41,000 spectators, the largest attendance to see the FIM MX1-GP World Championship so far this season, followed Yamaha Monster Motocross Team's David Philippaerts take his fifth consecutive podium with third position on his YZ450FM. A busy and demanding Mallory Park hosted the British Grand Prix under grey skies for the sixth round of fifteen in the 2008 campaign. The brand new track provided riders with an unseen challenge and while the layout generally got a 'thumbs up' from the majority of the MX1 field, the new dirt was soft (from days of rain beforehand) and very rough; making overtaking a hard task. The course, built alongside - and using vast sections - of the historic road racing facility that used to entertain such luminaries such as Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood and Barry Sheene, was inaugurated with some fantastic scenes.
Philippaerts was at the heart of the action in an eventful outing for the team. The Italian, and world championship leader, crashed on the third corner of the first lap of Moto1 after being hit by another rider, an incident similar to his accident at the start of the Italian Grand Prix last month. Despite a damaged silencer Philippaerts embarked on an incredible comeback, again akin to his situation and flight in Mantova. The 24 year old raced from 19th place to reach 2nd position behind title rival Steve Ramon. The Belgian's team-mate Ken De Dycker was also close in third. With the trio running close together in the final laps and the crowd sensing a grandstand finish, Philippaerts lost traction on a damp part of the circuit deep into the penultimate circulation and again hit the floor. He recovered to take 5th position as De Dycker won metres from the flag. In the next race the Tuscan, who started from 14th in the gate, his lowest position this season after failing to find a fast lap on Saturday, completed the first lap without incident and although he was nursing a painful rib from his last excursion he passed several riders, one of whom was a fading Ramon, to move into 2nd position. Crashes by Marc de Reuver and Julien Bill assisted his cause and although Jonathan Barragan ran away with the race to gain his maiden overall victory, Philippaerts was able to secure 3rd (a fresh Seb Pourcel took 2nd after failing to complete a single lap of Moto1) and the same overall ranking.
Josh Coppins, who tried some different front forks and adopted some suspension settings taken from tests in the UK during the week, qualified in 10th position and was handicapped with crashes on the first laps of both motos. The Kiwi started badly and was clipped on the first corner of race one and then went down twice more as he tried to come back from the rear. He eventually worked hard to manage 11th. In Moto2 he was held up by a fallen Lauris Freibergs on turn two and went down again. A result of 12th was the best he could manage on an even rougher track for 11th overall.
Yamaha Van Beers Racing's Aigar Leok was just behind Coppins with 12th place. The Estonian took his YZ450F to 8th spot, equalling his season's best so far, in Moto1 and then was 15th later in the afternoon. Philippaerts increased his advantage in the MX1-GP world championship standings by one point and he now fronts the pack by 28. Coppins is now fourth and 55 from his team-mate. Yamaha head the manufacturer's table by 4 points. The Yamaha Monster Motocross Team will now have another free week before travelling to St Jean d'Angely for the Grand Prix of France and round six on June 15th. Both riders will be using the break for further tests in Italy.
David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 3rd: "My goal in the winter was to finish each GP in the top five and I'm happy because since Valkenswaard and round one I have been on the podium each time. I was 14th in Timed Practice but Saturday was a different day to Sunday! In the warm-up I changed the bike a little bit and it was great for the races. It was a little bit like Mantova for me! I crashed in the first corners and then pushed so hard to come back. The crash was stupid and ruined any chance of a top three, maybe even the win but I was pleased with the top five after being so far back. I just hit some water with my back wheel after the jump and it put me off the bike. I was happy with my riding though. The track was more difficult for me on Saturday than today and I could see from my pit-board that my times were fast. I had some pain from my ribcage in the second race and took things a little easier. I got faster with each lap although I only passed two riders, Mackenzie and Ramon. I really like the next track in France, it was where I took my first Grand Prix win and I hope we continue with the good results."
Josh Coppins, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 11th: "A day of bad luck. I had a bad jump in the first moto and then someone on a Kawasaki went a bit wide and pushed me out. I was about 15th and then crashed. I started from last and then hit a false neutral; going down again. I worked my way back to 11th. In the second race I got away OK but then Freibergs had crashed just over the little jump of the second corner. I was already committed and jumped straight into the back of him. I had to stop to take off the fork-guard because it was in the front wheel and I did not want to go over the big triple like that. I went from last to 14th. Overall there was not much I can do; it was a terrible day and I am disappointed. Realistically I need to qualify better to get a better start but I was unlucky. I just need to keep working."
Massimo Raspanti, Racing Manager: "It was a hectic day! David made a good race in the first moto, he was almost last but he was faster than the others and rode well. In the final two laps he pushed to pass Ramon and win but he changed his line and crashed. He was not quicker than Pourcel in the second moto but the result was good for the championship. Josh was unlucky and it took him some time to get going after the crashes. The results were not good but there was not much more he could do."
Race 1 - 19 Laps- Ken De Dycker Suzuki BEL 39'43.553
- Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 0'1.776
- Jonathan Barragan KTM ESP 0'6.692
- Maximilian Nagl KTM GER 0'28.122
- David Philippaerts Yamaha ITA 0'35.264
- Tanel Leok Kawasaki EST 0'36.634
- Clement Desalle Suzuki BEL 0'43.035
- Aigar Leok Yamaha EST 0'44.071
- Marc De Reuver Honda NED 0'45.624
- Billy MacKenzie Honda GBR 0'46.513
Race 2 - 19 Laps- Jonathan Barragan KTM ESP 40'29.703
- Sébastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA 0'5.567
- David Philippaerts Yamaha ITA 0'6.502
- Billy MacKenzie Honda GBR 0'7.528
- Tanel Leok Kawasaki EST 0'8.843
- Ken De Dycker Suzuki BEL 0'34.239
- Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 0'40.069
- Julien Bill Honda CHE 0'43.855
- Mike Brown Honda USA 0'47.748
- James Noble KTM GBR 0'54.61
Championship Standings- David Philippaerts Yamaha ITA 223
- Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 195
- Ken De Dycker Suzuki BEL 175
- Joshua Coppins Yamaha NZL 168
- Billy MacKenzie Honda GBR 159
- Sébastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA 151
- Jonathan Barragan KTM ESP 150
- Marc De Reuver Honda NED 138
- Maximilian Nagl KTM GER 132
- Tanel Leok Kawasaki EST 129
Pos. Manufacturer Points
1. Yamaha 225
2. Suzuki 221
3. Kawasaki 207
4. KTM 206
5. Honda 188
6. TM 27
7. Aprilia 1
