The first ever Turkish GP kept up the level of excitement in this year’s FIM Motocross World Championship courtesy of an action packed event. New Championship leader Tony Cairoli took a clean sweep in the MX1 class after a great second heat battle with defending Champion Philippaerts. Zach Osborne won the MX2 class ahead of current Championship leader Paulin.
Yamaha's Cairoli took two first place finishes at Turkey.
Starting from pole Antonio Cairoli of Yamaha Red Bull De Carli was the protagonist of Turkey’s first appearance of the FIM Motocross World Championship which he now leads. Cairoli took victory in heat one, dominating from the start to the flag, and repeated the performance in the final moto after a breathtaking duel with Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross’ David Philippaerts.
The latter took his first season’s podium with third overall. In heat one the Italian ended fourth but he came close to winning the final heat where he set up a dogfight with Cairoli. The duo swapped places several times until Cairoli opened up a safe gap towards the end of the heat.
Philippaerts then had to defend from Teka Suzuki World MX1’s Ramon who tried to move past in heat two after witnessing the Cairoli-Philippaerts wrestle. Eventually Ramon was third, which combined with a solid second from heat one and resulted in a podium finish.
Other Teka Suzuki World MX1 man Ken de Dycker was fourth in the overall classification just ahead of Belgian countryman Strijbos of Martin Honda MX. After twisting his knee in Faenza Strijbos showed good form today taking third in moto one, though a fall in the second moto saw him lose a provisional second place.
MX1 Race 1 Results:
1. Antonio Cairoli
2. Steve Ramon
3. Kevin Strijbos
4. David Philippaerts
5. Ken de Dycker
6. Maximilian Nagl
7. Jonathan Barragan
8. Joshua Coppins
9. Clement Desalle
10. David Vuillemin
MX1 Race 2 Results:
1. Antonio Cairoli
2. David Philippaerts
3. Steve Ramon
4. Ken de Dycker
5. Tanel Leok
6. Jonathan Barragan
7. Kevin Strijbos
8. Joshua Coppins
9. Clement Desalle
10. Sebastien Pourcel
MX1 Overall Results:
1. Antonio Cairoli - 50
2. Steve Ramon - 42
3. David Philippaerts - 40
4. Ken de Dycker - 34
5. Kevin Strijbos - 34
6. Jonathan Barragan - 29
7. Joshua Coppins - 26
8. Clement Desalle - 24
9. Maximilian Nagl -23
10. Tanel Leok - 18
Courtesy of Yamaha
Cairoli is the points leader for the MX1-GP after a hard fought battle for first with David Philippaerts in Turkey.
Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Tony Cairoli was simply immense to dominate both practice sessions, seal pole position, win both motos for his second MX1-GP career victory and his first as a full-time campaigner in the category and take the lead in the 2009 title chase. With Utag Yamaha.com’s Zach Osborne clinching a maiden victory in the MX2-GP class and MX1-GP World Champion David Philippaerts also climbing the rostrum, the Grand Prix of Turkey and the third round of the 2009 FIM MX1-GP World Championship was a memorable day for Yamaha and YZ technology. The YZ450F and YZ450FM have captured all three of the MX1-GP meetings held to-date.
Under cloudy skies and through cold, gusting winds the private Hezarfen airport, twenty kilometres west of the sprawling metropolis of Istanbul, entertained the first ever visit of the FIM series to Turkey and was attended by 30,000 spectators.
A newly-constructed jumpy and technical track awaited the paddock and was partially welcomed after high speed tests in Italy (on Saturday) and Bulgaria in recent weeks. The twisty nature of the layout was formed by a terrain that varied in softness and degrees of grip and appealed to some rider’s tastes while leaving other protagonists sceptical of the overall quality of the track. The open setting of the location a few metres from the expanses of the Marmara Sea – drawing comparisons to Australia’s Phillip Island road racing circuit – meant that winds, as well as a scenic backdrop permeated the event.
