Podium for Searle second overall in MX2
By TMX Archives on 2nd Sep 07
Talented British teenager tackled the unfamiliar sandy course in Lierop, Netherlands to come home third in the season's final Grand Prix to finish second overall in the 2007 MX2 World Championship.
The performance of the teenager lifted the spirits of the KTM Red Bull RacingTeam and rounded off the MX2 season satisfactorily. Although unaccustomed toriding on sand, Searle took the holeshot in the first race but was unable tosustain his rhythm and finished fourth. He was up with the top three for most ofthe second race but lost time in a light crash and was eventually seventh acrossthe line. His combined score was still enough for him to take another podium atthe close of the season.
Tommy said he planned to train hard on sand in preparation for next seasonbecause he wanted to be consistently good on all surfaces. Certainly an emergingtalent in the 2007 season, he should be able to challenge the dominance of thetop MX2 riders in the coming season, according to team boss Stefan Everts."Tommy has matured this season. He won a Grand Prix and that was good for hisconfidence. Next year we expect him to be able to challenge (Antonio) Cairoliand to win a lot more GPs."
The 18-year old was left to carry the flag for the Austrian manufacturerafter teammate Tyla Rattray had to forego the final races f the season in lieuof reconstructive knee surgery. Tyla is well on the road to recovery and willreturn to be a major player for the KTM Red Bull Racing Team in the quest forthe MX2 title next season. Despite missing the final four GPs, the South Africanrider still accrued enough points to finish fourth overall for 2007. Betweenthem, Rattray and Searle stood on the podium 26 times in the season, a resultthat was also praised by KTM Offroad Director Pit Beirer.
"Today is the end of a new era for the team and we have created a very solidbasis to go on to bigger success in 2008. Having such an experienced person likeStefan Everts in charge of the team was very special. He was highly professionaland a very good leader," Beirer said. "The success we have enjoyed is the resultof the consolidated work of the entire team and I want to thank them for that."
Results
1. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, Yamaha
2. Gareth Swanepoel, South Africa, Kawasaki
3. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM
4. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM
5. Nicolas Aubin, France, Yamaha
2008 Season's Standings
1. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, Yamaha, 660 points
2. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM, 510
3. Christophe Pourcel, France, 436
4. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM, 371
5. Gareth Swanepoel, South Africa, Kawasaki, 364
