by Adam Wheeler
Racer X Race Report: Grand Prix of Czech Republic
Monday, August 8, 2011 | 8:55 AM
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The FIM Motocross World Championship heads into a brief summer break with both MX1 and MX2 categories on the brink of drawing to a conclusion after the twelfth round of fifteen was played out under the grey skies of Loket for the Casino Bonver Grand Prix of Czech Republic. Rockstar Suzuki’s Clement Desalle put six rounds of shoulder injury frustration behind him to master the slippery terrain and go 2-1 for his fourth win of the year; levelling with defending number one Red Bull Teka KTM’s Tony Cairoli who he is also chasing in the points and trails by 48 with a maximum of 150 left up for grabs. The title contest is a little less clear cut in MX2. Red Bull Teka KTM’s Ken Roczen reached double figures in terms of podium results with his seventh victory of 2011 and sixth double but could only just beat team-mate Jeffrey Herlings (the seventh occasion that the pair have been 1-2 overall in any order) and claim a minimal points extension. The difference is now 27 with CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy Pro Circuit’s Tommy Searle – who snared his sixth podium finish of the campaign at Loket – out of the picture in third place in the standings, 105 points in arrears of Roczen.
Desalle took home the title in the Czech Republic.
Photo: Ray Archer
The track at Loket seems to be as old as the hill on which it is sprawled. The nature of the twisting layout means that there might have been some different line options but the difficulty in overtaking was a major gripe for many. That said, the rain on Sunday morning helped ripple the course and forge the occasional deep rut. “When you move to the left and right of this main line it [the bike] goes out of shape and with no grip,” explained Honda World Motocross team’s Rui Goncalves who scaled the MX1 podium for the first time in his career and on a 450 after frustrating maiden term on the 350SX-F in 2010. “This is a part of the championship, and it’s nice to come here. Maybe they can do something [with the track] but the soil is very special and difficult.”
Cairoli finished second overall, but still maintains the points lead.
Photo: Ray Archer
Starts were everything, and this was part of the reason why Roczen and Herlings were able to breakaway in both MX2 motos and Cairoli managed to escape in the first MX1 race. Herlings closed the gap in the second sprint after Roczen’s lap-times wavered. This was apparently due to sweat dripping into his goggles after both the German (who enjoyed a buoyant support from the fans thanks to the circuit’s location on the Czech border) and his father forgot to pad his Fox helmet with ladies panty-liners. Behind the KTM duo two entertaining races for third between numerous riders saw the last podium slot change hands a few times in the second moto with Suzuki Europe MX2’s Valentin Teillet shining on a track he enjoys and on his twenty-first birthday, Bike it Cosworth Wild Wolf Yamaha’s Arnaud Tonus and CLS’ Max Anstie all holding the prize until Searle bustled his way through with an aggressive smash-and-dice through the ruts. Monster Energy Yamaha’s Gautier Paulin was also rapid (kudos also to HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK’s Jake Nicholls who equalled a career-best moto finish) but a first moto engine failure ruined his overall ranking.
Cairoli broke free at the first time of asking in MX1 from Desalle who had to grit his teeth in a race-long plight to overtake Goncalves for second place, which he managed three laps before the flag. However the Sicilian started badly and landed on top of Monster Energy Yamaha’s Steven Frossard causing the latter to crash in the second moto. ‘222’ was then fighting back and like Desalle earlier in the day was anxious trying to find places to demote Christophe Pourcel and team-mate Max Nagl to move into podium contention. Frossard himself was able remount (Shaun Simpson: “I saw Frossard’s crash first hand. Holy shit! He was lucky to walk away from that one”) and his eighth place overall was less painful after Honda World Motocross team’s Evgeny Bobryshev – who was chasing the Frenchman in the standings - DNF-ed the second race after a first corner fall and two engine stalls trying to regain ground. It was not a good weekend for the Russian but at least he was in action. MX1 missed the presence of Steve Ramon (spinal injury at Lommel last week and expected to be out for the better part of at least three months) and David Philippaerts. The Italian wrecked the hopes of the Nations team with his training crash mid-week that led to a set of broken wrists, one of which was still in traction and not due to be operated until almost a week after the accident. Former factory Suzuki rider Kevin Strijbos filled in for Ramon and performed reasonably well (sixth overall) at the track where he gave the RM-Z450 its first major race victory in 2005.
