KTM close to MX1 and MX2 title success after Benelux MXGP

Monday 03 September: The Grand Prix of Benelux at Lierop with the MX1 and MX2 and the penultimate round of the UEM EMX250 championship. With two rounds to go (Italy and Germany) Antonio Cairoli has a 76 points lead in MX1 and Jeffrey Herlings a 65 point lead. Herlings was outstanding in the sand, lapping everyone except second place in the first race.

After one-year absence in the FIM Motocross World Championship calendar, all the Dutch fans did not want to miss the opportunity to see Jeffrey Herlings riding for the first time in Lierop, so up to 20000 spectators gathered together during the whole weekend and they could witness the incredible show of their home rider on the sand.

In the MX1 it was Antonio Cairoli who dominated both heats, while Ken De Dycker and Tanel Leok were with him on the podium.

The penultimate round of the UEM EMX250 Championship took place today in Lierop, where Mel Pocock dominated both heats. Stefan Olsen and Mike Kras finished second and third respectively.

MX1
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli obtained his sixth Grand Prix win in a row this season and his fifty-second overall victory of his career this weekend in a track where he has won two world titles. Although Cairoli went 1-1 today, he admitted that he made several mistakes in the beginning of both motos. In the first race he had some arm pump during the first laps, but he then started feeling better and he managed to made his way up to the top, whereas in the second one he made a mistake in the waves section and he had a big crash. Fortunately, the bike was not damaged and he had only twisted his thumb, so he was able to recover himself quickly and won the race comfortably.

Second overall was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Ken De Dycker after finishing third and second in today’s races. In the first heat the Belgian could not stay at the front, but he gave it all already in the first laps and he did a superb recovery from the initial seventh position. In the second lap De Dycker was already third, a position he managed to keep until the finish line. In the second moto De Dycker rode comfortably in the second place and he was very satisfied because he managed to stay on two wheels until the end.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki World’s Tanel Leok was third overall this weekend in Lierop and he was actually very satisfied because the last time he had been on the podium was back in 2010. The Estonian did an incredible recovery in the first race going from ninth to fourth and he did exactly the same in the second heat where he finally crossed the finish line third and completed the top three of the Dutch Grand Prix. Leok had been struggling with several injuries this season, which prevented him riding among the top riders, but his performance this weekend clearly shows that he is almost fully fit and ready to fight again for the top five places.

Honda World Motocross’ Evgeny Bobryshev obtained his best result of the season this weekend after finishing fourth overall. The Russian had a difficult qualifying race yesterday, but they worked hard on the settings of the bike and today the Russian felt much more comfortable. In the first race he made some mistakes in the beginning of the heat, but he then managed to keep his rhythm in the eighth position and in the last lap he overtook Simpson, and Bobryshev finished seventh. In the second moto things started much better for the Honda World Motocross rider and he could rode among the top five riders, crossing the finish line fourth.

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Shaun Simpson started fifth in the first moto, but he could not keep the rhythm and finished eighth. In the second race things were better for the British rider, and after starting fifth he managed to overtake Desalle and Bobryshev and moved up to third. Unfortunately, Simpson could not keep the speed and in the last four laps Leok and Bobryshev passed him back and the British ended fifth, which gave him the overall fifth position.

Runner up in the championship Clement Desalle had a difficult Grand Prix because he is still struggling with an injury on his hand, but he did his best to finish sixth overall. In the first race, Desalle did not have a good start but he was able to move up to fourth. However, the last laps were really hard for the Belgian and dropped down to sixth. In the second race his start was much better, and after riding third in the first laps of the race, he could not keep the rhythm and crossed the finish line seventh.

Gautier Paulin admitted that his first race this weekend was one of the best ones of the season, starting at the front and keeping a good rhythm to cross the finish line fifth. However, he also mentioned that his second heat was one of the worst ones so far, as he got stuck in a rut and it was very difficult for him to get back the good rhythm and he finished ninth. In the end, Paulin was seventh overall.

Belgian Kevin Strijbos was looking forward to the Dutch Grand Prix, but he could not fight for the podium and had to settle down with the eighth overall place after finishing 9-6 in today’s races.

Max Nagl had made a fantastic first race, taking the holeshot and finishing second behind Cairoli, but in the second race he crashed in the opening lap after he had taken again the holeshot. Nagl had to enter the pit-lane because the foot peg of his KTM was completely broken and he was not able to finish the race. The German finished ninth overall ahead of Rui Gonçalves.

Christophe Pourcel could not finish the first race because he could not stand the pain on his shoulder due to the small fracture they found out just before coming to Lierop. The French rider, who is now fourth in the point standings, could not take part in the second heat.

