by Adam Wheeler
Racer X Race Report: GP of Sweden
Monday, July 2, 2012 | 10:30 AM
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PrintThe Grand Prix of Sweden again found journalists struggling to extend their vocabulary range to describe wet and rainy conditions. The world’s weather system has not been too kind to the FIM Motocross World Championship fixtures this season and the clouds emptied again in Scandinavia. Uddevalla was more watery than the quicksand of Brazil and - although there were a few potential headline grabbers from this solid and efficiently organised ninth round of sixteen - the ooze that swallowed all of Tony Cairoli’s work thus far in 2012 was quite startling in it effectiveness.
The World Champion walked into the facility in Sweden with a 47-point lead, the red plate (or gold in the defending number one’s case) and a record of seven podiums in eight events. After a stone wedged between the sprocket and chain and locked the back wheel of his Red Bull KTM in the first moto (he spent two laps kicking the rear end, even lifting the bike up and throwing it in an effort to loosen the offending article) and then in moto two, he wandered off line into thick mud scraped off the track and became stuck-fast. ‘222’ was in disbelief as much as all the onlookers at his spectacular reversal of fortune. His 0-0 points tally for the day, contrasting 25-25 haul via a two-moto sweep for Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Clement Desalle meant that Cairoli dipped away from the top spot in the championship for the first time in 2012, and trails the Belgian by three points as the second half of the season began in spectacular fashion. It was a disastrous strike for Cairoli but for the neutrals it dragged the MX1 championship dispute firmly into line with the unpredictable and enjoyable nature of the action seen each weekend. The campaign could stay this tight into the final stages and with Christophe Pourcel (second overall, although feeling under the weather) only 12 points adrift, this one is shaping into something entirely memorable.
It was a disastrous day for Tony Cairoli in Sweden.
Ray Archer photo
Sweden was a milestone for the likes of Monster Energy Yamaha’s Shaun Simpson, who steered the absent Steven Frossard’s factory bike to fifth position and at one stage threatened to give Great Britain their first MX1 podium since 2007 but for a small slip in the second moto. HM Plant KTM UK’s Kevin Strijbos again showed his forte in the mud and proved once more the former double world championship runner-up is far from a spent force. In MX2, eighteen year old Dylan Ferrandis finally celebrated a maiden podium that his speed has been threatening since the start of the season. Two holeshots helped his cause immensely.
Elsewhere the Scandinavian soil was home to nightmares. David Philippaerts faces a hefty question mark over his future after a crash in the first moto saw the Italian suffer fractures around the plates of both wrists he broke last summer. The injury was upsetting, and just as fraught was the blow to the head and compressed vertebrae of STR racing’s Matiss Karro, who was stable in intensive care after being landed on during the Saturday programme. Honda World Motocross team’s Evgeny Bobryshev signed a new two year contract to remain the manufacturing giant’s focal point in MX1, but a crash four laps into the first moto and open gash to his right arm was another injury frustration in the ’12 catalogue to blight the factory team. Kawasaki Racing Team’s Gautier Paulin couldn’t find a comfortable rhythm across the bumps where he had previously taken three podiums in MX2 and was mindful of the extra respect needed for the 450.
After a pair of 1-1 finishes Clement Desalle is the new MX1 points leader.
Ray Archer photo
Tommy Searle – MX2 king of Brazil and muddy trails – again was masterful where others tread carefully, although he mistimed his entry into the pit for more goggles late into a first moto he already had under control. One more lap of chasing to regain ground and he would have overtaken Jeffrey Herlings, but simply ran out of time and his frustration was palpable. There was no such risk taking in the drier second affair and two crashes by Herlings gave the Brit a few extra points. The gap in the standings between the two rivals and foes has gone from 45 to 13 and, like MX1, demonstrates no sign of cooling as Searle posted what was his second overall triumph and fourth of the year.
It was a positive sight to see the ‘338’ of Zach Osborne back on his Grand Prix YZ250F for the first time in almost one year (his previous GP appearance coming in Latvia last July) and gave the series a much-needed American presence. Osborne looked sprightly from ‘the off’ and his rise from fifteenth to fifth in Saturday’s qualification heat hinted that the Virginian could pull the same speed as Herlings, Searle and co but the question would remain ‘for how long?’ He answered in fine style with two charges to fifth position and perhaps might have had a shot at Ferrandis’ trophy if it weren’t for a tangle with Christophe Charlier in the second moto that cost time and positions.