Herlings finished second overall behind Roczen.
Photo: Ray Archer
Pourcel returned to the Grand Prix paddock with the CLS Pro Circuit Kawasaki and with half the amount of fuss that greeted his initiation and doomed attempt at Germany last month. This time he was able to complete the motos and his second race revealed shades of the old FIM and AMA champion as he kept the works 350SX-Fs at bay for a substantial duration. “I was racing with Cairoli and Nagl, and it was great to see that I had the same rhythm and I was happy with the bike, especially the suspension,” the Frenchman, who missed out on a late and possibly controversial inclusion on the Nations team (Frossard, Paulin and Marvin Musquin selected) said. “I was strong during both motos; now we have to work on the start as I saw this weekend how competitive and consistent the MX1 riders are.”
A decent amount of anticipation is fixed to round thirteen with the British Grand Prix returning to the site of the ’06 Motocross of Nations, Matterley Basin, in two weeks time. The ‘bowl’ setting is unique on the GP schedule and with the reputation the Brits have for a noisy and atmosphere event it should be one of the best of the season…if the English rain stays away that is…
Pourcel made his return at Loket and finished ninth overall.
Photo: Ray Archer
MX1 Moto1
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 40:32.283; ;
2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:05.506;
3. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:06.272;
4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:07.172;
5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), +0:08.098;
6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:11.839;
7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:13.689;
8. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:30.589;
9. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:35.142;
10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Honda), +0:56.943;
MX1 Moto2
1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 40:06.261; ;
2. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +0:03.847;
3. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:05.500;
4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:07.409;
5. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:08.391;
6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:10.341;
7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:19.581;
8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:21.471;
9. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), +0:48.590;
10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:54.398;
MX1 Overall result
1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 47 points;
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 43 p.;
3. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 40 p.;
4. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), 31 p.;
5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 29 p.;
6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), 28 p.;
7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 27 p.;
8. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 25 p.;
9. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 24 p.;
10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), 21 p.;
MX1 World Championship standings after 12 of 15 rounds
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 509 points;
2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 461 p.;
3. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 428 p.;
4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 387 p.;
5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 378 p.;
6. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 349 p.;
7. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 308 p.;
8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), 268 p.;
9. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 262 p.;
10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), 254 p.;
MX2 Moto1
1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 39:40.474; ;
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:10.443;
3. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), +0:38.509;
4. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:41.139;
5. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +0:41.996;
6. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:42.381;
7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:44.094;
8. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Suzuki), +0:48.268;
9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:51.496;
10. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:31.482;
MX2 Moto2
1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 40:00.102; ;
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:01.227;
3. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:35.893;
4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:42.843;
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:44.495;
6. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:46.132;
7. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Suzuki), +1:04.377;
8. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +1:10.637;
9. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +1:25.258;
10. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +1:33.758;
MX2 Overall result
1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 50 points;
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 44 p.;
3. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 35 p.;
4. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 33 p.;
5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 30 p.;
6. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Suzuki), 27 p.;
7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 26 p.;
8. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 26 p.;
9. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), 20 p.;
10. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 19 p.;
MX2 World Championship standings after 12 of 15 rounds
1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 540 points;
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 513 p.;
3. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 435 p.;
4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 389 p.;
5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 325 p.;
6. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 318 p.;
7. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 295 p.;
8. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 268 p.;
9. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), 227 p.;
10. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 206 p.;
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Looks like Pourcels return to the grand prix is going to be about as effective as Jason Lawrence's attempt at the AMA 450 nationals a few years ago...
Running 3rd most of the race and eventually getting 5th is a good result for most mortals. I see him definately being top 3 for the rest of the season if not winning some races. It is in no way fair to compare CP to JL. CP is just smart and isn't going to go re-paralize (notice the re-) himself to impress some impatient Americans. He knows what it will take for him to get his form back and he's doing it. Mark my words he will be back in America winning supercross races by next year.
Up until this race, that might have been a valid statement. But I'd bet good money that he will win a moto before the season is out. If he can race a PC KX450 in supercross next year, he will be a major factor for the championship.
