Mad Mex
By Alex Hodgkinson on 18th May 12
Toni Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings extended their lead in the MX1 and MX2 world series respectively, with storming victories in searing heat at Guadalajara, Mexico, on a black day for the Brits.
Tommy Searle homed in on second in the MX2 points with a brace of runner-up spots, while Jake Nicholls and Max Anstie rounded out the top eight.
But a dislocated shoulder for Shaun Simpson, a damaged foot for Nez Parker and two dislocated knuckles for Michael Leib have put all three out of the next round in Brazil.
The rugged track was in perfect condition on Sunday afternoon to silence the riders who had refused to race Qualification the previous day – and there was an uproar as MX2 lined up, with not a single one of the eight Mexicans taking gate three next to Leib and Anstie.
Gate five also remained inexplicably free, to hand Herlings and Searle inside gates – despite their boycott the previous day.
But neither of the title rivals could take advantage of the gift, indeed Herlings' 2011 factory motor was again out-dragged by team-mate Jeremy Van Horebeek on the 2012 model.
The Dutch teenager needed five laps to find a way round the Belgian, but on the same lap he found a gap they both dropped Searle. The Dutch teenager was glad of the cushion: "I got filled in on the first lap when Teillet went through a puddle, so I ran out of tear-offs by the end and was struggling to see the track well,” he said.
A furious Searle said: "We were already on the lappers. They got a better run through them and I lost a couple of seconds in a single lap.
"They ought to have some sort of control over the locals in the GPs. I mean, FOUR laps!
"They don't let any kid with a 1000cc road bike race MotoGP.”Tommy Searle homed in on second in the MX2 points with a brace of runner-up spots, while Jake Nicholls and Max Anstie rounded out the top eight.
But a dislocated shoulder for Shaun Simpson, a damaged foot for Nez Parker and two dislocated knuckles for Michael Leib have put all three out of the next round in Brazil.
The rugged track was in perfect condition on Sunday afternoon to silence the riders who had refused to race Qualification the previous day – and there was an uproar as MX2 lined up, with not a single one of the eight Mexicans taking gate three next to Leib and Anstie.
Gate five also remained inexplicably free, to hand Herlings and Searle inside gates – despite their boycott the previous day.
But neither of the title rivals could take advantage of the gift, indeed Herlings' 2011 factory motor was again out-dragged by team-mate Jeremy Van Horebeek on the 2012 model.
The Dutch teenager needed five laps to find a way round the Belgian, but on the same lap he found a gap they both dropped Searle. The Dutch teenager was glad of the cushion: "I got filled in on the first lap when Teillet went through a puddle, so I ran out of tear-offs by the end and was struggling to see the track well,” he said.
A furious Searle said: "We were already on the lappers. They got a better run through them and I lost a couple of seconds in a single lap.
"They ought to have some sort of control over the locals in the GPs. I mean, FOUR laps!
"They don't let any kid with a 1000cc road bike race MotoGP.”
