Philippaerts & Searle ripe for season's MX podiums
By TMX Archives on 16th Aug 07
As the MX1 and MX2 World Championships go into their final stages, KTM Red Bull factory riders David Philippaerts and Tommy Searle are both well placed to round off the season among the top three in each of their classes.
Races this weekend are in Northern Ireland and the following weekend atDonington Park in the UK. The final race is the Grand Prix of the Netherlands inLierup. The Motocross of Nations will then be held in Budds Creek, USA at theend of September.
KTM's Italian MX1 rider Philippaerts is in fourthplace in the standings but his chances of moving up the ranks have been improvedwith the absence of standings leader Josh Coppins. The New Zealander broke ashoulder blade racing in the Czech Republic, missed the next GP in Belgium andit is reported that he will also sit out the race this weekend in Moneyglass,Northern Ireland.
Ahead of Philippaerts are Steve Ramon and SebastienPourcel, who has a slim lead of 11 points over Philippaerts.
David'sSpanish MX1 teammate Jonathan Barragan is lying eighth in the standings but withsix races to go, he has an excellent chance of picking up more points. Thisweekend however he will be favoring an injured left hand, lacerated in a spilllast weekend in the Stefan Everts and Friends Charity Race in Belgium. "I havefive stitches in it and it's quite painful," he said. "But I am saving all mystrength for the weekend and am hoping to pick up as many points as possible."
But it will be in the last three races that young British teenagerTommy Searle will feel most at home. Searle has rocketed his way into thirdplace in the MX2 standings and has been an outstandingly consistent performer inthe second half of the season. "I am really pumped for this weekend," he said."It's a new track for us all and I don't know how I will go, but I am hoping fora lot of support from the fans," he said. The next two rounds are "home" racesfor the British teenager and he will definitely have the crowd on his side.Searle has a deficit of 49 points on second placed Christophe Pourcel but withthe kind of racing he has been delivering of late, that is well within hisgrasp.
KTM's Tyla Rattray's chances of completing the season on boardhis KTM 250 SX-F machine disappeared after a crash in the Czech Republic forcedreconstructive surgery on his knee. The popular and resilient South African isalready making a speedy recovery and is in good spirits. "The knee is healingquickly and I already have significant movement in it," he said. "I will be ableto start cycling in about five days and shortly after, I'll be able to walkwithout any crutches." Tyla has promised to be present at Lierup for the finalraces of the season to support his KTM Red Bull teammates in the final push forpodiums.
In the next two races, all riders will be facing newterritory. The Moneyglass Demesne circuit in Northern Ireland offers 1690 metersof challenging riding and will favor those who like a soft surface. Spectatorswill also enjoy some spectacular jump action, and as the area is a naturalamphitheater the venue offers an excellent perspective of the circuit.
The following weekend will see action in the heartland of British motorsports when the British Motocross Grand Prix will be held at Donington Park.Some 50,000 tons of soil have been transferred to the infield area of the famousF1 Grand Prix circuit to be shaped into a challenging MX course.