What a pity Desalle hurt himself this season. He looked unbeatable until his injury, and Ciaroli is a bit fortunate to be leading this championship. That said however, who knows what Tony would have produced from his bag of tricks had he been forced to dig deeper.
CP had the sort of day those of us who know him expected. His first race was steady, while his second was really good. I spoke to him on Saturday and he told me his fitness was still way off from where he wants it to be, but that he´s getting there slowly. IMO he will win a moto before the end of the season.
Sorry, forgot to mention the MX2. Roczen and Herlings are supernatural. No one else is in the race and they totally declassed the rest. Roczen is a bit quicker right now, but long term I like Herlings better. He´s a more stylish and polished rider, only not as consistant and experienced as Roczen.
I think Pourcel is realizing how physically taxing a 450 can be. Maybe he didnt realize how good of condition he was in before his terrible crash. He is slowly but surely getting into shape. And it would be good to see him in AMA supercross again. @GPFAN, I agree about Desalle, I would love to see were the standing would be if he hadnt gotten injured.
Oh damn cant wait for mxon :) Too bad there wont be a big challenge for the US -.- most of the countries just have 2 really good riders... But the individual classes are gonna be awesome!
Villo vs Cairoli, Desalle, Bobry, Concalves, Reed, ....
Baggett vs Roczen, Herlings, Searle, Wilson, ....
wohoooo :D
K : Pourcel was never in 3rd position in the 2nd moto, I don't know what race you saw. He started well, around 6th, then he ran most of the race in 7th-8th and he could not pass anyone. Boog crashed, Cairoli passed him but then he lost the position (not seen on tv), he passed CP again with ease and CP woke up, since when he sees TC his blood boils. He got lucky with Nagl who has a serious back problem, he needs a complicated surgery. For everybody who doesn't know: Cairoli injured his knee in Bulgaria, first round, and the doctor told him to stop any activity for 2 months. He didn't practice at all, he just raced, then he injured his thumb. I am sorry for Desalle, but he didn't capitalize when he was supposed to, too many crashes and mistakes for him. I am the first who says that Desalle was faster than Cairoli till half the championship, but don't forget that Cairoli was one point behind Desalle before Desalle got injured, he was already on him, he had gained lots of points. I hope everybody here reads this post very well. The championship is not over anyway, there is still a lot to come. NIce to see Roczen punch Petrov on his shoulder at the end of moto1.
K, you are certainly a European and probably a french and you already know that the french mx fans are the first to criticize CP (go into French websites to see that), then, stop to be hypocrite and try again and again to accuse Americans of your own default, and like all of you euro hypocrites you are the first to lick US riders @$$ when then comes to europe for the MXoN, K, you are just another JEHL!!! (Jealous European Hypocrite and Liar), sorry for my bad English
@jean-joseph
What was that?!?!
btw give Pourcel also some credit... omg he forgot his chest protector in tthal and retired, whatever he did then in the second moto to retire again, dunno, but this weekend was not bad, eh?
Top 10 in quali and overall, so what? He had a fight with Cairoli, passed some other Factory riders and kept speed till the end... So what? Let him have some time and he will have a box this season...
so far...
Guys don't forget Ciaroli was hurt earler this year so not sure things would be a whole lot dif, Guess the rest of the year will tell some other than the fact that Ciaroli has a HUGE points lead nad might not go for the win as hard now.
@ gert jan van croost: The Reality!!!
Oehm I just didnt understand what you meant^^...
I just heard he held of a couple of guy for awhile so I assumed it was 4th and 5th. Whatever the excuse is 5th is a good result and CP is a great rider. For your information I am American and the reason I defend CP is because he has dealt with things that would make a lot of people give up and he kept going. I think that gets him a free pass for at least awhile-don't you?
at last a portuguese rider in the podium of the mx1 class.
keep it up Rui Gonçalves, we are so proud!!!
DeSalle is good but, his shoulder injury has given Ciaroli the gap needed for him to coast into another title. That's my prediction, anyhow.
Maybe DeSalle, the Russian and possibly even CP can compete for wins to close out the season.
As far as a free pass for CP in Motocross, I do not believe such a thing exists. Mentally, the top SX riders, Villopoto, Reed, Dungey, Canard & Stewart have seen his game and have already beaten him on a mental level. Financially, CP has no immediate future in the U.S. unless it comes out of his own pocket or Mitch Payton foots the bill which, seems unlikely unless, Pourcel's dad, who runs the CLS Kawasaki team in Europe (the defacto Pro Circuit Europe team), finds a way to get more $ into PC's pocket via their team.
