Philippaerts and Coppins continue victory run
By TMX Archives on 25th Feb 08
Yamaha Motocross Team riders again picked up more silverware in the 2008 pre-season period with David Philippaerts winning both motos at a bright Castiglione Del Lago for the second round of the Italian championship while Josh Coppins swept all three races at the Valence International meeting in southern France; beating a host of world championship peers including 2007 number one Steve Ramon.
The New Zealander won the popular French event for the second year in successionand took holeshots in two of the three motos, enjoying small battles withSebastien Pourcel, Julian Bill and Ramon across the race programme to mark hisperfect score-card. It was the second time that the 30 year old (31 next month)walked the top step of the rostrum after his proficiency last Sunday atMontevarchi in Italy and in spite of discomfort in his left shoulder than heaggravated at Mantova.
It was an enjoyable race because the weather was good for once and the trackoffered near Grand Prix conditions which meant that I could really go for it,said the YZ450FM rider. I cannot complain with the build-up I've had. We havebeen using the race-bike for three weeks now and I am coming to grips with it.My shoulder is not 100% and I will go for a scan tomorrow. It has become bettersince Mantova but gave me some trouble on the long and rough down-hills atValence. I will find out this week what I have to do, whether it be physio orrest, and there is plenty of time before the first Grand Prix to get back tonormal. I am in great shape, so my confidence is good.
Further south Philippaerts was busy stamping his authority over the MX1 class ofthe Italian Championship and, like Coppins, proved the YZ450FM's prowess fromthe start-line by hole-shotting both motos. Yamaha Red Bull De Carli ace AntonioCairoli took positions of 7th and 4th in the two heats and pushed Philippaertsin the first sprint until a mistake saw him crash and lose places. 24 year oldPhilippaerts was able to forge ahead of Alex Salvini in the second affair.
I could not be happier with how things are going, said the Italian, who alsopicked up overall victory with his Yamaha debut at the Mantova International twoweeks ago. I took two holeshots, that made things easier, but Tony was chasingme and I had to ride well to keep ahead. I pushed hard for a few laps and madethe break. We used the same set-up as Montevarchi and the Yamaha is reallyworking well for me.
I was doing well and holding onto the back of leader Philippaerts until Icaught the wrong rut on a jump and crashed, commented MX2-GP World ChampionCairoli. It was a freak thing because I was not taking any risks. I suffered abit from this in the second moto because I felt tired. Overall at this stage ofmy preparation for the season I am not yet ready to push 100% but my sensationwith the 450 is improving.
The MX2 class was once more an all-Yamaha story as 3C Racing's Manuel Monniclaimed the chequered flag in the first moto and Yamaha Team Ricci's DavideGuarneri guided his YZ250F to victory in the second outing. Red Bull De Carli'sMatteo Bonini was also well-placed with second and fourth positions whilehighly-rated teenager Alessandro Lupino secured a brace of top six finishes withfifth and sixth places. A close championship tussle looks most certainly on thecards as Monni heads the standings by just five points from Guarneri and ninepoints from Bonini.
The next round of the Italian series will take place in two weeks at Ponte aEgola, while the Yamaha Motocross Team will travel to the UK for the last majorInternational meeting of the pre-season period at the sandy Hawkstone Park nextSunday.
We will head to Belgium this week, said Team Co-ordinator Mino Raspanti as wehave a sandy race for both riders at Hawkstone Park so we will use Tuesday andWednesday to test some suspension ahead of that meeting.