MX1 Race 1 top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 40:53.149; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:08.556; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:34.571; 4. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), +0:44.142; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:46.058; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:47.362; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:22.867; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:27.570; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +2:03.584; 10. Marcus Schiffer (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s);

MX1 Race 2 top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 41:45.714; 2. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:15.837; 3. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), +0:23.817; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:33.733; 5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:35.324; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +1:00.708; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +1:09.225; 8. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +1:11.132; 9. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:34.509; 10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Honda), +2:06.153;

MX1 Overall top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), 38 p.; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 32 p.; 5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 29 p.; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 29 p.; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 28 p.; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 27 p.; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 20 p.;

MX1 Championship top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 592 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 516 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 468 p.; 4. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 452 p.; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 446 p.; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 369 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 355 p.; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), 338 p.; 9. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 315 p.; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 271 p.;

MX1 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 642 points; 2. Kawasaki, 571 p.; 3. Suzuki, 539 p.; 4. Honda, 413 p.; 5. Yamaha, 393 p.; 6. TM, 58 p.;

MX2

Herlings holeshots

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings showed once again his outstanding talent riding on the sand and everybody in Lierop agreed that there had never seen a rider doing soo well on the sand. The 17 years old rider admitted that he was really impressed when he overlapped all the MX2 riders in the first race except Van Horebeek, so in the second heat he actually set himself the goal to overtake them all. In the second race Herlings could not achieve his objective, but he won the race with two minutes and four seconds advantage over his teammate Van Horebeek.

The second overall position was for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek, who had a really difficult weekend due to a cold he got during the week. Besides, the Belgian admitted that the effort he had made yesterday in the qualifying heat made him lose a lot of energy, but in the end he was able to go 2-2 and he was next to Herlings on the podium.

Honda Gariboldi-Esta’s Max Anstie obtained his maiden podium of the season this weekend after finishing third in both races. Before the Grand Prix started, Anstie was really confident with himself because he had been grown up in the Netherlands, so he knows well how to ride on the sand and in fact, he proved it in today’s races. The British rider did not start at the front in either of the races, but he was able to move up easily and keep the third place until the chequered flag.

Team Floride Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit’s Tommy Searle rode his best today, but he could only finish fourth overall. In the first race he started at the front, but he could not hold second position and had to settle down with the fourth place. In the second moto he started second, but once again the British rider struggled to keep the rhythm and crossed again the finish line fourth.

In the first race Monster Energy Yamaha’s Arnaud Tonus could not avoid Coldenhoff when he crashed in the opening lap and he got entangled with the Dutch rider. However, Tonus did an incredible recovery and he finished sixth. In the second heat things started much better for the Swiss rider and he rode third during the first laps, but he could not keep such position and ended fifth, which gave him the overall fifth place.

Jake Nicholls did a consistent first moto finishing fifth, but the British had a bad start in the second one and had to fight hard to end ninth and obtain a sixth overall position in front of his teammate Glen Coldenhoff, who was ninth and sixth in today’s races. Jordi Tixier was eighth overall and Zach Osborne and Alessandro Lupino completed the top ten.

MX2 Race 1 top ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 40:41.884; 2. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +2:07.139; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 4. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 5. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 7. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 8. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 10. Alexander Tonkov (RUS, Honda), -1 lap(s);

MX2 Race 2 top ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 39:32.414; 2. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +2:04.344; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), +2:07.174; 4. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +2:27.492; 5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 7. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 8. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 9. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 10. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s);

MX2 Overall top ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), 40 p.; 4. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 36 p.; 5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 31 p.; 6. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 27 p.; 9. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 27 p.; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Husqvarna), 20 p.;

MX2 Championship top ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 622 points; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 557 p.; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 519 p.; 4. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 387 p.; 5. Joel Roelants (BEL, Kawasaki), 367 p.; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 367 p.; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), 314 p.; 8. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), 272 p.; 9. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 263 p.; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Husqvarna), 241 p.;

MX2 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 665 points; 2. Kawasaki, 627 p.; 3. Yamaha, 415 p.; 4. Honda, 338 p.; 5. Suzuki, 270 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 248 p.; 7. TM, 21 p.;

UEM EMX250

The penultimate round of the UEM EMX250 Championship took place today in Lierop, where Mel Pocock dominated both heats. Stefan Olsen and Mike Kras finished second and third respectively. Monster Energy Yamaha’s Mel Pocock arrived in Lierop after having missed the podium in his home round in the UK, so he was willing to do well. The British rider won the first race yesterday and today he managed to take the holeshot and crossed the finish line eight seconds ahead second classified, Stefan Olsen. Pocock is now leading the point standings with 42 points advantage over Olsen, so everything is on his side to be proclaimed the 2012 champion in the last round in Faenza, Italy, next weekend.