Zach Osborne made his long awaited 2012 debut in Sweden.
Ray Archer photo
“To come out and do two 35 minutes plus 2 lap motos for the first time since almost this time last year was really positive,” he said. “Two fifth positions and two pretty solid rides – I had a little crash with Charlier in the second moto, otherwise I might have been able to go for the podium – but it’s all good. We’ve got two weeks until Latvia so hopefully I can go back and work on my fitness some more and keep building up. I thought I wouldn’t be able to last as long as I did because I couldn’t do anything for the first six weeks after my operation but I was able to go really deep in the second moto. I was trying to catch Jake [Nicholls] but I reached a point where I was toast. Anyway, it’s been a pretty good day.”
After a weekend off, a double-header eastern European trip awaits with Latvia and Russia up next in mid-July.
MX1 Moto1
1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 40:52.302; ;
2. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:20.870;
3. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:28.388;
4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:31.762;
5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +0:38.980;
6. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), +1:13.721;
7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:17.195;
8. Cedric Soubeyras (FRA, Honda), +1:22.736;
9. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:24.085;
10. Mark de Reuver (NED, Kawasaki), +1:35.661;
MX1 Moto2
1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 39:05.450; ;
2. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:04.445;
3. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +0:07.064;
4. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), +0:23.936;
5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:37.011;
6. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:40.893;
7. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:52.511;
8. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:53.034;
9. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:16.098;
10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, KTM), +1:21.824;
MX1 Overall
1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 50 points;
2. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 44 p.;
3. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 36 p.;
4. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 35 p.;
5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 34 p.;
6. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), 33 p.;
7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 26 p.;
8. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 25 p.;
9. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 20 p.;
10. Mark de Reuver (NED, Kawasaki), 20 p.;
A seventh in the second moto would cost Herlings a chance for the overall.
Ray Archer photo
MX1 World Championship standings after 9 of 16 rounds
1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 348 points;
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 345 p.;
3. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 336 p.;
4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 315 p.;
5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 257 p.;
6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 243 p.;
7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 236 p.;
8. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 212 p.;
9. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), 201 p.;
10. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 183 p.;
MX2 Moto1
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 39:51.669; ;
2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:03.017;
3. Joel Roelants (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:53.378;
4. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:05.289;
5. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +1:17.557;
6. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +1:22.205;
7. Alexander Tonkov (RUS, Honda), +1:40.416;
8. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:41.138;
9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s);
10. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s);
MX2 Moto2
1. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 40:12.526; ;
2. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:18.574;
3. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:27.266;
4. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +0:29.925;
5. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:51.319;
6. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), +1:05.434;
7. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +1:19.931;
8. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:23.237;
9. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:24.264;
10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Husqvarna), +1:34.735;
Once again the weather played a big part over the weekend.
Ray Archer photo
MX2 Overall
1. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 47 points;
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 39 p.;
3. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), 38 p.;
4. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 33 p.;
5. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 32 p.;
6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 26 p.;
7. Joel Roelants (BEL, Kawasaki), 25 p.;
8. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 22 p.;
9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 21 p.;
10. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 18 p.;
MX2 World Championship standings after 9 of 16 rounds
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 403 points;
2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 387 p.;
3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 330 p.;
4. Joel Roelants (BEL, Kawasaki), 263 p.;
5. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 243 p.;
6. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 237 p.;
7. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), 199 p.;
8. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), 177 p.;
9. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 168 p.;
10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Husqvarna), 163 p.;
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Hate to see plane bad luck hurt that bad.
That simply blows for Cairoli, I still think he will win the Championship though. Herlings needs to learn to ride in the mud if he is going to continue to race in the GP's, But at 17(?) I guess he isn't doing to bad, considering what he does in the sand and everywhere that isn't a swamp
herlins is due some bad luck....i was really glad to see him on his arse in the 2nd moto...tommy speed wise is on form now and just needs to keep the presure on.this title is not over....
Pourcel didn't feel good during the night due to his stomach problems.
The previous gap from Herlings and Searle was 24 points, not 45, and now is 16.
Too bad for Cairoli, in the second moto he made a small mistake that cost him too much, while in the first moto he could do nothing about it. I knew the champioship was not over and something was gonna happen but I didn't think about this disaster.
eff tony he is a world cham at ducking the ryans! they would D.P. spagetti boy and boot his ass back to italy or belgum or were ever he stays!
