Jonathan Barragan
NELSPRUIT (SOUTH AFRICA), 20 July 2008 - The Alkmaar Raceway at Nelspruit proved to be a great venue for the popular South African Motocross GP sponsored by Leatt Brace.Under hot weather conditions, Jonathan Barragan took his second consecutive MX1 GP win after battling it out with KTM fellow rider Max Nagl, second overall. Defending Champion Ramon completed the podium right ahead of series leader David Philippaerts.In the MX2 class Tommy Searle came back to victory from local star Tyla Rattray and Nicolas Aubin. The defending Champion Antonio Cairoli injured his left knee and took no points, dropping down to third in the Championship with a 59 point gap from leader Rattray.MX1 CLASS
Despite taking two storming starts and leading the first part of each Grand Prix moto, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Max Nagl was second on today's podium behind AXO KTM Silver Action's Jonathan Barragan.The latter secured his second consecutive win and third of 2008 by winning the final moto. After winning the opening moto, Teka Suzuki WMX1's Steve Ramon ended third on the podium just one point ahead of series leader David Philippaerts of Yamaha Monster Motocross. GPKR's Sebastien Pourcel rounded off the top five from Josh Coppins as both were caught up in a first corner accident during heat one.MX1 MOTO 1
Nagl led the group into turn one and set the pace until lap 17, when Steve Ramon took over the lead to win eventually. Nagl had some troubles in the final laps, dropping down to fourth as both Philippaerts and Barragan moved past him. Philippaerts took second from Barragan, with the Italian ending close to Ramon when the flag was waved. Ken De Dycker rounded off the top five from Tanel Leok and Mackenzie, who made Philippaerts' life difficult in a tough fight for third. Pourcel and Coppins were eighth and ninth after a first corner crash.MX1 MOTO 2
Nagl took another holeshot and led until ten minutes to go. Barragan made a final move on the German to take the victory and the overall, while Nagl faced Pourcel's attacks. The latter came so close to Nagl in a corner that he made a mistake to avoid a crash; Pourcel then lost ground and brought the bike home in third. Coppins was a solid fourth ahead of Mackenzie and Philippaerts, who did not find an open door to pass the Brit. De Dycker and Ramon completed the top eight.Jonathan Barragan: 1st:
"I'm very happy with the overall victory, the track was fast and there were good lines. I already had a good feeling yesterday and I knew I had a good speed. The track was easy to ride and I hope to be able to continue this good success that I have had in Sweden and here when we race in Lommel."Maximilian Nagl:
"We did a pretty good job today, I got the holeshot in both heats but it was a bit dusty in the second heat and the visibility was bad when the sun started to go down. No we will now train in sand to get ready for the races in Lommel." "Max was in good form the whole weekend," said KTM team boss Stefan Everts. "We already saw on Saturday that he was very fast. He was a bit nervous in the first heat but this is still a learning year for him. He got the holeshot in the second heat but in the end, Jonathan was pushing really hard."MX1 MOTO 1
1, Steve Ramon, Suzuki
2, David Philippaerts, Yamaha
3, Jonathan Barragan, KTM
4, Maximilian Nagl, KTM
5, Ken De Dycker, Suzuki
6, Tanel Leok, Kawasaki
7, Billy MacKenzie, Honda
8, Sebastien Pourcel, Kawasaki
9, Joshua Coppins, Yamaha
10, Manuel Priem, KawasakiMX1 MOTO 2
1, Jonathan Barragan, KTM
2, Maximilian Nagl, KTM
3, Sebastien Pourcel, Kawasaki
4, Joshua Coppins, Yamaha, NZL
5, Billy MacKenzie, Honda, GBR
6, David Philippaerts, Yamaha, ITA
7, Ken De Dycker, Suzuki, BEL
8, Steve Ramon, Suzuki, BEL
9, Manuel Priem, Kawasaki, BEL
10, Clement Desalle, Suzuki, BELCHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
1, David Philippaerts, Yamaha, ITA, 339
2, Steve Ramon, Suzuki, BEL, 328
3, Joshua Coppins, Yamaha, NZL, 316
4, Ken De Dycker, Suzuki, BEL, 296
5, Jonathan Barragan, KTM, ESP, 284
6, Sebastien Pourcel, Kawasaki, FRA, 274
7, Maximilian Nagl, KTM, GER, 253
8, Billy MacKenzie, Honda, GBR, 235
9, Tanel Leok, Kawasaki, EST, 234
10, Marc De Reuver, Honda, NED, 178MX2 CLASS
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Tommy Searle took his third GP win of 2008 snatching the home success from team mate Tyla Rattray. The two won one moto each, with the South African taking the final moto but missing the overall result due to a first moto crash. Ricci Racing Yamaha's Nicolas Aubin took his first season podium from French countryman Steven Frossard of CLS. KTM UK's Shaun Simpson rounded off the top five.Reigning MX2 Champion Antonio Cairoli tangled up with another rider in the first heat, damaging his left knee and dropping out of both motos after a brave try to race.
