode incredibly well all day long even though the result sheets don’t necessarily show it. After crashing at the start of moto one, Church put in a massive amount of effort to charge to 18th place by the end of the race and consistently set faster lap times than riders many places ahead of him.
Moto two went better for Church results-wise and he was able to pull through the field to a well-earned 13th place finish on his KX450F after taking time to get a feel for the tricky conditions.
“I had a good day today. I finished both races in the points and that’s the first time I’ve done that all year at the GPs. In the first race I got tangled up in a first lap crash with some other riders but was able to straighten out my bike and still ride through the pack for 18th place which might not sound so good but I know it was a good ride from so far back.
“The second race I didn’t get such a good start but was able to come through to 13th and score some good points. Today’s ride gives me a lot of confidence which is something I was lacking after the last few races where things haven’t gone so well for me.”
The next round of the FIM Motocross World Championship takes place in Molson Kawasaki’s home country of Great Britain at Mallory Park on June 1 where both Church and Sword can expect lots of vocal encouragement from their local air horn toting fans.
Team Suzuki
MIXED FORTUNES FOR SUZUKI MEN IN ITALY
It was Team Teka Suzuki WMX1 rider Ken De Dycker's turn to narrowly miss out on a podium place this weekend as the former MX1 championship leader emulated his team-mate Steve Ramon's luck of last week - in Sevlievo - by losing out on a top-three overall finish by next to no points.
Ramon, meanwhile, had a "weekend to forget" and could only muster a ninth place overall finish after two gruelling motos at the Mantova circuit during the Grand Prix of Italy - the fifth round of the 15 round FIM Motocross World Championship.
Overnight rain left the Mantova circuit super slippery, as underneath the few inches of slop that lay on top was a hard base that was soon polished up by the spinning wheels of the racers. But regardless of the tricky conditions, expectations were high for good results from the two Team Teka Suzuki WMX1 team riders in today's two motos.
The start of moto one saw both riders get off the start line in the latter half of the pack although De Dycker was able to square off turn one to elevate himself to fifth by turn two. From there he easily charged to second place - the position he'd hold to the finish - after showing the kind of form he produced in the early season.
 Ramon also had a great first lap and by the time the pack had settled was seventh but from there struggled to find a quick way around Leok and also Coppins who he was much faster than. Unable to pass Coppins, Ramon finally finished sixth after his championship rival David Philippaerts caught and passed him with four laps remaining.
The start of moto two was equally as testing for the pair as De Dycker started ninth while Ramon was even further back in 11th. With conditions so bad and line choice limited both Suzuki riders took their time to fight forward. It took De Dycker until mid-race to fight to his final position of sixth while Ramon had his hands full as he battled with Tanel Leok over eighth - a position the Estonian rider would finally secure ahead of Ramon four laps from the finish.
De Dycker's haul of 37 points from his 2-5 scorecard meant the Belgian rider missed out on third overall by one point and the win on the day by a measly three! As well as finishing fourth on the day Ken rises to fourth in the championship making it a great day for De Dycker.
"Today has been a very good day for me," reckoned De Dycker. "I got away pretty well at the start of race one and passed some guys who crashed so I was soon in second. I got really bad arm-pump early on in the moto but luckily I was able to hold my pace and I finished in second place.
"In the second race I didn't get such a good start and I had to work my way forward through the pack. The track was very slippery and the surface was shiny so it was difficult to see some of the ruts and bumps. I was very happy to come back to sixth although I was a bit disappointed I couldn't catch Coppins. Still, today has been a real improvement for me, I'm happy and I can look forward to the next round."
Ramon ended the day ninth overall on his factory RM-Z450 and still holds second in the series although Philippaerts extended his lead in the series by a further 11 points.
Obviously disappointed with his day's work Ramon explained that he'd done the best he could even though his best was not as good as he'd have liked it to be.
"Overall it was just a bad day for me, I knew it would be a difficult GP for me but I expected to do a little bit better and I didn't score anywhere near enough points today.