Cairoli and fellow Yamaha rider Philippaerts entertained the crowds with a close fight in the second race.
Cairoli immediately gelled with the course that was designed by the same track builder as Donington Park; the scene of Cairoli’s impressive wild-card maiden MX1-GP appearance and sensational win in 2007. The Sicilian manoeuvred his YZ450F in typically flamboyant and spectacular fashion across the curves and leaps to take his first pole position in the category by winning the Qualification heat under sunny skies and ahead of Yamaha Monster Energy MX team’s Philippaerts on Saturday. In the motos he ran away from the figures of Steve Ramon and Kevin Strijbos during the first outing and then engaged in an entertaining battle with Philippaerts and Ramon in the second sprint before celebrating his first triumph of the 2009 season, his second MX1-GP spoils in just four appearances and the first double since the MX2-GP of Portugal last April.
Philippaerts fiddled with his set-up on Saturday and although he had to work from a half-decent start in Moto1 to take 4th in what was a processional affair, he could fight with Cairoli in the latter race and captured 2nd place for his first set of silverware in 2009.
Bulgarian Grand Prix winner Josh Coppins struggled to get to grips with the track and scored two 8th positions for 7th overall. Italian Grand Prix winner Tanel Leok had a crash in Moto1 and crossed the finish line in 19th. He had a better start in Moto2 and rode to 5th for 10th by the end of the day.
After the first fifth of the calendar the world championship standings reveal Cairoli is now the red-plate holder by 4 points from Ken De Dycker. Philippaerts is 3rd and 10 points away from his countryman. Coppins is 4th to complete three Yamaha riders in the leading group. Leok rests in 7th. Yamaha still head the Manufacturers table, now by 16 points over their nearest rival.
After three races in three weeks the world championship will now pause. In a fortnight’s time round four will take place in the technical sand of Valkenswaard, Holland, for the Grand Prix of Benelux.
Antonio Cairoli, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 1st:
“This is unbelievable and I never expected to have the red plate after three Grand Prix. I have been feeling good on the bike, already from Bulgaria last week, but the difference here was two good starts and I enjoyed my riding today. I had a good feeling with the track and actually had a lot of fun in the second moto with the fight with David; I am sure all our fans in Italy liked that one.”
David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team, 3rd:
“I am happy to take my first podium here because the track was very difficult for me. I feel like every race is getting better. If I can take a top five finish in each GP then I know I will be in the fight for the title. I tried to escape from Antonio in the second moto but he was really fast and today did very well. As everyone knows Italy has had some bad news recently with the earthquake and I wanted people back home to know they were in our thoughts and hearts.”
Josh Coppins struggled to get grip during the tough weekend.
“It was a difficult weekend and I struggled on this track. I wasn’t really on the pace at all. I had some lap-times that were OK but I could not string them together. I was always out of my comfort zone and just did the best I could. Traction was a big problem and I couldn’t get a rhythm going; I was using double the energy but going half the speed. It was a frustrating day but I had a good weekend last week and that can’t always happen.”
Tanel Leok, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 10th:
“Physically I felt fine today. I had a good start in the first heat but then had a crash and could not restart the bike quickly. 19th was not good but the second moto saw an improvement. I was away with the top five and if I can make those kinds of positions every week then I will be happy. I like the track and by the end it was getting technical.”
Courtesy of Suzuki
Steve Ramon got his first podium finish for the season.
Teka Suzuki WMX1's Steve Ramon scaled the podium for the first time this season with the runner-up position at Hezarfen, Istanbul for the first ever Grand Prix of Turkey and round three of the FIM MX1 World Championship.
The third race in three weeks for the Belgian team saw them help inaugurate the small but scenic venue nearly 30km from the centre of the historic city; the supposed gateway to the east.
Ramon collected his maiden trophy of the year with impressive charges on his RM-Z450 to second and third places through the two motos. Team-mate Ken De Dycker had a tougher time with the racing surface but still managed fourth overall.
