Four action packed rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship have set a high level of competition continuing this weekend in Agueda, Portugal.
After each round of the MX1 and MX2 classes saw a different GP winner, Cairoli is leading the MX1 series since Turkey while a strong Paulin has been topping the MX2 standings since muddy round one in Faenza.
The Portuguese fans are pumped for the weekend as they will have the chance of watching local favourite Goncalves back into the saddle after his maiden GP win in the latest round at Valkenswaard.
MX1
Taking back to the track after a one week stop, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Tony Cairoli looks forward to Agueda, the venue where he took his first win of 2008, his last season in the MX2 class. The two time World Champion currently leads the MX1 Championship where he has already taken a GP win and a pole position both in Turkey.
Latest GP winner Barragan of KTM Silver Action is chasing Cairoli from second as the Spaniard needs to close a 15 point gap from the Italian. Winning in Valkenswaard Barragan showed great speed ahead of the “Latin stage” of the FIM Motocross World Championship visiting Portugal this weekend and Barragan’s home event next weekend in Bellpuig, Spain.
Teka Suzuki WMX1’s De Dycker will be the sole rider in the team from Agueda onwards with 2007 MX1 World Champion Steve Ramon out with a neck injury from Valkenswaard. De Dycker, who was leading the series after Bulgaria, still seeks his first win of the season- his 2008 GP of Portugal overall result of 19th was due to a hand injury.
Defending Champion David Philippaerts of Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross took his first ever MX1 red plate courtesy of a second place finish in Agueda last year. The Italian is currently fourth in the MX1 standings right ahead of team mate Coppins who rounded off last year’s podium behind Philippaerts and overall winner Pourcel.
The latter started off the 2009 with a left shoulder injury but the Kawasaki Racing Team rider picked up another one in Valkenswaard where he dislocated his right shoulder in the free practice. The 2008 Lovemytime MX1 Pole Position Award winner is due to miss round five.
Other Yamaha Red Bull De Carli rider Tanel Leok completes the top six which is packed in just 32 points.
Due to a broken right wrist and scaphoid Martin Honda MX’s Strijbos will not be on the Portuguese gate as his comeback date is not yet known.
2008 MX1 PODIUM:1. Sebastien Pourcel
2. David Philippaerts
3. Joshua Coppins
2008 MX1 POLEMAN: Sebastien Pourcel
MX2
Holding the red plate since the opening round in Faenza, Gautier Paulin of Kawasaki Bud Racing PSM looks a strong Title contender in 2009. Paulin is the sole rider to have won two heats in this highly competitive MX2 series even though the Benelux GP put an end to his and Musquin’s podium row which started at Faenza.
Musquin, riding for team NGS, sits in second place but saw his gap increase after Valkenswaard where he scored ten points less than French countryman Paulin.
Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci Motocross’ Davide Guarneri completes the top three in the Championship as the Italian narrowly missed his first season’s podium in Faenza and in Valkenswaard finishing both times fourth overall at a handful of points from the rostrum.
Following his maiden GP win in Turkey American Zach Osborne of Utag-Yamaha.com is fourth in the Championship. Osborne, who entered the Championship in Lommel 2008, showed progress at Valkenswaard on the sand, a type of ground where he struggled last year.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Simpson, who took his first season podium at Valkenswaard, picked up a severe injury to his lower left leg last week. The 21 year old’s come back date is not yet known but the Scottish hopes to be fit enough to attend his home event in Mallory Park (May 31) as a spectator.
Rui Goncalves will be the sole Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider in Agueda, where the Portuguese expects a solid crowd support after he took his maiden GP win at Valkenswaard. Goncalves is eighth in the Championship –behind Boog and Aubin- but he aims at a strong recovery after collecting 47 important points in Benelux two weeks ago.
Frenchman Aubin is another rider who is expected to perform well in Portugal after reaching his first season podium at Valkenswaard. Aubin was fifth in last year’s Portuguese GP, the home event of his engine technician Rui Silva, as he finished right behind Sword.
This event will mark the maiden GP appearance for German sensation Ken Roczen of Team Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2. Being 15 since April 29, Roczen won the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship 85cc in 2007.
2008 MX2 PODIUM:1. Antonio Cairoli
2. Tyla Rattray
3. Tommy Searle
More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx.
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