"I didn't get a great start in moto one and I found it hard to pass as there were not so many lines. I got caught behind Josh for too long which allowed Philippaerts to catch and pass me and so I finished sixth. It was the best I could do but my riding was just not good - I wasn't happy with that or where I finished.
"The second moto also was just a bad race for me. The track was just so slippery, it was hard underneath and that made it very difficult for me to ride fast."
With a one-week gap in the schedule the next round of the MX1 World Championship will be held at Mallory Park - a brand-new venue for Grand Prix motocross - in Great Britain on June 1.
WOMEN'S WORLD MX CHAMPIONSHIP:
Team Suzuki Inotec's feisty female racer Larissa Papenmeier took her RM-Z250 to third overall in the second round of the inaugural Women's Motocross World Championship at Mantova in Italy just one week after injuring her ankle at round one of the series in Bulgaria.
Before suffering the injury in the second moto two at Sevlievo, pint-sized Papenmeier had taken pole position in qualifying and also won the first race of the championship after battling hard with and beating current championship leader Livia Lancelot.
Despite feeling the pain from her injured ankle, she was able to hang tough for 3-5 finishes in difficult conditions at Mantova to secure fourth place in the series with just three rounds remaining. Happy in her surroundings with the German team, Papenmeier will be looking to improve her championship standing as the series continues.
"I'm very happy with the Inotec team and the support they are giving me," explained Larissa. "They're a very friendly team and I'm very happy there. The RM-Z250 is also very good - it's light, the motor is strong and it's the best turning bike I have ever ridden.
"Today I was pretty happy to finish third in the first race and by finishing fifth in the second race I was able to take third overall. I had a lot of pain with my ankle during the first moto so I took plenty of painkillers and had my ankle taped up before moto two and it was a little better.
"I have chance to rest my ankle before the next round of the championship so I hope to come back at full fitness so I can challenge for more wins!"
CAS Honda
MacKenzie so close again
Qualification was a little frustrating for the CAS boys on Saturday at Mantova in Italy, with Billy qualifying in 14th position and Mike in 19th. The track was wet as it had been raining all day but luckily the weather brightened up initially for race day.
The first race started well for Billy, out of the gate with the front half a dozen, he sat comfortably in fourth position for the first few laps then overtook Marc De Reuver for the third spot, where he stayed until 5 laps from the end of the race when he landed awkwardly and unfortunately the bike threw him down the track. After Billy remounted he continued in 8th place, only then to be passed by Leok, placing Billy 9th past the finishing flag. Mike’s race was fought further back in 18th/19th position and he came home in 19th place.
Before Race 2 got underway the heavens opened and turned the second race into a lottery. The race didn’t start so well for Billy, he was a little further back at the start than in race 1, but fought his way up to fourth place by the seventh lap. Billy learned from his first race and settled back to finish a solid 4th. Mike started not far from his team-mate but slipped back, eventually crossing the finishing line in 15th.
Billy’s summary of the weekend was, ‘We found it hard to find a good setting on Saturday which was frustrating, but the bike was perfect on Sunday. I felt relaxed and showed my speed, but was just unlucky to crash in the first race, my second race was great.
‘It felt good on Saturday, but Sunday I just couldn’t seem to find the right lines on the track’ Mike said after his disappointing day came to a close.”
Neil Prince Team Manager was happy with Billy’s performance and felt frustrated for Mike. He said, ‘Billy showed that he can take it to them. The Championship is still wide open which is good for everyone.”
The CAS Honda Team are now in preparation for the biggest GP of the year… the home GP at Mallory Park on Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June, we hope to see you all there cheering on Billy and Mike, and the rest of the Brits.