The team worked diligently on bike set-up throughout a sunny Saturday: The track and newly-chiselled dirt offered sections that veered between a slippery rock-hard surface and softer, bumpier terrain. Overall it was a difficult prospect to master and the tight, inter-linking turns meant that overtaking often involved an aggressive move.
Steve Ramon in the Turkish air.
Sunday was bright but cloudy and marked by a chilly wind. 30,000 spectators made their first curious visit to the private airfield on the outskirts of the metropolis. Ramon embraced a set of two decent starts and also a proactive attitude in attacking the track and finding the most effective lines. He gave chase to Kevin Strijbos and successfully seized second place behind Antonio Cairoli in Moto1 and then remained on the fringes of a frantic battle for the lead in Moto2; just unable to pass David Philippaerts in the final moments for another second position.
De Dycker had more complicated issues with his suspension and the size of the blisters on his right hand and the ache in the back he injured prior to Italy were signs of how the rough track had taken its toll by the end of the day. The Belgian circulated largely on his own for fifth and fourth places in the sprints.
De Dycker's decent points haul means that he is second in the championship standings, just four away from Cairoli. Ramon has gained ground and is now sixth, 10 points from the top slot.
Teka Suzuki WMX1 will now head back to their base in Lommel and enjoy a free weekend before the short trip to Valkenswaard and the Netherlands for the Grand Prix of Benelux and round four of the 2009 calendar on April 26th.
Steve Ramon, 2nd:
"This was a good weekend for me, especially because the first two grands prix were not so positive. Tony was really good today and in the second moto I was running at the front thinking that if he or David made a mistake I would be able to get in the fight. Once he passed David then he could make a gap; it was difficult for me and I tried everything to
The Suzuki's ran a strong race, with a near double podium at Turkey.
overtake David also, but it was not possible. I didn't like the track at the beginning of the weekend because the dirt was difficult to ride on and it was hard to find a good line to pass, but by the end it was quite enjoyable and the Suzuki RM-Z450 worked well in the conditions."
Ken De Dycker, 4th:
"Things weren't really going like I wanted them to. I had a good start and when I had a decent position then I rode as well as I could without any big risks. We still need to do some suspension work and my back is still a bit painful from my accident before Faenza; so I need to check that out this week. The track was really tough. It was hard to find a good line and then keep it for the whole race. There were some deep holes in the jumps in the places where it was really soft and wet so that made it tricky."
Courtesy of Honda Racing
Hezarfen, a small airfield situated on the banks of the Marmara Sea and a twenty minute drive from Istanbul, inaugurated the first ever Grand Prix of Turkey for the third round of the 2009 MX1 and MX2 Motocross World Championships. Italian Antonio Cairoli won the MX1 category with American Zach Osborne victorious in the MX2 series.
Martin Honda’s Kevin Strijbos finished fifth in the premier class.
The event was well supported with 30,000 spectators (weekend figure) flocking to the venue with a newly built track offering varying degrees of grip and a twisty layout meaning a more technical and slower prospect compared to the
high speeds experienced seven days previously in Bulgaria.
Third was the best finish for Honda's Strijbos since 2007.
Strijbos, who was able to practice during the week for the first time since the GP of Italy two weeks ago, made an excellent start on his fuel injected CRF450R in the first moto through cold winds and ran a close second to Cairoli for the first part of the race. He eventually slowed and was overtaken by Steve Ramon but third position
was still his best race result since the final GP of 2007.
CAS Honda were down to half-strength in Turkey as Cedric Melotte’s back injury, sustained in Bulgaria, kept the Belgian away from motorcycles. Billy Mackenzie is still far from fit after suffering a spate of small ailments (possible
cracked rib, tendonitis, groin strain) that have prevented the Scotsman from preparing sufficiently while away from the GP circuit. In Turkey he picked up another niggling problem after a crash on Saturday left him with a sore right ankle. He was able to finish 16th overall with 12th and 20th positions.
