Tanel Leok brings Yamaha a victory at the muddy Faenza opening round of FIM World Motocross.
The opening Grand Prix of the World Motocross Championship was a wet one at Faenza. Tanel Leok (MX1) and Gautier Paulin (MX2) won the event as the overall classification was based on the first moto results only – the second moto’s were cancelled.
After a fantastic Saturday with the MX1 and MX2 qualifying races and the Veterans’ World Cup race one –two time World Champion Puzar made his comeback to racing- entertaining the crowd, torrential rain on Saturday night and on Sunday caused several issues.
The Motoclub Faenza, DBO, FIM, FMI and Youthstream worked hard night and day to solve these issues and increase the drainage of the track.
The work carried out by the many professionals and volunteers made the first heats possible (MX1 and MX2 Race 1, Veterans Race 2), afterwards several other attempts to maintain the racing conditions were done.
Eventually the Event Management took the unanimous decision to cancel the second races of the MX1 and MX2 classes to preserve the riders’ safety.
MX1
Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Tanel Leok rode to a surprising victory at his first Grand Prix onboard a Yamaha after four years with Kawasaki. Leok, who took his maiden win last year in Ireland, now leads the MX1 Championship.
"I knew I would do OK here but I really don't like this place when it is a dry track. It is too fast and if you don't get good starts then it is really hard. Luckily the rain came and it changed everything. You had to look for the lines and that's what I think I am good at."
Teka Suzuki WMX1’s Ramon took a strong start and led the opening laps ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Nagl. De Reuver then took the lead but both Ramon and the Martin Honda rider had to visit the pits due to the tough racing conditions and lost vital time.
Leok found himself at the lead and brought the bike home in first ahead of other Teka Suzuki WMX1 rider De Dycker. The latter secured the runner up spot by moving past LS Motors Honda’s Desalle as the Belgian eventually took third on his maiden podium.
TM Factory’s Aigar Leok was fourth ahead of Cairoli. The Yamaha Red Bull De Carli star was riding in third when he went off the track due to a mistake.
Reigning MX1 World Champion David Philippaerts struggled with the race conditions and finished ninth. Sebastien Pourcel crashed at the start and finished in 24th.
MX1 Race 1 Results:
1. Tanel Leok
2. Ken de Dycker
3. Clement Desalle
4. Aigar Leok
5. Antonio Cairoli
6. Joshua Coppins
7. Maximilian Nagl
8. Tom Church
9. David Philippaerts
10. Jonathan Barragan
MX1 Championship Points:
1. Tanel Leok - 25
2. Ken de Dycker - 22
3. Clement Desalle - 20
4. Aigar Leok - 18
5. Antonio Cairoli - 16
6. Joshua Coppins - 15
7. Maximilian Nagl - 14
8. Tom Church - 13
9. David Philippaerts - 12
10. Jonathan Barragan - 11
Yamaha's Josh Coppins took 6h place after getting stuck a couple times and discarding his sludge covered goggles.
The MX2 class saw young Frenchman Gautier Paulin take his maiden victory after a strong race which made up for an unlucky qualifying on Saturday. Paulin completed an unexpected move on previous leader Jeremy Van Horebeek of KTM Factory Junior MX2 and passed him with just two laps to go. Van Horebeek tried to fight back but settled for second.
The podium was completed by Marvin Musquin of Team NGS as all three riders of Faenza’s MX2 podium were at their maiden rostrum finish. Musquin worked his way through the field after a stop in the pit lane to change his gloves.
Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci Motocross Team’s Davide Guarneri rode to fourth, with the weather conditions reminding of the last year’s GP win at wet Bellpuig.
Roelants and Lupino rounded off the top five. Early leader Tarroux lost vital time when he got blocked in an uphill and ended 18th.
MX2 Race 1 Results:
1. Gautier Paulin
2. Jeremy van Horebeek
3. Marvin Musquin
4. Davide Guarneri
5. Joel Roelants
6. Alessandro Lupino
7. Nicolas Aubin
8. Marco Maddii
9. Valentin Teillet
10. Jake Nicholls
MX2 Championship Points:
1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 25
2. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 22
3. Marvin Musquin (FRA, Honda), 20
4. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), 18
5. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 16
6. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Yamaha), 15
7. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 14
8. Marco Maddii (ITA, Suzuki), 13
9. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KTM), 12
10. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 11
