Toni Cairoli - My French Motocross Grand Prix 2010
By TMX Archives on 9th Jun 10
Hey friends, I just got back to Europe from the GP of the USA, and we were already on our way to the next MX GP of France. The traveling from the USA back to Europe went pretty well. Rui (Goncalves) and I decided to stay awake Sunday night after the GP of Glen Helen so we could go sleep at our normal 'European' time. But that wasn't easy :) Anyway, I didn't have much jet lag when I came home!
ThursdayI traveled with my motor home to the track in Saint Jean d'Angely - wearrived in the evening. Friday was an easy day for me, just hangingaround a bit in the paddock and enjoying the sun.
Saturday: Thequalification heat went really well, I came out of the gate in second.Josh Coppins had the lead, and I could pass him when he made a smallmistake. I ended up winning my second qualification heat of this season(the other was in Valkenswaard, Holland).
Saturday night itrained a lot. And it made the track pretty muddy. And AGAIN the trackwould have just one good line, so it would not be easy to pass duringthe racing for sure.
Sunday: In the first moto I took theimportant hole shot. Steve Ramon was in back of me and had some greatlines! He passed me, but I could pass him back and could hold the leadand win the first moto!
In the second moto, I had a bad badstart : ( ... but had the best three corners starting with the firstone!! I passed a lot of riders in the corner up the hill ... andmanaged get up to fifth position by the end of the first lap!! I passedDavide Guarneri, and Anthony Boissiere was pushing in back of me! Itwas not that easy to find my rhythm, and Anthony was faster so hepassed me. After a few laps though, I could pass him back!
Inonly two more laps I closed the gap on Clement Desalle, but it was noteasy to pass him. I knew I had to pass him to win the GP, but it wasrisky, and Clement ended up finishing second behind moto winner DavidPhilippaerts, while I was third.
David won the GP with samepoints as me! (We both had a first and a third for 45 points.) It'snever nice to 'lose' a GP win to someone with the same points, but atleast it was an Italian on the highest step of the podium! GRANDE!
So,to recap the MX GP of France: Great crowd, two Italians on the podium,and two totally different weather conditions in two days!
Ciaooo!
Tony Cairoli 222
p.s. For my friend and team-mate #2 Max Nagl - Get well soon MAX!!!