Barragan tops podium at MX1 GP in Mallory Park
By TMX Archives on 1st Jun 08
Victory was safe in the hands of KTM rider Jonathan Barragan in the MX1 Grand Prix of Britain on Sunday after he was third and first in the two individual motos.
The Spanish rider from the KTM supported Team Silver Action was in brilliantform on the man made track at Mallory Park, the first time the MX WorldChampionships had competed on the varied and technically challenging circuit.
Confident and comfortable
Barragan, who kept his skillssharpened by winning an MX3 GP as a guest rider for the JM Racing team lastweekend, looked confident and comfortable on the British circuit where sand hadbeen mixed with the natural soil on the corners. "I had some problems with theshock in the first heat but we changed the settings for the second and it wentmuch better for me. I am very happy to my have my first GP win for 2008 but I ama bit sorry that it has not come sooner than this," Barragan said. The Spanishrider said liked the jumps on the British circuit but there were a lot of bumps."Riders here have to be really fit," he said.
Action packed finish
The track became deeply rutted and increasinglydifficult to master as the day wore on and Barragan had an anxious moment in thefinal run in to the checkered flag in race two. He got caught up in the ruts andslipped off the bike but displayed a cool head and lightning reactions, was backon the bike in a flash without relinquishing any of his lead.
Valiantfourth in race on for Nagl
Red Bull KTM factory rider Max Nagl ofGermany was not so lucky. After a valiant fourth place in the opening MX1 moto,Nagl came unstuck in the heat of the battle in the opening minutes of race twoand a stone hit him on the nose. Dizzy and with the wound bleeding badly, hewasn't able to continue. Doctors suspected that he may have broken his nose andhe will check on Monday with his own doctor in Belgium. Nagl was however quitepositive about his riding in the first heat. "I liked the circuit here. It's areal English track with deep lines and I was up with the front runners all theway in the first race." James Noble of Team KTM UK was tenth in front of hishome crowd.
Results
1. Jonathan Barragan, KTM
2. Ken deDyker, Belgium, Suzuki
3. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha
4. SteveRamon, Belgium, Suzuki
5. Tanel Leok, Estonia, Kawasaki
OtherKTM
10. James Noble, Britain, (Team KTM UK)
17. Markus Schiffer,Germany (Sarholz)
19. Kornel Nemeth, Hungary (Sarholz)
Championship Standings
1. David Philippaerts, Italy, 223points
2. Steve Ramon, Belgium, 195
3. Ken de Dyker, Belgium, 175
4.Josh Coppins, New Zealand, 168
5. Bill Mackenzie, Britain, 159
Other KTM
7. Jonathan Barragan, Spain. 150
9. Max Nagl,Germany, 132
14. Kornel Nemeth, Hungary, 80
15. Markus Schiffer,Germany, 71
18. James Noble, Britain, 48