Yet another GP triumph for Tony Cairoli
By TMX Archives on 2nd Aug 10
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Tony Cairoli had a magnificent day in the soft sands of Lommel, Belgium on Sunday to seal his 34th career GP victory with a very impressive two moto clean sweep in the MX1 GP.
Also back on top of his game was factory teammate Max Nagl of Germany,who put in some of his characteristic blitz starts out of the gate andfinished with a second and third for overall second place on thepodium.
Cairoli puts the KTM 350 SX-F through its paces in style
Cairoli of Italy, the reigning MX1 world champion has now well andtruly put the new KTM 350 SX-F through its paces winning no less that12 races so far this season on the superbly agile racing machine. Thetwo race wins this weekend in Lommel were his fourth and fifth motovictories in succession. Tony is now leading with 79 points clear ofBelgian Clement Desalle in the season's standings. While manycompetitors struggled with the deep and much pitted sand on the Lommeltrack, Cairoli flew over it with impressive ease and never lookedthreatened in either of the two motos. Obviously delighted with hisvictory after two difficult races, he leapt onto the podiumenthusiastically waving an Italian flag.
Tony Cairoli: "It was a nice race. I like to ride inthe sand and this is my favorite track. It's hard and rough and youhave to be really technical. You also have to be very fit to win here.It proves my training is going well and my speed is good, also that mytechnical riding is good so I am pretty satisfied about the weekend andboth wins here in Lommel.”
Good weekend heralds Max Nagl's comeback
It was a very good weekend for Nagl, who was able to rest and heala fractured collarbone during the mid season break in the race calendarand although he said he was very tired at the end of the second race,Max also sent a strong message to his rivals that he is well and trulyback in the hunt for a top place in the final season's rankings.
Max Nagl: "I'm very happy to be on the podium thisweekend and I never expected that. I had some problems yesterdaybecause I couldn't find my rhythm and I wasn't fast enough. Thingshaven't been going so well for me and I was having a few negativethoughts but last night I had a good talk with Stefan (Everts) andtoday everything was different. I got two holeshots and that was veryimportant for me. In the first heat I was able to follow Tony and Icould see I had the speed. Then I had a crash in the last lap of thesecond heat because that was because I was very tired.” Max is lookingforward to Loket in the Czech Republic next weekend and said he hopesto make up some more points on third placed David Philippaerts. "Istill have a chance of finishing third in the championships and I willtry to do it,” he said.
Rui Goncalves the factory team's Portuguese rider was able toadd 29 points onto his tally for the season and rounded off his daywith a sixth and a seventh place, which has been his best result so faras he works his way back to full fitness after shoulder surgery in theearly part of the year.
Rui Goncalves: "It's my best results for the year sofar so obviously I'm happy with that. I was able to focus on mytraining in the four week break and put in some hard work and that haspaid off. I wasn't happy with my starts and that made things a bitcomplicated in the first laps but I was out there fighting hard and Iput myself in a good position to be up front. Now I look forward toLoket and I will try to do the same there.”
Riders compete next weekend in the Czech Republic at Loket on a had pack track.
MX1 GP Results
1 Tony Cairoli, Italy, KTM 25-25—50
2. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM, 22-20—42
3. Clement Desalle, Belgium, Suzuki, 20-18—38
4. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha, 18-15—33
5. Tanel Leok, Estonia, Honda, 8-22—30
Other KTM
7. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM, 15-14—29
MX1 Championship Standings
1. Tony Cairoli, Italy, KTM, 484
2. Clement Desalle, Belgium, Suzuki, 405
3. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha, 364
4. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM, 348
Other KTM
14. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM 153