by Adam Wheeler
Racer X Race Report: MXoN Qualifying
Saturday, September 17, 2011 | 5:00 PM
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PrintIt seems that only the cruel hand of fortune can stop a Team USA seventh consecutive success at the Motocross of Nations as the trio of Ryan Dungey (MX1), Blake Baggett (MX2) and Ryan Villopoto (MX Open) left none of the packed, eclectic and rowdy crowd at St Jean D’Angely in doubt as to who is the strongest force in world motocross.
Three perfect starts in the qualification heats run over a dry hard-pack (that actually looks in better shape than it has done for a Grand Prix in recent years) gave the defending champions an ominous 1-1-1 scorecard. Only MX1 World Champion Tony Cairoli could hold a light to the “stars and stripes” as he pushed Dungey all the way to the chequered flag in the MX1 sprint.
Baggett help USA go 1-1-1 in qualifying with a win in the MX2 class.
Photo: Ray Archer
It seems like it could be ‘Cairol vs America’ tomorrow unless the likes of Christophe Pourcel (distant third in MX1), Brett Metcalfe (slightly disappointed with his fifth in MX Open), Chad Reed (hovering in fourth in MX1), Dean Wilson (bad start in MX2, finished third), Marvin Musquin (more worried about holding Wilson off than shutting down Baggett) and Gautier Paulin (fourth in MX Open for the Italian MX1 GP winner last week), Tommy Searle (getting to grips with the 450), Tyla Rattray (same story) and Ken Roczen (slipped while second behind Baggett and took fourth) can up the ante.
St Jean was already bustling and radiant with colours and costumes in the only way the Nations can be, but even the mix of fans from seemingly fat-flung corners of the globe could not have totally predicted the shut-out that was on the cards today.
Most emphatic was Villopoto, in MX Open, who stretched a lead of three seconds in a little over half of the first lap. “I knew I’d be a bit better than most [riding open class] but that’s not to say that tomorrow the others won’t show up,” he said before adding, “I was late off the gate so I need to improve that for tomorrow.”
“He was definitely putting a bit of pressure on and we had a cat and mouse game going there,” reflected Dungey, who had the hardest job of the day and was an impressive as his teammates but in a different way.
Dungey would outlast Cairoli in the MX1 class.
Photo: Ray Archer
Asked whether he was surprised by his win in MX2 Baggett offered: “Not really. I’ve raced Marvin and Dean all year so I knew what to expect. I got the best start of my life and that’s not normally my thing. Dungey gave me a few pointers and line advice and Roger [De Coster] has been helping me out with the schedule and where I should be.”
“There are a lot more people than I expected,” he added, a little overawed by the occasion but it was heartening to see how the event was making an impact on a first-timer. “I could hear the crowd more than my own bike!”
In spite of the form and speed of Team USA looking very promising for tomorrow the old hand of experience, Team Manager Roger De Coster, warned against inflated expectations. “France rode well, as I expected, but I was surprised by Italy because I knew Cairoli would be good but Guarneri was also. It was only qualifying today and there is still a lot of work to be done so we shouldn’t be over-confident.”
Villopoto dominated the MX3 class in qualifying.
Photo: Ray Archer
MX1
1. Ryan Dungey (USA, Suzuki), 23:46.461;
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.308;
3. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:46.425;
4. Chad Reed (AUS, Honda), +0:52.778;
5. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:54.664;
6. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:59.299;
7. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +1:01.397;
8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:01.570;
9. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:29.250;
10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), +1:32.070;
MX2
1. Blake Bagget (USA, Kawasaki), 24:45.804;
2. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), +0:08.876;
3. Dean Wilson (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:11.331;
4. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), +0:11.742;
5. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:35.043;
6. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:55.250;
7. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), +0:57.149;
8. Stefan Kjer Olsen (DEN, Yamaha), +1:09.391;
9. Jose Antonio Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:15.543;
10. Stuart Edmonds (IRL, TM), +1:16.750;
MX Open
1. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), 24:46.792;
2. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:07.704;
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:08.708;
4. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:09.677;
5. Brett Metcalfe (AUS, Suzuki), +0:11.170;
6. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Yamaha), +0:24.849;
7. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:26.038;
8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:43.333;
9. Carlos Campano (ESP, Yamaha), +0:45.547;
10. Martin Michek (CZE, KTM), +0:52.961;
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Tony on a 350?? Thinkin RD was glad about that...
Pourcel backed it off, His lap time were very good only off RD by .5sec Reed and the reast were WAY off pase. I thought Rattray did well too, He was all over Reed for a wile and was only a few sec behind at the end. But the team of RD, RV and BB looked REAL good. But with better starts form some of the others it will not be easy to sweep it. I just hope we in the over all, the more Moto wins the better but the over all is what counts.
Yes he was on a 350 but RD will be on a 450 KTM next year. But he proved the 350 can do the job for sure!!! RD might be think Damn i should have let RV do the MX1 class!! LOL
so far so good! this is only qualifying. The racing may be different. At least DeCoster is not pumping it up. anything can happen yet , I hope not because 1, 2, 3, are doing good. I hope they can do it tomm. I just hope we win to show the world where the best riders are now. I used to emulate the euro's and try to be like them that is no more. Might be some mind games going on here we dont know yet. This is a race for pride, lets see what happens.
@ BillC I would love to tear down Tony's KTM and see what is under thet hood???
EuroMike, you packing your RacerX bags yet?