TANEL LEOK
LEOK CHARGES TO 8th IN ITALIAN GP
 The burly man looked tough a nails, built like the proverbial brick outhouse and strong enough to fell large trees with his bare hands. Yet as he stood next to the fence, he was a bundle of nerves, and whatever he was watching was making him nervous and meek as a mouse. A quick glance at the flag protruding from his back pocket provided a clue. The Black, White and Blue revealed him to be an Estonian, one of the die-hard fans that travel the world's motocross tracks to follow their heroes. His nervous disposition arose form the fact that Tanel Leok, the Estonian Express, was involved in a fierce on-track battle with world champion Steve Ramon.
The scene was the Italian GP at Mantova. Surrounding the beautiful track in a natural semi amphitheatre were thousands of tifosi, with race fans from all countries joining the throng. The fifth GP of the 2008 motocross world championship series would provide plenty of action and excitement, and this is what they were coming to see. Tanel provided a hint of his steady return to full fighting speed with a strong qualifying performance, slotting into 5th position on the time charts. He underscored this with a magnificent lap during Sunday morning warm up, when no rider had the privilege of besting him.
As matters got underway in the first race, Tanel slotted his factory KTM into seventh spot. He made short work of getting past Ramon, and fought his battle from a good springboard just outside the top 5. His focus was on Josh Coppins just ahead of him, and he pushed hard to gain the ascendancy on the New Zealander. Ramon, however, did not become world champion merely by smiling nicely, and he was not letting off the pressure. A small error on Tanel's side allowed Ramon through, and the Estonian came home in seventh position a after a strong ride.
The clouds were heavily pregnant all day, but the assembled fans were spared any discomforts until just before the start of the second heat, when fat drops of rain started plummeting down. Tanel rounded the first curve outside the top 10, this time round, again in the company of Ramon. This battle was joined by Tanel's team-mate Manuel Priem, and there was much to-and-froing between these three riders. Towards the three quarter mark, Tanel and Ramon managed to shake off Priem, and still the battle raged on. This time the Estonian managed to turn matters his way, and led the world champion across the line in 8th position.
His combined efforts for the day netted Tanel 8th for the day. This was a strong result, but not enough to lift him higher than the 10th spot in the world championship rankings that he still occupies.
Tanel heads for home shores for some time with his family and home training, before it is off to the British Grand Prix in two weeks' time.
SHANNON TERREBLANCHE
INJURY KEEPS TERREBLANCHE OUT OF ITALIAN GP
Motocross racing can be a cruel pastime. It can take you from ecstatic highs to thudding lows in a matter of minutes. A great result today provides no guarantee that next week's harvest will be the same., and fate can bear down on you like a ton of bricks just when the sun starts shining brightly.
For Shannon Terreblanche this truth hit home hard at the GP of Italy in Mantova. A mere week after his best ever GP performance in Bulgaria, the South African was in buoyant mood as he set out to qualify for the Italian race on the somewhat sandy track. The prognosis looked good for a good weekend. The sandy underground would play to Shannon's strong suit against many of the hard track specialists, and he was on a mental high after a string of points scoring finishes.
After a strong timed practice, Shannon was keen to get stuck into the qualifying race. Matters went pear-shaped early on, as collision in the second corner upended the Beursfoon Suzuki rider. By the time he remounted, it seemed that his best hope of contacting the rest of the pack again would be to mail a letter. Shanter got stuck into a series of quick laps, however, and soon started to haul in some of the stragglers. His objective was to get into the top 12 to ensure qualification. He battled for a while with his friend Matiss Karro, but as soon as he passed the Latvian, he had a clear road ahead of him and a group of riders to catch.
As the race matured, the South African, aided no end by the frenzied reporting on his progress by the Italian commentator, garnered a host of new Italian fans as he manufactured possibilities out of a seemingly hopeless situation. He was greatly handicapped but the fact that the crash had forced him to toss his goggles, and the damp sand in his eyes had all the soothing properties of grinding paste. Nevertheless, he stuck to the battle, and with one lap to go, latched onto a group containing the 10th to 12th placed riders. By now lying 13th, Shannon had but to make a single pass to achieve a phenomenal qualifying finish. He was all over Frenchman Khounsith Vongsana like a bad rash, but missed the cut by an agonisingly narrow 0.6 seconds.
