Toni Cairoli Blog
By TMX Archives on 18th May 10
Here is my latest update, from the past two GP's - Portugal and Spain.
In Portugal, we raced at Agueda
For Saturday's Qualification, it startedraining very heavy before our heat. I had a top three start, and then I was insecond position behind David Philippaerts.
Because of the rain the trackgot really risky and there was only one 'dry' line. To pass David I would haveto take a different line, ... so I didn't want to take any big risks, andfinished second, with David winning the qualification heat.
In the firstmoto on Sunday, it was the first time in my career that we had a 'false start' -the gate didn't function and everybody plowed right into the gate. So they hadto prepare the gate again, and 10 minutes later we did our second start for thefirst moto.
I get closed in, so I had a bad start. I was around 15thposition on the first lap. In the first few laps I struggled a bit findingplaces to pass, ... but then I found my rhythm and fought back to sixthposition, behind Boog and Philippaerts. I still had two laps to go when I closedthat gap, and was right at the back wheels of Boog and Philipaerts. But I didn'tfind the possibility to pass and so I finished sixth in the firstmoto.
For the second moto, I was really focused on my start, and yes - Ihad holeshot in the second moto! I was riding well and controlled my race, butbehind me there where some big fights going on. At the end of the race Desallemade a mistake and there was a moment there I was would be the GP winner. ButDesalle fought back and had enough points to win the GP. I won the second moto,and with that sixth I finished second overall, and Max third overall.
Thenext weekend, we raced in Spain, at the Bellpuig circuit.
In Saturday'sQualification heat, I grabbed the holeshot. The weather was terrible, it wasraining really hard and there was a lot of wind! I was leading the race when aback marker made a mistake in front of me and I couldn't find a way around him -and crashed. Because my hands where now full of mud, I made a second mistake. Myhand slipped of my handlebar and I crashed for a second time. I still finishedsecond in the qualification heat, but it was just by surviving.
For thefirst moto on Sunday, I didn't have a really good start. The track was reallydifficult to pass on, but I found my way around, Bobryshev, Boissiere, andPhilippaerts. I found some good lines, one where I was able to jump the step-upand this was the only way I could pass them. Then I was in second position,behind my team made Max Nagl. I was riding some good laps and was closing thegap to the first.
The track developed some big ruts, and I made a bigcrash! The electric start button was totally turned down, so I lost a lot oftime starting my bike again. I had also twisted my front wheel. I finally gotgoing again and was in sixth position. Pourcel passed me, but then he made a bigcrash right in front of me. I finished sixth in my first moto, but I was prettydisappointed about that, 'cause I didn't have to make that mistake.
Inthe second moto, I knew I had to make a good start, 'cause the start was evenmore important on a track like this. I started top 10. And Max took the holeshot. Nine of us riders were riding in a long train, and I was the last of thattrain. I felt that I was faster than the guys in front of me, but I couldn'tpass them. It was really frustrating.
After a few laps I finally find myway around Bobryshev. And I was starting to find my rhythm a little bit. Ipassed Ramon, Desalle and Philippaerts. Then I saw that Max made a mistake, andI could pass him. I would finish that race in third position.
It was astrange weekend - the track was fast, but there were not enough racing lines andpossibilities to make the difference with other riders. This was the firstweekend of this season that I wasn't on the podium, But I was still able to takethe red plate home as the points leader. It was not a good weekend for me ...but in this ‘bad' weekend I ‘only' lost two points on my team mate Max. I dideverything to make the best of this past weekend!
The next GP will be inthe USA. I hope all the flights will be OK, 'cause the last two weekends we'vehad problems flying back to Belgium on Monday. I'm looking forward to the raceat Glen Helen, and I'll get to see my USA team mate Mike Alessi.
Ciao fornow!
Tony
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