VILLA THRILLER!
By TMX Archives on 1st Apr 15
The superlatives rolled in as fast as the spectators in the forest clearing above the idyllic lakeside township of Villa La Angostura in the foothills of the Andes.
"Real motocross, lots of lines and racing,” was Max Nagl's opinion after he won his second GP in three rounds and there were plenty of incidents without serious injury in both classes, as Dylan Ferrandis scooped his maiden GP win while Jeffrey Herlings buried his ‘perfect season' hopes in freestyle fashion.
Max Anstie returned to racing with a first-moto third, Shaun Simpson suffered miserable luck but GP debutant Adam Sterry made his mark with eighth overall from two 11ths – after shaking the factory boys on Saturday with a qualification holeshot – and Nathan and Ben Watson each scored twice.
With free training to Ryan Villopoto, the timed session to Clement Desalle and qualification to Tony Cairoli, MXGP was anybody's race and this trio soon established themselves at the head of the field in the first points race with the Belgian leading from the Italian and the American trying desperately to close.
His efforts proved too desperate and his lap times slumped from 1:48 to 1:50 and beyond as he came face-to-face with the reality of rugged GP tracks, so different from the freeways he has raced in the States.
By lap seven Max Nagl had rebounded from a tortuous first lap to wrestle third from the American while Cairoli mounted his assault on the lead with two laps to go.
Halfway round the final lap it was still anybody's race until a mistake dumped the Italian on the deck. He got up without losing a place but the chance of victory had gone.
Simpson had run top three for a couple of laps after grabbing the holeshot prize but had a big moment in the rhythm section after holding off Villopoto for a lap-and-a-half.
"I got flustered and got out of shape so the Yamahas came past too,” he admitted. A lap later I fell on my own and just couldn't find my rhythm again.”
The Scot finished 14th, one place ahead of Nathan Watson, who opened his account after a frustrating Asian tour.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE TMX NEWS, APRIL 2 (ISSUE 1965)