By not qualifying in the qualifying race, Shannon still had work to do in the late afternoon. The top 6 riders in the last chance qualifying practice would also qualify for the GP. He got stuck into the job at hand, and soon posted the third fastest time. As the session progressed, a few riders posted faster times, dropping him down to sixth position. He set out for another quick lap to improve on his time, and it was then that fate struck him down. Just at the start of the lap, the rear wheel of his bike slid out in a freaky manner, and he over-stretched his knee as he went down with the bike on top of him.
Shannon was clearly in some discomfort, and could not defend his qualifying spot any further. As the medical staff carted him away, he dropped out of the direct qualifying positions into a reserve spot. THe main task at hand was to check out the extent of his injury however, and he was off to the local hospital for a check up. Fortunately, the news was not as bad as it might have been, and initial fears of cruciate ligament damage fortunately proved groundless. The track doctor and Shannon's personal trainer, Yves Demeulemeester, did however caution him to undergo a scan early during next week to establish whether the lateral ligaments are 100% in order. The sombre spirit in was lifted somewhat by the news that Shannon's compatriot, Tyla Rattray, managed to hold onto his world championship lead.
With the true extent of the injury still hanging somewhat in the air, Shannon's race schedule will be dependent on the medical advice that he receives. Under normal circumstances his next date with the race track is in two weeks' time at the British GP.
Josh Coppins
Tough day for Coppins in Mantova
 Josh Coppins has experienced a tough weekend at the fifth round of the Italian MX GP in Mantova. The Factory Yamaha Monster racer battled with his speed all weekend on a track he has openly admitted he dislikes.
With bad weather conditions adding to the tricky stadium style track, Coppins went into the first moto with a wide gate pick. He jumped well but was pushed out by German, Maxi Nagl. After settling into 5th position, Coppins began to ride his own pace but came under pressure from Steve Ramon who he kept at bay for most of the 35 minute moto. Team-mate Philippaerts charged through the pack to slot in behind Coppins with two laps to go however the Kiwi finished strongly to secure 4th spot.
A perfectly timed jump to the start of the second moto saw Coppins take the holeshot and early advantage. Maxi Nagl again threw a spanner in the works when he snuck past by the end of the opening lap as Coppins essentially lost his rhythm and concentration. A further four valuable positions were lost in succession with Coppins settling down in fifth until he crossed the chequered flag.
"It is quite close at the front of the championship and we saw another new winner this weekend. I am the only guy from the first few in the standings who has not won yet, but it will come. I think everyone knows that I have had a hard couple of weeks and I am not riding as well as I would like, so I think we did a good job in the motos; I believe fourth and fifth was not too bad. I closed some points to Ramon and pulled away from Mackenzie. I was pleased with my starts today even if I did ride badly in the first ten minutes of both motos; I was just too slow. In the last ten minutes I am as fast as the leader but I am too stiff and not relaxed in the first moments of the races. My confidence is getting better though. I don't like this track and it is the only one of the fifteen that I struggle with, so that's another reason why I am pleased with the result. I am looking forward to England now; that is like a home GP for me. I like to think I have a chance to win there." stated Coppins.
Coppins will take a weekend off in order to prepare for the 6th round of the FIM MX series which visits a new venue in Mallory Park in Great Britain on the 1st of June.
Billy Mackenzie
Mackenzie seventh at Italian Grand Prix
Factory Honda racer Billy Mackenzie took seventh position overall through the rain at a tricky Mantova circuit last weekend for the Grand Prix of Italy and the fifth round of the FIM MX1 World Championship. The 24-year-old British champion and the UK’s sole works racer in the premier class of the sport weathered a hard weekend north of Bologna and capped a difficult week of GP competition.