Credit to LS Motors Honda’s Clement Desalle who registered two top ten places for a respectable eighth place in the final classification. The Belgian is Honda’s highest placed runner in the championship standings with ninth and 12 points away from further promotion. Strijbos sits just behind Desalle in 10th.
The World Championship will now halt for a week after three successive races. The Grand Prix of Benelux at the Eurocircuit, Valkenswaard in the Netherlands will host round four of fifteen on April 26th.
Kevin Strijbos, Martin Honda, 5th:
“The first moto was really good for me, and I was happy with how it went. Steve came close and I got a bit of arm-pump so I had to let him go but third was still OK. In the second moto I had the holeshot and was second into the next corner. I was doing well but when I landed from a jump the front wheel washed out and I crashed. It took me a while to get up and I was 25th but I could push my way up to seventh. I was quite pleased with today but I know it could have been better and possibly a first podium. The track was OK, it was just difficult to pass if you were with the quick guys.”
Honda's Mackenzie is riding injured and managed only a 16th-place finish in Turkey.
“I am not bike-fit at the moment because I have been carrying injuries and have not ridden during the week since February so this is holding me back. I seem to get on OK for the first 15-20 minutes and I am noticing that I can go further for longer each week, so it is improving. I think my speed is there and we just need to get the bike working a little bit better for me and then we should progress. It is down to me to get the mileage on the Honda and get into better race shape. Hopefully with the weekend off I will now be able to get down to the practice track and get my head on the job.”
Cedric Melotte, CAS Honda, DNS:
"I had a back injury maybe four or five years ago, and I jarred it hard when riding last weekend in Bulgaria. I've had some scans, as well as an injection in the lower part of my back, but I'm still in a lot of pain and the doctor has
told me I need to rest to recover. Hopefully the situation will improve for Valkenswaard."
Roger Harvey, Off-road Motorsport co-ordinator, Honda Motor Europe:
“This was a step forward and I am very happy for Kevin Strijbos who took a decent third in the first moto, but for me the way he passed some very good riders in the second moto to make all those positions was just as encouraging. Billy
has been carrying a silly amount of injuries and assures me that in the break he will get some time on the bike to try and turn things around. Marc de Reuver will be seeing some specialists to try and cure the situation with his condition and we hope for better at Valkenswaard. Full congratulations to both Marvin and Khounsith Vongsana for their results in the MX2 class. People have been saying in the past that the production CRF250R does not have the speed but I think recent results have proved otherwise.”
Courtesy of KTM
Jonathan Barragan rode his KTM to a sixth-place result.
KTM factory rider Jonathan Barragan of Team Silver Action topped the KTM MX1 line-up this weekend with two solid finishes in the two motos for the MX1 GP of Turkey on a brand new circuit near Istanbul.
Barragan was seventh in the first moto on the hard pack surface of the brand new track some 40 minutes from Istanbul and in view of the sea, then improved to finish sixth in the second moto.
Jonathan Barragan, Silver Action KTM, 6th:
"I didn't get such a good start in the first heat and I didn't find good lines," the Spaniard commented after the GP. "But it was better for me in the second heat. I had much better lines and I was up in fourth place in the second half of the race. Then I had a small crash and finished up in sixth place, which wasn't so bad considering the crash." Jonathan will now return to Spain to prepare for the next GP in Valkenswaard in the Netherlands where riders will tackle a sandy course after three hard pack tracks in the first three rounds.
Injuries limited the effectiveness of KTM's Max Nagl.
Max Nagl of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team had a tough weekend with some health problems. Max has been taking pain killing injections for a hand injury but he suffered some stomach problems on Sunday, which were much worse during the second moto. "I was not so bad in the first moto. I had a good start, I was in third place then I dropped back to sixth and managed to stay there. But I started to feel really bad between the two motos and it was tough to hold on and finish the second heat." Nagl finished in thirteenth place for overall ninth and now returns to Belgium where he has time to rest up and prepare for the next GP on April 25-26 in Valkenswaard.