@jgbvr Guess the home schooling wasn't a success. If your going to slag off a real world champion at least check your spelling! LOL
Guess you had better get back to the crack pipe!
TC ducking the the ryans!! lol well maybe they are ducking him!!! why is it worldchamps have to go over to the US?? your tracks arnt harder there just different style....wether??? gets hot gets cold gets wet here to!!! sand?? the US championship dont know the meaning of the word sand!!!
i know what your all say your riders are better lol bla bla!!! no they arnt and the nations isnt prove they they are....you send your 3 best from a area bigger than all of europe!!
if europe was to send its 3 best would you guys feel so confident???
a true world champ can win all round the world win all championships...
more euros have won championships both sides of the pond than americans fact.
na the ryans are ducking in favour of the big bucks lol
It does not seem that "ducking" is an appropriate word for the apparent preferences of AMA and FIM riders. Perhaps individual choices are instead the reasons?
In order to facilitate the betterment of MX's global image, fans across the world could be more objective before stating opinions. It is important for MX as a sport.
What?
i love gp and ama moto and i follow both very close so rob and ur boytoy armpump can suck it! read tonys interview on racerx from a few weeks ago... hes DUCKING the bad ass ryans and u know it!
They should paint a big DUCK on his helmet!
Wow! Beyond the starting gate, it looks like a parking lot!
Whos's 'ducking' who?
The US riders just had a few weeks off, why didn't they go and ride a GP?
It seems perfectly reasonable for Matthes and others to pressurize Cairoli and the GP riders to do a race in the US - when, of course, they have a World Championship series to do, yet, I guess it's not a demand to be put to the US riders - to do a GP during their National series?
Stop and think a bit.
Either side have a commitment to the series they are paid to do.
One, is the World Championships - that travels to many countries. When it went to the US, there was no interest in it. So, it went elsewhere. But it still goes to Many countries, and vastly different types of tracks, weathers and cultures.
The other, is a National series, that some of it's proponents, seem to think is the only important series in the World. Blinkered and 'limited' thinking. I would say 'outlook', but the view against the World Championships, shows no looking outward at all. Just 'navel gazing'.
If you want to prove you are the best rider in the World, there is the World Championship.
I'm sure any top level US rider, would be paid handsomely, to do the World Championships by major teams.
Despite what is commonly thrown around, there is good money for the top riders in the GPs - it's only that **** Lluongo that does not deliver prize money, and for that he should be hung , drawn and quartered. Though, look to the pathetic prize money offered in the SX series. For it's money making, it's an insult. The US Outdoors offers better prize money.
But, prize money, is a small part of riders earnings. It's bonuses, contingency, and 'other' sponsorship. That, is found in Europe, too. Something that so many people don't seem to understand. Look past the few big names in the US, and you'll see highly talented, proffessional riders, earning a pittance, with regards to their skill, and the risks they take. It happens everywhere. Past the top 10, it's been shown, the riders are not raking in big bucks.
The GP riders, do far more than just the GPs - most do at least one National championship series - many a fair few. They race, just as much as their contemporaries in the US, just not in nearly anything near the amount of comfortable, convienient stadiums.
To the intelligent and knowledgable US fans - and I know they do exist, I have quite a few US friends that are really 'students' of the sport, I commend you for your outlook.
To the ill-informed / uniformed individuals that sem to post so much drivel, I implore you to look further than your own country. That you can access a computer, is shown here - it doesn't take much, to reach the rest of the World through the machine in front of you. You might just discover a whole new 'outlook' on things, or at least, see something different from what you think - not that it may change the way you think.
Riders around the World, are out there, doing some spectacular riding.
At least RV went to Europe - mainly on 'business', with his Parts Unlimited representation, but he saw, finally, at least one GP, away from the almost hermetically sealed MX Des Nations US Teams environment he has been in previously (not a criticism - it's a great way to deal with the event, get in, no distractions,do the work, get out).
He was treated like a king at Bastoignee (sp?). Go to MX Life.TV, where you can see Two features on him, in their free sections, to see that. Youthstream should make the 'between' the races programe available too, where, he sits in for 15 minutes of that programe, and comes across so well.He also did a bit of commentating of the race. In all of the videos, he was so much more open and relaxed than you see in his dealings with the TV in the US - it shows him in a very good light.