The Edinburgh-resident entered the event on the back of the Grand Prix of Bulgaria one week prior at which he suffered a setback with arm-pump and a less than optimum bike set-up around the fast Sevlievo circuit and recorded his lowest finish yet this season.
Determined to reverse his fortunes ‘Mac’ found himself negotiating yet more rainy conditions upon the rough and sandy bumps of the Mantova layout. The soft terrain became very bumpy and slippery and the increased technical nature of the circuit punished the slightest misjudgement.
As with the previous four races of the fifteen to be run this year, Mackenzie had the speed to be one of the leaders. In the first moto of 35 minutes and 2 laps duration he was lying in third place and sizing-up Ken de Dycker for the runner-up slot before he was caught unawares on the timing section (a spaced series of jumps) and slipped off his CFR450R, causing him to accept ninth. The second race saw a more consistent and steady approach. Heavy rain forced the majority of the 29,000 attendance to turn the spectator banks into a multi-coloured sea of umbrellas but Mackenzie was unfazed to take a decent fourth spot.
“In the first race I was sitting in third and I felt very comfortable there,” he recollected. “I could see Ken in front of me and he must have been having problems because he’d slow down and then speed up. The boys were telling me to pass him but I wasn’t sure if I should do it straight away or wait a while and I just got myself muddled up. I went for it and crashed, sliding off and stalling the bike.
“In the second race I got a terrible start but managed to battle through quite well by concentrating on riding my own race, the rain was pouring down and I wanted to protect my goggles,” he continued. “I passed Pourcel who was all over the place and then I passed Coppins too and I was in fourth. From there I just took it easy and brought it home because it started to rain more heavily and the track was getting even worse.”
Billy is currently fifth in the standings and only 19 points from the top three.
After almost two months of commitments both internationally and on UK shores with the British Championship, Mackenzie finally has a free weekend, which he will use to take stock and begin preparations in earnest for the biggest meeting of his campaign, the British Grand Prix, at the new Mallory Park circuit on June 1st.
Matiss Karro
Karro close to the mark in Italy
 Matiss Karro added another notch to his experience belt with a strong performance that brought him painfully close, but not quite yet in the ballpark, at the GP of Italy. The Latvian teenager joined the world's brightest and best motocross racers at Mantova, and under fairly gloomy skies, the latter day knights got stuck into the qualifying proceedings on Saturday afternoon.
The sandy terrain was to Matiss' liking, but a dose of nerves got to him somewhat, and he struggled to find his rhythm during the timed training sessions. The warrior in him got the upper hand as the qualifying race rolled on, however, and it was the Matiss of old that steered his Honda into the race mix with the other pretenders. His start was not exactly copybook stuff, and he was forced to fight his battle forward from the back of the pack.
A pitched battle with his buddy Shannon Terreblanche ensued, and Matiss held the advantage for a few laps, but finally had to yield to the South African. He shadowed Shannon for a for laps more, and in so doing, moved further up the pack. His efforts, however heroic, were not enough for direct qualification, he stranded in 15th place, 3 shy of a qualifying spot.
Another appointment with the last chance qualifying practice loomed, and Matiss got stuck into the session with an enthusiasm that displayed a true will to succeed. On sheer speed, he still needs to sharpen his blade against the world's best, however, and try as he might, he could not post a lap time fast enough to lift him into the top 6. In the end he missed qualifying by a shade over 2 seconds, mere fractions of a second slower than seasoned GP campaigners like Wyatt Avis and Dennis Dierckx.
Despite not qualifying for the GP, Matiss could draw a heap of positives from the weekend. In the qualifying race, he was but three spots removed form the desired result, and a more favourable start would surely aid him no end in his future efforts. His speed is also moving inexorably closer to the GP regulars, and with a smidgen more experience under his belt, he will take his place on the start line amongst the world championship regulars.
KTM Racing - Qualifying
What the KTM MX2 riders say ahead of the Italian GP in Mantova:
Red Bull KTM factory riders made their presence felt on a wet and rough track in Italy's Mantova on Saturday ahead of the MX2 Grand Prix of Italy on Sunday.