Tommy Searle
MX2 RACE 1
Aubin started strong to lead the first half of the heat from a hungry Searle. In the remaining ten laps Searle took the first place and opened up a gap from Aubin, who finished second. Rattray recovered to third after a crash and finished ahead of Simpson and Frossard. Antonio Cairoli put together just four laps before retiring.MX2 RACE 2
Rattray made up for moto one and took a start to flag win of the final heat in front of Searle. The latter tried to catch Rattray unsuccessfully, ending second from Frossard who secured the top three by moving past Simpson. The Brit ended fourth from Aubin. After a great start, Cairoli tried to race with Rattray but at the end of the third lap he pulled out of the race.Tommy Searle 1st:
"I'm very satisfied with the results of the GP today. I had a good start in the first race but I took the first corner too wide. Even so I managed to win by 11 seconds. I didn't have such a good start in the second heat and I didn't really get the same rhythm as in the first but the result was important for the championship. It's a nice track, full of jumps and I enjoyed it."Tyla Rattray 2nd
It was not so bad today, I had quite a good start in the first heat but I made a mistake and crashed. I could have done better in that one. But then I took the holeshot in the second and I led throughout the raceNicolas Aubin, 3rd:
"I am happy but it is a shame I had to wait ten Grand Prix for my first podium. I have had a few problems getting myself up to speed but I had two weeks to get my head together before this Grand Prix and felt better on the bike. The track is very good and I enjoyed the ground and the jumps. I made a great start in the first moto and tried to push, however Tyla and Tommy are very fast at the moment and I have not had too much time leading a race and could not hold the pace until the end. The results were not bad today and a big improvement on the last GPs. I hope this will be a new beginning for me, we go to Lommel next and I like the sand. I would like a top five there before we go to Loket. I want to finish the season well for my confidence and for the team."Antonio Cairoli, DNF:
"I am really disappointed. I liked the track yesterday and had some decent speed. I didn't have a good start in the first moto and tried to pass some riders in the beginning but it was not easy because the track was slippery from the watering. Tyla and Tommy were ahead so I knew I had to gain ground fast. I went to pass Guarneri but he came wide and cut my line. The bike went sideways down the hill and I put out my foot and felt something pull in my knee. I had so much pain that I had to stop. My doctor made a really good job in the break so I tried to start the second moto and came out of the gate in second place. The knee was not inflamed and not too painful but I was not used to the track and I got one set of bumps wrong and felt the knee react. Tommy passed me and I was starting to catch him when I over-jumped and then had shots of pain, which ended my race.The plan now is to have some surgery this week and I really hope I can come back for Lommel. The doctor thinks the ligaments are OK, just maybe stretched a little bit but the meniscus might be broken. With the operation we have planned he said I might be able to ride after one week. The championship looks difficult now and Tommy and Tyla have worked hard to be going for the title. I want to win when I come back and I hope it will be as soon as possible."MX2 MOTO 1
1, Tommy Searle, KTM
2, Nicolas Aubin, Yamaha
3, Tyla Rattray, KTM
4, Shaun Simpson, KTM
5, Steven Frossard, Kawasaki
6, Xavier Boog, Suzuki, FRA
7, Marvin Musquin, Honda, FRA
8, Davide Guarneri, Yamaha, ITA
9, Jeremy Van Horebeek, KTM, BEL
10, Stephen Sword, Kawasaki, GBRMX2 MOTO 2
1, Tyla Rattray, KTM, RSA
2, Tommy Searle, KTM
3, Steven Frossard, Kawasaki
4, Shaun Simpson, KTM, GBR
5, Nicolas Aubin, Yamaha, FRA
6, Jeremy Van Horebeek, KTM
7, Xavier Boog, Suzuki, FRA
8, Marvin Musquin, Honda
9, Anthony Boissiere, KTM
10, Pascal Leuret, SuzukiCHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
1, Tyla Rattray, KTM, RSA, 416
2, Tommy Searle, KTM, GBR, 395
3, Antonio Cairoli, Yamaha, ITA, 357
4, Shaun Simpson, KTM, GBR, 287
5, Nicolas Aubin, Yamaha, FRA, 243
6, Rui Goncalves, KTM, POR, 241
7, Xavier Boog, Suzuki, FRA, 211
8, Jeremy Van Horebeek, KTM, BEL, 197
9, Steven Frossard, Kawasaki, FRA, 196
10, Manuel Monni, Yamaha, ITA, 187
IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS
Ramon took one point off his gap from Philippaerts as the duo are still second and first in the Championship respectively. Barragan moved up to fifth in the Championship with Pourcel dropping to sixth.Rattray is still leading the MX2 Championship with Searle second. Cairoli dropped back to third and he currently has a 59 point gap from the South African. Simpson and Aubin round off the top five.David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 4th:
"I missed the podium by one point but the positives from this weekend were the good race in the first moto and that my physical condition is getting better after a few small injuries. I was a bit tired early in the second moto and with the sun going down it was hard to find the lines. After about twenty minutes I felt a bit better and pushed to pass Mackenzie but there were so many lapped riders that it was very difficult. I did not want to crash and I had already passed Ramon. I think I will be strong for Lommel. All the GPs will be important for the championship now and I will be looking for good positions and to finish ahead of Ramon as much as possible."Josh Coppins, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 6th:
"For three motos in a row I have had to start from pretty much last. I knew I had the speed but I lost so many points just from incidents in those three heats. In that second moto today I decided to start a little more cautious, take my turn and then ride my own race. I came out in the top ten but then could start the hunt and move forward; this is not really the way I want to go racing, holeshots would be preferable! It was a tough track but the same for everyone. There were parts that I liked and others that I didn't. I am pleased with that second moto though; if I can improve my starts then I feel that I can push my way back in there for the title."Nico Aubin, Yamaha Ricci Racing, 3rd:
"I am happy but it is a shame I had to wait ten Grand Prix for my first podium. I have had a few problems getting myself up to speed but I had two weeks to get my head together before this Grand Prix and felt better on the bike. The track is very good and I enjoyed the ground and the jumps. I made a great start in the first moto and tried to push, however Tyla and Tommy are very fast at the moment and I have not had too much time leading a race and could not hold the pace until the end. The results were not bad today and a big improvement on the last GPs. I hope this will be a new beginning for me, we go to Lommel next and I like the sand. I would like a top five there before we go to Loket. I want to finish the season well for my confidence and for the team."