Jtech Racing’s Stefan Olsen started really well yesterday on race one when he took the holeshot, but he could not keep the lead and he finally finished third. Today he started at the front but he lost several positions and he was down in fourth in the middle of the race. However, he gave all his best and he started recovering his rhythm and with two laps to go he was already chasing Kras for the second place. In the end, Kras crashed and Olsen ended second, which gave him the second overall position.

Suzuki Beursfoon’s Mike Kras did not have a good start yesterday, but he did a superb race and he went from fourth to second. Today things started much better for the Dutch rider, but in the last three laps he started having some mechanical problems when he was riding second. Having two laps to go, Kras crashed, but he succeeded in getting on his bike quickly and finished fourth. Finally, Kras completed the podium of the Dutch round.

Belgian rider Brent Van Doninck had the best race of the season this weekend by obtaining a fourth overall place and moving from tenth to eighth in the point standings of the championship. Doninck was fourth in race one yesterday and today he did a consistent heat and he crossed the finish line third. The Belgian finished fourth overall and he missed the podium for only two points.

It was also a great weekend for home rider Lars Van Berkel, who had only been able to score some points in the Latvian round. This weekend the Dutch felt much better riding on the sand and he already proved his skills yesterday when he finished fifth. Today Van Berkel did not have a good start, but he did a superb recovery and went from thirteenth to sixth, and he finished fifth of his home round.

Sixth overall was Dave Versluis from the Netherlands and his compatriot Donny Bastemeijer was seventh. Jesper Jönsson from Sweden was eighth and Belgian Damon Graulus and home rider Luca Nijenhuis completed the top ten.

Maxime Desprey, who won the British round two weeks ago, had a tough weekend in Lierop. On Saturday he crashed during race one and he could only finish nineteenth, whereas today he crashed in the first corner after the start and he was only able to cross the finish line in the twenty-fifth place. In the end, Desprey was 26th overall.

EMX250 Race 1 top ten: 1. Mel Pocock (GBR, Yamaha), 30:31.329; 2. Mike Kras (NED, Suzuki), +0:13.538; 3. Stefan Kjer Olsen (DEN, Yamaha), +0:14.343; 4. Brent Van Doninck (BEL, KTM), +0:42.671; 5. Lars Van Berkel (NED, Honda), +1:18.093; 6. Dave Versluis (NED, Kawasaki), +1:28.687; 7. Donny Bastemeijer (NED, Honda), +1:34.713; 8. Jesper Jönsson (SWE, Suzuki), +1:41.747; 9. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Yamaha), +1:46.748; 10. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, KTM), +1:56.178;

EMX250 Race 2 top ten: 1. Mel Pocock (GBR, Yamaha), 31:23.548; 2. Stefan Kjer Olsen (DEN, Yamaha), +0:08.557; 3. Brent Van Doninck (BEL, KTM), +0:14.611; 4. Mike Kras (NED, Suzuki), +0:46.911; 5. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:51.995; 6. Lars Van Berkel (NED, Honda), +1:00.303; 7. Damon Graulus (BEL, Suzuki), +1:02.405; 8. Magne Klingsheim (NOR, KTM), +1:29.186; 9. Dave Versluis (NED, Kawasaki), +1:30.392; 10. Donny Bastemeijer (NED, Honda), +1:42.830;

EMX250 Overall top ten: 1. Mel Pocock (GBR, Yamaha), 50 points; 2. Stefan Kjer Olsen (DEN, Yamaha), 42 p.; 3. Mike Kras (NED, Suzuki), 40 p.; 4. Brent Van Doninck (BEL, KTM), 38 p.; 5. Lars Van Berkel (NED, Honda), 31 p.; 6. Dave Versluis (NED, Kawasaki), 27 p.; 7. Donny Bastemeijer (NED, Honda), 25 p.; 8. Jesper Jönsson (SWE, Suzuki), 22 p.; 9. Damon Graulus (BEL, Suzuki), 21 p.; 10. Luca Nijenhuis (NED, Yamaha), 20 p.;

EMX250 Championship top ten: 1. Mel Pocock (GBR, Yamaha), 280 points; 2. Stefan Kjer Olsen (DEN, Yamaha), 238 p.; 3. Mike Kras (NED, Suzuki), 186 p.; 4. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Kawasaki), 157 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), 142 p.; 6. Alessandro Battig (ITA, Yamaha), 115 p.; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, KTM), 110 p.; 8. Brent Van Doninck (BEL, KTM), 105 p.; 9. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 102 p.; 10. Damon Graulus (BEL, Suzuki), 85 p.;

EMX250 Manufacturers: 1. Yamaha, 291 points; 2. Suzuki, 236 p.; 3. KTM, 201 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 199 p.; 5. Honda, 104 p.; 6. TM, 4 p.;

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