Race report from Sevlievo's Gorna Rositza Circuit

Copy and photos courtesy of Youthstream.

MX1

Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1’s Clement Desalle got the first Grand Prix victory of the season, the sixth in his career. The Belgian was second in the first heat, even having an unfortunate crash during the last lap when he was trying to find some new lines. On the second race, Desalle took the holeshot and led the race until Steve Frossard and later on Jonathan Barragán overtook him. However, the Belgian rider managed to place himself at the front of the pack and kept such position until the chequered flag.

Motocross Energy Yamaha rider Steven Frossard had an excellent weekend in Sevlievo, which was his first Grand Prix in the MX1 class. After winning yesterday’s Qualifying race, Frossard did an excellent start in the first race and dominated it from beginning to end. The second start was not that good, but Frossard’s managed to be second right after the opening lap. By the end of the heat, the French rider made some mistakes and he had to settle down with a second overall position being tight in points with Desalle.

Third was Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Barragán, who was back on the podium after a long absence due to the several injuries he suffered last year. The Spanish rider could only finish sixth in the first race, but in the second one he got quite a good start and his solid riding took him into the lead. However, Desalle and Frossard came back really fast from behind and Barragán decided to ride safe in order not to risk the third overall position.

The fourth position was for Red Bull Teka KTM Factory Racing MX1’s Max Nagl, who got a consistent third place in the first heat, but he could only finish sixth in the second one. The German rider expressed his satisfaction for this fourth overall position, but he also admitted that he needs some more time to get used to his new 350cc and improve also his fitness.

Completing the top five was Honda World Motocross’ Rui Gonçalves, who could only be eighth in the first race, as he was involved in a tangle when he was catching Cairoli’s wheel. In the second race, he was second in the opening lap, but he could not keep the rhythm of his pursuers and finished fifth.

Other Honda World Motocross rider, Evgeny Bobryshev finished sixth, ahead of Kevin Strijbos, who received the Lovemytime holeshot award, as he took the holeshot in the first MX1 heat.

Davide Guarneri finished eighth overall in a Grand Prix where the Italian could prove his speed achieving a well deserved fifth position. For the second race, the Italian had lost too much energies and he could just finish eleventh.

2010 MX1 World Champion Antonio Cairoli could just finish ninth overall. The Italian had already admitted on Saturday that he was not fully fit yet, but on top of that, Cairoli made a mistake in the first heat when landing from a jump and he twisted his left knee. In the end, the Italian ended seventh, but in the second heat he could just be tenth.

David Philippaerts did a very good first race going from eleventh to a final fourth position. However, the Italian was involved in a tangle at the first corner of the second race and he could only finish 14th.
Ken De Dycker crashed in both heats and was just 19th overall.

MX1 Race 1 top ten: 1. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 38:47.398; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:08.044; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:19.535; 4. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:23.876; 5. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:42.423; 6. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:44.452; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:48.293; 8. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:49.798; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:55.906; 10. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +1:04.730;

MX1 Race 2 top ten: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 39:21.139; 2. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), +0:01.222; 3. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:13.352; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:19.955; 5. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:22.354; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:23.603; 7. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:26.653; 8. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:30.906; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +0:33.340; 10. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:33.861;

MX1 Overall top ten: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 47 points; 2. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 47 p.; 3. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), 35 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 35 p.; 5. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 29 p.; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 27 p.; 7. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), 26 p.; 8. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), 26 p.; 9. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 25 p.; 10. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 25 p.;

MX1 Championship top ten: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 47 points; 2. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 47 p.; 3. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), 35 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 35 p.; 5. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 29 p.; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 27 p.; 7. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), 26 p.; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), 26 p.; 9. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 25 p.; 10. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 25 p.;

MX1 Manufacturers: 1. Suzuki, 47 points; 2. Yamaha, 47 p.; 3. Kawasaki, 36 p.; 4. KTM, 35 p.; 5. Honda, 31 p.; 6. TM, 12 p.;

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MX2

Runner-up of the 2010 MX2 World Championship, Ken Roczen, had a perfect weekend in Sevlievo. The German young talent took easily both holeshots and ruled the heats from beginning to end. Roczen showed a great superiority this weekend, but he will have to prove it as well next Grand Prix in the deep roots of Valkenswaard.

Second overall was Tommy Searle from CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit, who was very satisfied with his performance in his comeback to the FIM Motocross World Championship. The Brit felt really comfortable on his Kawasaki machine and he expects to close the gap with Roczen in the upcoming GP’s.

Red Bull Teka KTM Factory Racing MX2’s Jeffrey Herlings had very good starts in both motos but he could not keep the second position and had to settle down with a third place. The next Grand Prix is in his home track of Valkenswaard, where the Dutch young rider obtained his maiden Grand Prix victory.

Monster Energy Yamaha’s Gautier Paulin was third in the first heat, but he did not have a good start in the second one and he could only finish seventh. The French missed the podium by two points from third classified, Jeffrey Herlings.

Completing the top five was Zack Osborne from Bike-it Cosworth Wild Wolf Yamaha, who rode among the first top five position on both heats, but did not have the speed to improve his position and climbed up in the standings.

Jeremy Van Horebeek and Arnaud Tonus finished sixth and seventh respectively, both tied in 31 points, and Max Anstie ended in a solid eight position in his debut in the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Nicolas Aubin was ninth and completing the top ten was Belgian rider Joel Roelants.

MX2 Race 1 top ten: 1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 39:24.881; ; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:14.667; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:19.972; 4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:21.255; 5. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:25.587; 6. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:39.301; 7. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +1:01.188; 8. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:07.192; 9. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), +1:12.012; 10. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +1:13.374;

MX2 Race 2 top ten: 1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 39:35.555; ; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:21.468; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:30.621; 4. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:35.375; 5. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:38.982; 6. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:43.344; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:55.018; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:58.330; 9. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), +0:59.768; 10. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), +1:41.625;

MX2 Overall top ten: 1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 50 points; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 44 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 36 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 34 p.; 5. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 32 p.; 6. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 31 p.; 8. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 28 p.; 9. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), 24 p.; 10. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 19 p.;

MX2 Championship top ten: 1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 50 points; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 44 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 36 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 34 p.; 5. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 32 p.; 6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 31 p.; 7. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 31 p.; 8. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 28 p.; 9. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), 24 p.; 10. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 19 p.;

MX2 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 50 points; 2. Kawasaki, 44 p.; 3. Yamaha, 38 p.; 4. Honda, 15 p.; 5. Husqvarna, 11 p.;




MX2 podium - left to right:  Tommy Searle, Ken Roczen and Jeffrey Herlings.