Now, whether he does do GPs in 2016 - it's up to him, it's his life. He, in one or two of those interviews, says how he would have to have everything in place, with the right people / back up , to do well. He knows, he would not walk in and dominate. He is the sort of bloke, who may well buck the trend of the top riders in the US staying only in their comfort zone - he's a well off young man, that doesn't seem to be blowing all his money. He may be able to do a deal, at the end of his US carreer, that makes him a (further) Huge wage. And, he may, or may not, have a World Championship besides his name (MX Des is a Teams event), other than the one (probably more, at the end) that is for his World SX Championship - the Only World Championship that is run in the US.
I await, the bleatings of the 'limited' part of this forum...........
I am from the U.S. and would agree that it is typical American arrogance to expects the top FIM pros to come race here instead of vice versa. I would also agree that the size of our country is a big advantage at Des Nations.
That being said I think it is hard to deny that the AMA MX series is the most competitive as it is filled with the best riders from both the U.S. and around the world (Reed, Metcalfe, Wilson, Musquin, Roczen, etc.) many of which left Europe to ride here. DeSalle came over to Unadilla a few years back and put it to a lot of our top guys so the talent is definitely there at the GP's but top to bottom I think we're more stacked as a series.
4 Rapapadolus: where are you from? You talk like you're from one of the greatest country in the world, what's it? Just a coward like you, who probably comes from a third world country, is ashamed to tell everybody here where you are from.
About soccer: out of 16 countries Italy finished 2nd. What about your country?
Easy to say: "Ok, my country sucks and so now I need to decide what country I have to be a fan of. Let's say... USA, they always win". You like to win easily , but you're just a mythomaniac with no culture and no education. Rapapopoulos=radish. Go on diggging holes loser
He is a coward that's what he is, he is a fan of whoever wins, where is this dumb from?
Going back to the races, it's really tough to get a dirt bike out of that big mountain of mud. Cairoli used all his strength with no success, but I remember the same thing happened to a very big man, Ken De Dicker, 1 or 2 years ago, and he was forced to leave his bike in the mud. Lots of bad luck, Philippaerts broke his wrists again, I think his career is over.
Herlings has to pay attention, he can lose the title, but the next race will be sandy, kinda Southwick, not like Lommel or Lierop.
you must live in a menatl hospital
wher you from? Afraid to say it? Coward!
You're garbage, trash
Where are you from?
where you from?
Good writing Bear!
I watch both series. Love them both to. Who is the best rider, we will never know until they race a whole series together. But yes i think the two Ryans maby would come out on top, they are crazy good at riding. But so is also Desalle and Cairoli. I think it would be pretty even between them. And it´s always an advantage to the ones that have their series as there home-series. But it is always the FIM riders that comes to the U.S. Would be cool to see how the two Ryans or mabye Stewart would handle coming to a new series with new tracks and all that comes along.
Hope RV comes over in three years and race GP:s! Would be really nice to see :)
And to all those says that Cairoli cant be the best in the world until he wins the AMA. What kind of logic do you use there? In that case Ryan Villopoto is not the best in the world until he wins the GP:s Otherwise you cant really know...
I have never said that Roczen and Pourcel would dominate the US scene, that's some other bullshit that came out of your filthy mouth.
You look like, I mean, you are just an ignorant person writing crap all the time, don't you realize that? You wanna play the part of the big man "I know it all" but you step back when you have to say where you are from, you escape the truth, like a coward, get a job lazy retard.
QUACK QUACK MUTHA FUCH@
Poto spanked canoli like a new born baby at every MX of Nations
How many times has the U.S.A won the MX of Nations outta the recent
decade ?
just the facts right ?
Americans have a far deeper talent pool than the Euros. I thought Roczen
would be dominating the 250 class & he`s had his arsh handed to him
by BB which is an incredable accomplishment. I like "Kid Rockzen" good kid & getting better as he gets use to living in another program.
Does Europe have a dental program for their people < because cairoli,has won messed up grill !!!!
jean rene jene rene! ur cool i like your style man
Radish, I found a job for you idiot: digging holes, 10 hours a day, I can pay you 3$ an hour, that's a lot for a retard. By the way, you have a wife: what's that? A wh**e? Jacka**