Rain made it hard going on one of the few sandy circuits in Italy where 70% sand is mixed with 30% natural soil and more bad weather is predicted for Sunday's GPs.
Again championship leader South African Tyla Rattray's factory team-mate Tommy Searle was his toughest rival in the MX2 Qualifying Race two with Searle snatching victory by a narrow margin. Rattray was hampered by the flu but is improving and is optimistic for the race. Title defender and arch rival Antonio Cairoli won the first qualifying while Rui Goncalves, the third KTM factory rider recovered from a crash to finish in eighth behind Jeremy van Horebeek from the KTM-supported GP Juniors Team Champ.
Tommy Searle, Red Bull KTM:
"I won the holeshot and I was out in front riding with Tyla for the first three laps before I started to pull away from him. I went on to win by about six seconds and it was an easy ride for me today. There was light rain but tomorrow can be completely different."
Tyla Rattray, Red Bull KTM:
"It was ok for me today but I didn't feel that great. I have had the flu since Tuesday and I didn't want to push too hard. Today I am feeling a bit better but I still felt tired after a few laps. I had quite a good start and I was behind Tommy but I made a few mistakes and I didn't feel as though I had enough strength. I know it will be better tomorrow."
Rui Goncalves, Red Bull KTM:
"I got a good start and I was up with the top three but I lost control of the front tyre going into the first corner and crashed. Then I had to work my way back through the pack from last position. It was raining during the race so it wasn't so easy. The track got very wet and there are a lot of races this weekend so it's getting quite cut up. I like the track at Mantova and although the weather is probably going to be bad it will be the same for all of us and I will go out and try to do my best.
Nagl ninth in Saturday's MX1 time Practice at Mantova
Wet conditions and a track that was cut up hampered riders in the MX1 Time Practice ahead of the MX1 GP in Mantova, Italy and Red Bull KTM's Max Nagl of Germany is hoping for a better performance on race day.
Max Nagl, Red Bull KTM:
The track was rough today because of the rain and the heavy program of races but I didn't ride so well. I don't really know the problem, I was just too slow. There will be more rain tomorrow so the track will be in worse shape, but it's the same for us all. For tomorrow I want to take the holeshot and stay out in front.
Spain's Jonathan Barragan of the KTM supported Team Silver Action came in in tenth place behind Nagl.
Team Suzuki - Qualifying
RAMON 3RD ON ITALIAN MX1 GATE
 Reigning MX1 World Champion Steve Ramon set the third fastest time on his factory Team Teka Suzuki WMX1 RM-Z450 during qualification for the Italian Grand Prix at Mantova this afternoon while his team mate Ken De Dycker steered his machine to sixth in the 30-minute timed session.
Constant rain made conditions difficult for the qualifying session as the Supercross-style sand-based Mantova circuit became very slippery and rutted which seemed to suit Dutchman Marc De Reuver who set fastest time and will sit on pole for tomorrow's points-paying races.
Ramon managed to set his best time on his fourth lap of the session despite not feeling too at home on the slippery surface. "I found it difficult to ride smooth today and I didn't feel comfortable on the track - the surface is very hard underneath and it's very slippery," said Steve. "If it continues to rain, the track conditions may change but regardless it will be very important to get a good start and qualifying in third will give me a good pick for the start tomorrow so I'm happy."
After waking up with a sore throat De Dycker didn't feel too great during the timed session but was happy to post his best qualification result since round two of the 15-round World Championship series.
"The session went okay even though I didn't feel like I put a great lap in and so I'm quite satisfied with sixth place," said De Dycker. "The races are going to be very different tomorrow though especially if it keeps on raining - the track is already slippery everywhere and it's only going to get worse. I need to concentrate on getting a good start and then riding hard all race long so I can get some good results."
The weather forecast for tomorrow's races is for constant rain while the ambient air temperature should be in the region of 22 degrees Celsius.
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