This is a link to the official GP website. They will have live timing if you can't watch or don't want to pay.
http://www.motocrossmx1.com/
Where is Euro/nazi/irish/new jersey?/moron mike at? Last reported he was seen fleeing the country to South America, where they have no interent connections, before he has his A$$ handed to him.
Definitely keep things in perspective as DeCoster is saying. Don't wanna get all Tony Alessi and run through the pits shouting & bragging about what amounts to practice.
Yeah I guess RD beating the best in the world by 1.3 seconds just aint good enough. He has to do it by at least 7 seconds like the rest of of his teammates. Then again he was in a the stacked class. But you guys don't care.
How did the team Puerto Rico guys do?
Oh, I see. Albertson 14, Week 26, Grana 31
Rogers right.......they are talking of "evening" things up tomorrow, U.S.A. team has baggat on the dirt squirt 100,....RV and RD on super combat wombats.....that'll even it up considerably. Its in the bag, relax .
I still can't believe some(very few) people doubt Dungey's abilities in the MX1 class. How soon we forget he won the MX1 class two years ago.A year before running his first season in the 450 class.
It,s a shame there was no Desale, Philliparts,Fossard, Nagel, Ramon, and ???
there may have been a few others pushing up towards the front,
As usual tomorow wil be different for the "rest" of the place getters.
Oi Oi Oi
Well said vrtstinger and deejay. People forget RD won more overalls this year also. BillC, maybe RV is saying man I'm happy RD is racing MX1 class...
@czmark Now that is some funny stuff there-I'm thinkin' mikey won't be back until sometime in the sx season. With his limited inteligence it will take him that long to think up more stuff!
@joemotocross589- with those factory Hodakas we are just making it too easy for them.
@bucky394- you are probably right, about the time South America boots his A$$ back home to wherever he came from.
Dungey ran hard . Not sure if he was giving it all . Cairoli looked good and wants to make a statement.Running on adreneline. Kind of trying to say MX1 and MX2 are as fast as the U.S. Nationals. Dungeys class was stacked and actually ran faster lap times and overall moto time that Villopoto. But Villopoto turned a scorching practice time and led his qualifying as much as 18 seconds by running 144 lap times. I think Villopoto was only using 1/2 throttle and could have wicked it up if he had to . I am sure the coach (Decoster) said only win by what you have to . Minimize risk, maximize results. Smart man for overall results.Bagget looked good. Repeat tommorrow please.
The track was dissappointing. I went to the Millville National and riders could not sit down anywhere. This track looked like a scrambles track . Watch tommorrow. The riders were sitting down almost everwhere except the jumps and one section of whoops. And 144 lap times on an outdoor track. One thing I did like was the width of the track. I think U.S. tracks should look at that for safety as most of ours are as narrow as supercross tracks. Not safe and hard to pass on. Thanks Paul
They need to watch out for Townley moves out there.
Don't know about Dungey and Baggett, but RV was clearly cruising. He put 3 seconds on them after 1/2 a lap and only finished 7 seconds up? Also could be a situation where Dungey was just doing enough to keep ahead. Then again, was Cairoli holding back? We'll find out when it counts, but the qualifiers sure were a hell of an opening salvo from USA.
No one is doubting RD or his accomplishments. RV is simply faster. Providing they all get good starts it will be proven tomorrow.
Wish I could be around to watch
@Deployed. I agree with the Townley moves. Remember that little guy that chased Carmichael around several years ago at a MXDN. There can always be a sleeper out there. Given a good start watch out for that German kid on the KTM. He was passing big names at last years MXDN in Colorado last year. Bad start today hurt him. We can win easily with good riding. If your head is swollen and will not fit in your helmet you are in trouble. Go USA
maybe RD and RV are saying to each other. "Good job today, lets both hand that dude his ravioli" Seems they are together as a team, so why are we still debating who shoulda rode MX1. Either one of them faces the only potential challenge from TC. In different situations I would choose either of them. I woulda been fine with DeCoster tossing a coin.
Wonder what bad luck will strike team oz this year, moxn is not our race. still remember both RD and RV have had awesome rides at mxon in past (RV's 250 blitz was something else). Go reedy, metty n mossy. aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi!!!!!!!!!! Good luck to all.
@cz mark.....I hear we're running the gyt kits, AND the 2 spark plug heads......they just make it too easy for usa.
PartyBoy wrote:
EuroMike, you packing your RacerX bags yet?
No way Jose. What part of the word "qualification" don´t you understand.
Look I know you hillbillies don´t run quali races, but any one of the top Euro racers will tell you it doesn´t make any sense wearing yourself out before the real thing. I know Ciaroli for example doesn´t like the first gate pick as he wants to see where his main opo goes. Same with Roznase.
So why don´t you all calm down and wait for the REAL racing to begin. You are all acting like a bunch of virgins cuming in your pants at the first touch of your girlfriends tender leg. The real thing is a tad higher up.
ROCZEN is king....thats all folks!!!!!!!!!!!!
I predict Reed will Win, Roczen 2nd and Dungey 3rd.
hey ilovewhatever how about u predict the mx2/open before it is completed!!!
Cairoli doesn't like first gate pick? After the race you're gonna have to say Cairoli doesn't like winning and just lets the Americans walk all over him.
"fans from seemingly fat-flung corners of the globe"
Hahahah, freudian shout-out to the American fans?
EuroMike,
You can leave now you stereo typical anti-american piece of crap. Take your excuses and insults elsewhere.