It seems the French riders are all so moody when it comes to their MXdN service. Ever since Bayle wouldn't ride for the French team, I get the feeling they just don't have the same sense of patriotism that other countries do. Also picking Musquin, who is coming off a recent injury, is kind of odd when CP isn't injured, just meloncholy which, all French racers are anyways, aren't they?
So we're mind racing now?! I'm talking free pass from the fans who couldn't do what he does (which means all of them). If he wants to he'll find what it takes to get back to the top. If not he gave us some great racing memories.
CP is a great rider on a Kawasaki, that's what he has ridden so far. And, again, he was never even 4th, he just got the 5th position in the last 2 laps. His fitness is good looking at his motos and, yes, he is ready to win by the end of the year. Again, Cairoli was just one point behind Desalle before he got injured, he had already caught up with him. But I absolutely don't believe he has already won the championship, the last 3 races will be so tough for Tonino222.
JULIEN BILL WORLD CHAMPION !!! the last joke of europeans' liars! US amateur riders are widely faster than him and the Australian and Canadian national series are ten times more competitive than their so called MX3 (450) World championship! sorry for my bad english
CP is a JOKE on 450
450 career (2011, first year)
AMA 450 SX: 0 point
AMA 450 MX: 40th ?
MX1 GP: 40th?
and some morons like K&manes; predict many AMA 450 SX wins next season, funny joke!
jean-joseph de la gertrude wrote:
JULIEN BILL WORLD CHAMPION !!! the last joke of europeans' liars! US amateur riders are widely faster than him and the Australian and Canadian national series are ten times more competitive than their so called MX3 (450) World championship! sorry for my bad english
Were you born stupid or did ya mama drop you on your head when you were a kid?
The MX3 is an AMATEUR world championship. Geddit?
Moron.
@jean-joseph
0pts SX - did he race one?!
How many points does RC have?
And he was top ten last weekend...
And yes MX3 is an Amateur WC - last year Carlos Campano won it and he has to fight to finish top 20 in MX1 this year...
And let CP get used to the 450 and he will have some success, give him some credit, he's working hard... Or at least come to a race to talk to him himself - then you can judge him... But probably most of his haters are just fat MX vs ATV riders or other goons talking crap...
Jean De Angely, Gertrude or what your name is : YOU are a moron, get that in your head loser. You must not judge the riders, you're a loser who doesn't have any idea of what MX is all about. Poser, hide yourself.
Porcel should of been the most prepared rider of all when the US nationals started.He was cleared to start riding again back in 2010.He had months to train and ride before the US nationals.He did not do his homework and was not prepared.You all are saying give him time that he will win.He's had more time than anyone to get in shape.This is why all us Americans are pissed at him.He seens to be lazy.He should of hired a trainer.This is a fact.He's had more time than anyone out there.
he had time to train but not to race.
You cannot train a race situation...
Stewart was also trained when he tried a national last year - washougal or something I believe - but race was still something completely different...
Roczen has also a supercross track at home and he did practice supercross, but at A1 he had his problems and got better race by race.
same for pourcel (in my opinion ofc)
WHAT Mo-Fu? MX3 Amateur??????? yves demaria three time mx3 world champion was an amateur?????? MORON!!!!! YOU ARE THE MORON, EVERYBODY KNOW THAT YOUTHSTREAM DO WHAT THEY WANT WHIT THE DENOMINATION "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP"
EUROPEANS ALWAYS BEEN AND ALWAYS BE LIARS!!!
JEHL: JEALOUS EUROPEANS HYPOCRITS & LIARS!!!!
Carlos Campano and Jullien Bill PRO MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONS!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA, Adam Cianciarulo is probably faster than them!!! HA HA HA HA HA, funny europeans liars!!!
crotte, you don't understand your own lies? be honest for one day and maybe it will be more clear in your brain! but I don't think it's possible, it's genetics I think!
k-croost wrote: "Mark my words he (CP) will be back in America winning supercross races by next year"
you are the same who last year says that CP will win easily the AMA 450 SX CHAMPIONSHIP in 2011
MORON YOU ARE! and now you talk about 2012!
you only want to be interesting here, you don't care of your wrong predictions! beacause you don't have dignity!
dude...
