Cairoli launches title defence
By TMX Archives on 7th Apr 08
Yamaha Red Bull De Carli's Antonio Cairoli, the defending MX2-GP World Champion, took the second step of the podium at the Grand Prix of the Netherlands on his YZ250F at a sunny but cold and breezy Eurocircuit in Valkenswaard, a short distance from Eindhoven.
Watched by 26,000 spectators Cairoli duelled with title rivals Tommy Searleand eventual winner today Tyla Rattray in both motos after going to the gate inthird position. The dark Dutch sand was considerably rough and penalised smallmistakes. It provided a harsh physical and mental test for many riders bothexcited and nervous at the first round of fifteen on the six monthcalendar.
Cairoli had to be content with two second positions today asRattray proved to be a worthy opponent. The lead changed frequently in the earlystages and the first half of the opening moto was particularly riveting as sixriders tussled for control. The Sicilian was encouraged by a strong late chargein the second race as he hunted the rear wheel of Rattray on the last two laps;with just one more circulation he might have seized the lead and the GPwin.
Yamaha Ricci Racing's Nicolas Aubin was one of the protagonists butthe Frenchman crashed in the first race when he lost control of the front-enddescending one of the heavily rutted hills. He was edged off-line by Searle andfell again in the second race but results of ninth and sixth helped him toseventh overall and the second highest Yamaha representative.
Team-mateDavide Guarneri had a tough time through the rutted sand and a first lap crashmeant he could do no better than fifteenth in Moto1. He improved this toeleventh in the second sprint and was content to leave Holland with points as hehas faced injury problems for the last two seasons.
UTag Yamaha.com wereunlucky on Saturday. Both Martin Barr and Carlos Campano crashed in their heatraces and were not able to make the qualification cut negotiating a wetter andboggier terrain.
The 2008 Grand Prix of the Netherlands was a smalllandmark for new Yamaha Van Beers racer Evgeny Bobryshev as the Russian scoredhis very first world championship point with a hard-fought twentieth place inMoto2.
The next round on the 2008 schedule will take place at Bellpuigfor the Grand Prix of Spain in two weeks time.
Antonio Cairoli, YamahaRed Bull De Carli, 2nd:
"I am happy with this result because we have been making a lot of tests andeffort towards MX1 during the pre-season. I still need a bit more time on my250, particularly in the sand. At the beginning of the first moto I was not sosharp and Tyla got away. He is really fast on this kind of track I just tried tobe as fast as I could without making mistakes. Overall I am feeling good withthe bike though and I know much better is to come, especially because I like thenext few tracks in Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria and Mantova."
NicolasAubin, Yamaha Ricci Racing, 7th:
"I did not race at my real level today. The bike is good and I am very happywith the engine because I took two very good starts but I could not find a goodfeeling on the sand. I took some good points for the championship. Tommy wentpast me and I did not close the gas, I touched his rear wheel and went down butit was one of those things. I like Bellpuig and I am hoping for the podiumthere."
Davide Guarneri, Yamaha Ricci Racing, 11th:
"It is not a great day but I really do not like the sand so it is not adisaster. There were so many ruts out there and I found it hard to go quickly. Itried to get good starts but my gate position was not great I took some pointsin the first moto after the crash. I fell again in the second race but couldrecover for more points. I know that on more 'normal' tracks I can do muchbetter."
2008 GP of Netherlands, Valkenswaard 06/04/2008
Race 1 - 17 Laps
1 Tyla Rattray KTM RSA 40'59.119
2 Antonio Cairoli Yamaha ITA 0'15.146
3 Tommy Searle KTM GBR 0'35.267
4 Erik Eggens Suzuki NED 0'39.399
5 Shaun Simpson KTM GBR 0'42.142
6 Rui Goncalves KTM POR 0'47.601
7 Jeremy Van Horebeek KTM BEL 1'0.720
8 Xavier Boog Suzuki FRA 1'1.488
9 Nicolas Aubin Yamaha FRA 1'12.157
10 Joel Roelants KTM BEL 1'25.585
11 Jeremy Tarroux KTM FRA 1'51.275
12 Anthony Boissiere KTM FRA 1'56.631
13 Gert Krestinov KTM EST 1'58.303
14 Rinus Van de Ven KTM NED 2'1.988
15 Davide Guarneri Yamaha ITA 2'8.903
16 Pascal Leuret Suzuki FRA 2'18.796
17 Joaquim Rodrigues KTM POR 2'26.404
18 Wyatt Avis Honda RSA -1 Laps
19 Manuel Monni Yamaha ITA -1 Laps
20 Rob van Vijfeijken Yamaha NED -1 Laps
Race 2 - 17 Laps
1 Tyla Rattray KTM RSA 39'49.877
2 Antonio Cairoli Yamaha ITA 0'1.246
3 Erik Eggens Suzuki NED 1'8.488
4 Rui Goncalves KTM POR 1'9.622
5 Tommy Searle KTM GBR 1'25.853
6 Nicolas Aubin Yamaha FRA 1'26.419
7 Stephen Sword Kawasaki GBR 1'48.366
8 Xavier Boog Suzuki FRA 1'55.118
9 Shaun Simpson KTM GBR 2'20.438
10 Joel Roelants KTM BEL -1 Laps
11 Davide Guarneri Yamaha ITA -1 Laps
12 Manuel Monni Yamaha ITA -1 Laps
13 Mike Kras Suzuki NED -1 Laps
14 Jeremy Van Horebeek KTM BEL -1 Laps
15 Gautier Paulin Kawasaki FRA -1 Laps
16 Gert Krestinov KTM EST -1 Laps
17 Rob van Vijfeijken Yamaha NED -1 Laps
18 Rinus Van de Ven KTM NED -1 Laps
19 Marcus Norlen Suzuki SWE -1 Laps
20 Evgeny Bobryshev Yamaha RUS -1 Laps
Rider Standings 06/04/2008
1. Tyla Rattray KTM RSA 50
2. Antonio Cairoli Yamaha ITA 44
3. Erik Eggens Suzuki NED 38
4. Tommy Searle KTM GBR 36
5. Rui Goncalves KTM POR 33
6. Shaun Simpson KTM GBR 28
7. Nicolas Aubin Yamaha FRA 27
8. Xavier Boog Suzuki FRA 26
9. Joel Roelants KTM BEL 22
10. Jeremy Van Horebeek KTM BEL 21
11. Davide Guarneri Yamaha ITA 16
12. Stephen Sword Kawasaki GBR 14
13. Gert Krestinov KTM EST 13
14. Manuel Monni Yamaha ITA 11
15. Jeremy Tarroux KTM FRA 10
16. Rinus Van de Ven KTM NED 10
17. Anthony Boissiere KTM FRA 9
18. Mike Kras Suzuki NED 8
19. Gautier Paulin Kawasaki FRA 6
20. Pascal Leuret Suzuki FRA 5
25. Evgeny Bobryshev Yamaha RUS 1
Manufacturer Standings 06/04/2008
1. KTM 50
2. Yamaha 44
3. Suzuki 38
4. Kawasaki 14
5. Honda 3