Toni Cairoli MXGP Kegums - Latvia
By TMX Archives on 15th Jul 10
After the GP of Germany I traveled straight to Latvia. The week before this GP I went and trained with my friend Ivo Steinbergs, on a really nice track not far from the GP track in Kegums.
Saturday at the circuit in Kegums, the free practice and qualification practice went really well, and I had some good lap times. I made a pretty good start in my qualification heat - I was in fourth position after David Philippaerts. Three laps before the end of the heat we both passed Evgeny Bobryshev, and after a lap I was able pass David. After that I closed the gap to leader Clement Desalle, but the race was too short to pass him on the last lap.
They changed the track a bit from last year, and that made for less good places to pass, but it was still a nice track, and I was happy with my riding in the qualification race!
On Sunday for the GP, in the first moto start I got closed in by Philippaerts right away, so I had to brake hard ... but was still able to take the extreme inside of the first corner, so my start wasn't so bad ... I was six positions behind David. After I got to him, I tried everything possible to pass him. I was changing lines, while he was cutting mine. I had to fight hard just to try and find a way to pass him in a clean way. We both passed Jimmy Albertson on lap 7.
Finally after 10 long laps I found my way around David, and was in 4th position. I couldn't close the gap to the third place before the end of the race, which was my own fault 'cause I spent too much energy trying to pass David! So I finished 4th behind Desalle, who won the race, then Bobryshev and Ramon.
In the second heat I had a top five start, and my plan was to push for some good first laps. And don't wait or be too careful with passing. I wanted to get going right away!
I was able to do my plan and I passed Clement on the third lap and took over the lead! Latvia is one of my favorite tracks and after my 4th place in the first moto I wanted to show that I could win! I pulled a pretty good gap of almost 20 seconds on Clement Desalle. I won the second heat ... but my moto win wasn't enough to take the overall victory. For that I was a bit disappointed 'cause I know I lost the GP win in the first heat with my fight with David Philippaerts. Anyway I was happy with my second overall podium and I did another good race for the Championship!
Next week I will go to Tanel Leok's home for the 'Leok Race' in Estonia. And after that is the GP of Sweden! A beautiful country with beautiful people! ;)
OK, now ...
MXGP Sweden - Udevalla
After the GP of Latvia I went to Estonia for the 'Leok Race' on Tuesday. Monday we arrived in Estonia at Tanel Leok's house and we went with everybody for a nice canoe trip in the fantastic landscape.
Last year it was my first time I went to Estonia for this race. It's a race on the Leok family private track and it is always a big event in the village where they live, with a lot of fans! The race is two heats and a Super final. The overall from the 2 heats of MX1 was won by 'Bobby' Bobryshev and I won the Super final! The day after we took the boat .... and then headed off to the next GP in Sweden!
Saturday at the Uddevalla circuit: Practice went really well. Then in the qualification heat I started around seventh position ... and I ended up finishing in fifth.
Sunday for the GP: In moto 1 I had one of my first hole shots of the year. I could pull a little gap, and won the first moto ahead of Clement Desalle and David Philippaerts.
In moto two I had another hole shot, and Clement was second behind me. The first few laps I had a bit of arm pump, and Desalle was able to pass me. Now I was second behind Clement.
After a while I closed the gap up to him and took back the lead ... and went on to win the moto ... and my second double heat victory of this season!
I was happy with my riding and my really great starts this past weekend in Sweden. Not like my GP of Latvia - where I was too busy thinking about the championship standings and that is why I didn't ride like wanna' ride - I wanna' try to win the title by winning GP's! (Not by only by defending my points lead in the championship.)
Now, I get to go home to Sicily for a few day's of rest and spend time with my family. After that I will go to the KTM event on July 25th in Rome. And the time in between I will be in Lommel, Belgium to train there in the lovely, heavy sand to prepare myself for the next GP!!!
See you in a few weeks at the next GP in Belgium!
Ciao everybody!
Tony 222