Pourcel and Cairoli on Pole for British MXGP
Published by Neil Everett
02 June 2008, 13:47
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The British Grand Prix started under bright sunshine which no one was expecting. The weather should remain the same for the weekend when Sebastien Pourcel will start the MX1 Grand Prix from pole for the fourth time this season.
The MX2 first gate will be taken by Tony Cairoli as he won the opening qualifying moto, Tommy Searle took victory in moto two with Tyla Rattray and Shaun Simpson both finishing runners up. Peter Iven took his second consecutive pole position from Jan Blancquaert and home idol Dave Thorpe.
Seb Pourcel took his fourth Lovemytime Pole Position Award MX1 GPKR’s Sebastien Pourcel took his fourth Lovemytime Pole Position Award by topping today’s qualifying in occasion of the first Motocross World Championship outing on the brand new Mallory Park course. Pourcel took pole towards the end of the session, moving past previous pole setter Steve Ramon and eventually improving again on his laptime.
Teka Suzuki WMX1’s Ramon held the lead of the time sheets but lost it from Pourcel and eventually dropped to third as Martin Honda’s Marc de Reuver successfully completed a late assault to take the second spot. Steve Ramon ended third fastest in today’s qualifying.
An impressive Tanel Leok of Kawasaki Racing was fourth fastest ahead of Martin Honda’s Julien Bill, with the latter taking his best qualifying result of the season. Barragan, Nagl, De Dycker, Desalle and Coppins rounded off the top ten as series leader Philippaerts was fourteenth. Fifth was Julien Bill’s best qualifying result of 2008
Top five:
- Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 1:51.239
- Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), +0:00.333
- Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:00.381
- Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), +0:00.781
- Julien Bill (SUI, Honda), +0:00.879
MX2 Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Antonio Cairoli won the opening qualifying moto and will start from pole tomorrow, when he will fight for the Championship lead.
Current series leader Tyla Rattray of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ended runner up to the Italian with Molson Kawasaki’s Stephen Sword completing the top three.
In the second moto it was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tommy Searle who took the Lovemytime Qualifying Award, as he won from KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson and Champ KTM’s Jeremy Van Horebeek. Kristian Whatley, who is the son of former GP winner Jeremy Whatley, crashed and injured his right wrist in the practice session and was forced to sit out of the rest of the event.
MX2 QUALIFYING RACE 1
Cairoli took control of the heat right from the opening lap and crossed the finish line with a safe cushion of almost six seconds. With Tony cruising in first, Goncalves, Rattray, Sword and Monni battled it out for the runner up spot. Second placed Goncalves was first passed by Rattray and eventually dropped to fifth as the South African pulled away to take second. Sword and Monni ended respectively third and fourth.
Top five:
- Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 25:15.880
- Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), +0:05.851
- Stephen Sword (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:19.869
- Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), +0:20.283
- Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +0:21.855
MX2 QUALIFYING RACE 2
Searle took a solid victory with Simpson trying to catch him and eventually ending runner up. Van Horebeek completed an all KTM top three as he got rid of a hungry Frossard. The latter tried to move past in two stages, with the last charge ending right on the finish line as the Frenchman finished a close fourth. Boissiere completed the top five as Aubin crashed and dropped to an eventual eighth after having fought for the top five.
Top five:
- Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 25:39.705
- Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:08.677
- Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:18.877
- Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:19.098
- Anthony Boissiere (FRA, KTM), +0:32.359
FIM VETERANS’ MOTOCROSS WORLD CUP
Fourth placed in the Cup Peter Iven took the pole of this second of three rounds, this is the second consecutive pole for the Kawasaki mounted Belgian. Jan Blancquaert ended second quickest as home hero and three time World Champion Dave Thorpe ended third. Last year’s Cup winner, who took the victory on British soil at Donington, looks forward to climbing up the points standings and will try to exploit series leader Toine van Dijk’s misfortune as the Dutchman ended a bitter ninth. Scott Eastwood and Greg Hanson rounded off today’s top five with Thierry Godfroid finishing sixth.
Top five:
- Peter Iven (BEL, Kawasaki), 2:00.010
- Jan Blancquaert (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:05.280
- Dave Thorpe (GBR, Honda), +0:05.700
- Scott Eastwood (GBR, Honda), +0:07.155
- Greg Hanson (GBR, CCM), +0:07.505
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