First victory for 2010 YZ450F and Philippaerts
By TMX Archives on 7th Jun 10
A packed 30,000 crowd at the St Jean D'Angely circuit in western France witnessed Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team's David Philippaerts notch his first victory of the 2010 FIM MX-GP World Championship and also obtain the maiden 'spurs' for the innovative fuel injected'10 YZ450FM. The resilient Italian celebrated his first tread of the top step of the podium since the 2009 British Grand Prix at Mallory Park. The Grand Prix of France, round seven of fifteen in the FIM contest, presented a difficult test to the riders. The heat and humidity of Saturday led to thunder, lightning and brief showers Sunday morning; the effect on the track was to significantly soften the terrain creating a muddy and rutted first race and then a tough prospect for the bikes and riders in the second moto when afternoon sunshine dried and hardened the terrain.
Philippaerts - benefitting from some tests and positive allocation of the team's resources to optimise the set-up of his factory YZ450FM during the week - was a member of a thrilling four rider fight for podium slots in the first moto. The 25 year old changed positions constantly with Clement Desalle and beat the Belgian to 3rd by the finish line, setting the fastest lap on the way.
The duo reignited their feud in Moto2 but this time it was for the lead and was less frantic. Philippaerts pushed through on the new top section of the circuit and then never looked back. After two pole positions and two previous podium appearances this season, France represented the 2008 world champion's fourth career win for Yamaha.
Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci MX Team's Ken De Dycker was 7th overall with finishes of 9th and 6th. The classifications hid the amount of determination that the strong Belgian put into his riding after two poor starts meant a lot of hard work on a surface that was not easy for overtaking.
Philippaerts gained some positive momentum in the MX1-GP standings and now hold 3rd position, just 4 points behind Desalle. De Dycker is 6th and 10 points from another slot.
Round eight will take place in two weeks time at the natural and fast layout of Teutschenthal for the Grand Prix of Germany and will commence a period of three back-to-back races with Latvia and Sweden following hard upon.
David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team:
"I am really happy. Today we had two very good motos and I had a great race with Desalle in the first. I think we passed each other six or seven times and it was fun fighting out there. In the second race I overtook him quickly and for sure when you are in the lead it is easier! They had cleaned some parts of the track after the first moto and it was better for jumping and also a bit faster. We worked very hard this week after America, together with Fabio now helping both riders and the bike was really nice and was great to ride. Ohlins is working well; the bike is new and the combination is new and of course we needed to focus on that. We have a good direction now. Thanks to my sponsors and especially my doctor, who helped with my bad back after America."
De Dycker in France
Ken De Dycker, Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci MX Team:
"It was difficult today and I am not really that happy with my starts because they determine so much at this track. The second race was better than the first but it was still very risky to overtake and there was only a good opportunity when someone in front you made a mistake. You really had to use a lot of energy and line-up the move five corners beforehand. I might race in Belgium next weekend. We will have to see."
2010 GP of France 06/06/2010
Race 1 - 18 Laps1 Antonio Cairoli KTM ITA 39'59.341
2 Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 0'02.549
3 David Philippaerts Yamaha ITA 0'06.551
4 Clement Desalle Suzuki BEL 0'15.685
5 Davide Guarneri Honda ITA 0'53.066
6 Tanel Leok Honda EST 0'56.103
7 Anthony Boissière TM FRA 1'08.514
8 Kevin Strijbos Suzuki BEL 1'15.764
9 Ken De Dycker Yamaha BEL 1'25.207
10 Nicolas Aubin Kawasaki FRA 1'32.312
11 Gareth Swanepoel Honda RSA 1'36.934
12 Joshua Coppins Aprilia NZL 1'55.372
13 Evgeny Bobryshev Honda RUS 2'07.394
14 Rui Goncalves KTM POR -1Laps
15 Sébastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA -1Laps
18 Matteo Bonini Yamaha ITA -1Laps
Race 2 - 18 Laps
1 David Philippaerts Yamaha ITA 39'31.903
2 Clement Desalle Suzuki BEL 0'03.013
3 Antonio Cairoli KTM ITA 0'07.221
4 Anthony Boissière TM FRA 0'11.087
5 Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 0'13.044
6 Ken De Dycker Yamaha BEL 0'17.029
7 Xavier Boog Kawasaki FRA 0'17.406
8 Davide Guarneri Honda ITA 0'21.295
9 Tanel Leok Honda EST 0'25.454
10 Sébastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA 0'58.601
11 Kevin Strijbos Suzuki BEL 1'00.827
12 Rui Goncalves KTM POR 1'28.710
13 Gareth Swanepoel Honda RSA 1'39.676
14 Joshua Coppins Aprilia NZL 1'44.500
15 Nicolas Aubin Kawasaki FRA 1'52.173
16 Matteo Bonini Yamaha ITA 1'59.344
Rider Standings 06/06/2010
1. Antonio Cairoli KTM ITA 304
2. Clement Desalle Suzuki BEL 236
3. David Philippaerts Yamaha ITA 229
4. Maximilian Nagl KTM GER 218
5. Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 211
6. Ken De Dycker Yamaha BEL 201
7. Xavier Boog Kawasaki FRA 181
8. Tanel Leok Honda EST 162
9. Davide Guarneri Honda ITA 140
10. Evgeny Bobryshev Honda RUS 123
11. Kevin Strijbos Suzuki BEL 109
12. Anthony Boissière TM FRA 107
13. Joshua Coppins Aprilia NZL 106
14. Gareth Swanepoel Honda RSA 92
15. Sébastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA 92
20. Manuel Monni Yamaha ITA 46
26. Kyle Chisholm Yamaha USA 20
27. Tom Soderstrom Yamaha SWE 19
28. Alvaro Lozano Yamaha ESP 14
29. Grant Langston Yamaha RSA 12
30. Matteo Bonini Yamaha ITA 11
Manufacturer Standings 06/06/2010
1. KTM 332
2. Suzuki 286
3. Yamaha 270
4. Honda 221
5. Kawasaki 208
6. TM 107
7. Aprilia 106
8. CCM 11
9. Husqvarna 4