1. MX3 is by definition an amateur championship... It was a normal one back when it was calles 500cc class with the ktm 520 and stuff in it, but since there was no real competition in it it was an amateur class... No factory teams in it apart from tm maybe and sometimes aprilia - but thats the same in other acs....
2. Next year IS 2012 ?!
3. Bill is almost 30 and lost it after he went to - factory and top5 gp rider in his best years... so don't talk crap about him if you dont know him...
Oh and you know what a liar is? not sure about what your complaining, a bit weird xD
Croost, you're correct, what you write is the reality of things. Already judging from the nickname of this poser Jean Joseph de la Gertrudina (are you kidding me?), one can make an idea of what kind of retarded this guy is, he should be kicked out. He doesn't even know how fast Demaria and Bill were in their good years.
@crotte
are you sure that julien "the goat" bill works 8 hours a day at an office during the week and ride only the week-end? are you sure he won zero euro for his (false) world title? :), when he's going to the Swiss TV are you sure they call him "the first swiss amateur motocross world champion"? or they call him "the first swiss motocross world champion"? yves demaria is a three time mx3 world champion, you think he was an amateur ????????? MORON
MX3 world championship was created for europeans pro and semi-pro riders and, the fact that they put (since 2010) the words Amateur or World Cup is for protecting again and again the euros riders! how the hell an amateur from USA or Australia or New Zeland can go racing all over Europe without money and sponsorship? :)
"European 450 Amateur Motocross Championship" is more clear and fair then "MX3 World Championship"!!! :),
Julien Bill world champion! crazy funny my boy!
padre manes, you have a lot of boyfriends! after pedro and mike, now crotte, you are worst than a little chipie! and you are a man an a padre! mamamia!!!!
padre manes, french 125 gp 1989, qualifying, Alex Puzar was very very fast, he was at 100% all time on this RM125, he completely destroy the track, everobody think that he already have the best time and that it’s impossible to be faster than that, DeMaria was coming and put a time 2 second (by lap) faster than Puzar! sorry for my bad English
lol wheres the point in naming some random gp 20 yrs ago where yd was good at? :D
Well think what you want, mx3 is called amateur wc and is one.. Same for Junior wc, if you are Junior World Champion you also don't have to necessarily be pro...
Gertrudina, please go back to the mental hospital you just escaped, your brain is smaller than that of a bird. I have never read such stupid comments from a very incompetent poser. And learn how to write illiterate.
the title "World Champion" became shit by the cause of liars and wannabe's like you, the last "REAL World Champion" from Europe is JMB (1991) ... :)
padre manes speak three language, English, Canadian-English, and American-English ... :)
I have two brand names for you,
"MANES CROOST" and "CAMPANO BILL" :)
funny names :D creative dude huh?
Oh and what about FIM Supercross WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP? Same shit then isnt it?
kktybb got stuff todo
look at the FIM records boys, they put Carlos Campano and Julien Bill on the same class than Aberg, DeCoster, Mikkola, Noyce, Malherbe, Lackey, Carlqvist, Thorpe, Geboers, Jobé, Smets, and Everts, it's fair for you?
AMA SX always be THE sx world championship, if you think that Cairoli (the mxgp king) is better sx rider than Reed, Stewart, Villo, Dungey, Canard, and Windham you are imcompetent to spoke about MX/SX!
yep, try to make a creative company on place, action sports logo design and some (many) delirium stuff!
"Hey Campano Bill, what did you kill? Campano Bill!" :)
Go to school instead of wasting people's time here, incompetent, do you sleep at night or do you think about Campano and Bill?
Don't mention the names of the MX legends, a roach of the society like you must not even think about such great people.
@padre manes
go back washing dishes moron
first thinks about "great people"; they are honest, and secondly; they are not stupid followers like you
you're not at your place imho
:)
lol dude whats going on in your head? :D
btw Campano was chosen factory rider as DP replacement for the rest of the season... :) Good chance for him, lets see how he does
Good luck amateur...
NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS
Campano for the Rinaldi Team, Bill for the Canadian National
... just hope that Bill didn't meet Adam Cianciarulo on practice track in US :)