Barragan MX1 fifth in Faenza
By TMX Archives on 15th Jul 07
KTM Red Bull Factory rider Jonathan Barragan rode to fifth place in the MX1 Grand Prix in Faenza, Italy in a race that replaced Durban on the competition calendar.
The Spanish KTM factory rider earned his first MX1 pole position riding on atrack that was completely new to him scored fifth place in both heats foroverall fifth on the day.
"Today I did not have very good starts and it was difficult to get past theother riders during the race," Barragan said. The track was hot, hard and attimes during the MX1 race, also dusty. But Barragan has been training at home inSpain and said he had no problems with the hot summer temperature or theconditions. "I don't have any more problems with my shoulder and physically Ifeel good. Today I picked up a few more championship points and now I will tryaim at fighting for third place at the end of the season.
Barragan's strongest competitor for that third place will be his team-mate inthe KTM Red Bull lineup Italian David Philippaerts, who on Friday was not sureif he was going to be able to compete in Faenza, a track where he rode manytimes as a boy.
While Barragan had a double victory at the ADAC masters in Austria lastweekend, David crashed in training for that event and damaged ligaments in hisshoulder. The injury is still badly inflamed and although he made the startingline, he rode with considerable discomfort. He managed to finish sixthimmediately behind Barragan in race one but jarred his shoulder going over abump in race two. The pain disrupted his rhythm and he had to settle foreventual 10th place overall. Philippaerts still retains a slight edge of sixpoints over Barragan in the season's standings and is in fourth place whileBarragan is currently fifth.
Results
1. Sebastian Pourcel, France, Kawasaki
2. Joshua Coppins, New Zealand, Yamaha
3. Mike Brown, USA, Honda
4. Billy Mackenzie, Britain, Kawasaki
5. Jonathan Barragan, Spain. KTM
10. David Philippaerts, Italy, KTM