Fillip for Philippaerts
By TMX Archives on 18th May 07
A MISSED gear cost Josh Coppins another GP win, though he did increase his lead in the standings, but surely nothing can prevent Toni Cairoli from regaining the MX2 title after he again whitewashed the field at Teutschenthal in Germany, for me the worst track of the year. If I can win here, I can win anywhere!''
And, on Mother's Day in Germany and Italy, the Sicilian dedicated the win to his mother: We all love our mamas, si?''
The MX1 winner after Coppins' slip? David Philippaerts. We tested changes in the motor this week, and then I win, just like last year!'' grinned the KTM rider.
There were mixed fortunes for the Brits again. All of the Brits who qualified were on the scorecard, but only Gordon Crockard, seven seconds away from the win and fastest man on the track in the second MX1 race, could be totally satisfied with his show.
Tommy Searle and Gareth Swanepoel both lost ground in the MX2 chase, and James Noble suffered a DNF, but Brad Anderson took his UK form abroad to miss the top ten by just a second, and Carl Nunn was Britain's top MX2 man from two gutsy rides.
MX1
AFTER a shower as the MX1 qualifier took to the track, Coppins stayed cool. Only 17th with four and a half minutes left, the Kiwi took to the track and posted best time. He knew how vital it was: The start is so unfair here, I wanted gate one.''
And on Sunday he used it to good effect to lead twice within half a lap.
The first moto was a stroll, only Yamaha teammate Marc De Reuver even getting close, and race two seemed to be going the same way.
It was my fault. I found neutral in the sand,'' he lamented later.
With five laps to go, he had the leaders in his sights again and another famous victory seemed on the cards, but then he suddenly drop-ped off the leading group: I hit my foot on an earth bank.''
Despite losing a place to a charging Crockard, Coppins missed top score by just one point but, more importantly, outscored, main championship rival Kevin Strijbos on the day by seven to open up a 43-point cushion in the standings.
WORLD MX1 MOTOCROSS CHAMPS
Rd 5 Teutschenthal, GERMANY
1 David Philippaerts (I - Red Bull KTM) 16 + 25 = 41
2 Steve Ramon (B - Team Suzuki) 20 + 20 = 40
3 Joshua Coppins (NZ - Yamaha) 25 + 15 = 40
4 Marc De Reuver (NL - Yamaha) 22 + 13 = 35
5 Kevin Strijbos (B - Team Suzuki) 15 + 18 = 33
6 Gordon CROCKARD (IRE - Par Honda) 14 + 16 = 30
SERIES STANDINGS after 5 (of 15) rounds: 1 Coppins 234 points, 2 Strijbos 191, 3 Ramon 156, 4 Pourcel 130, 5 De Reuver 124, 6 De Dycker 122
NEXT ROUND: May 27 - Sugo, JAPAN.
MX2
CHRISTOPHE Pourcel, who had scored his maiden GP win at the track 12 months ago, had Cairoli in his sights within a couple of laps in each moto and gave momentous chase, but the Italian was having none of it.
The Frenchman would edge closer on the SX style jumps, but the gritty Italian just pushed again and, with the fastest lap of the day on the final lap of race one, rebuffed the challenge. Race two was almost a repeat, but body language suggested the French teenager knew the effort was fruitless. The pair of them were 40 seconds ahead in both motos.
Pascal Leuret, as well as the Ricci Yamaha twins Kenneth Gundersen, in the first race, and Davide Guarneri in both motos, used good starts as a foundation for top-six finishes, while Tyla Rattray was in the role of chaser as his starts let him down again.
WORLD MX2 MOTOCROSS CHAMPS
Rd 5 - Teutschenthal, GERMANY
1 Antonio Cairoli (I - DeCarli Yamaha) 25 + 25 = 50
2 Christophe Pourcel (F - GPKR Kawasaki) 22 + 22 = 44
3 Tyla Rattray (ZA - Red Bull KTM) 18 + 20 = 38
4 Pascal Leuret (F - Nouvelle Honda) 15 + 18 = 33
5 Davide Guarneri (I - Ricci Yamaha) 16 + 16 = 32
6 Nicolas Aubin (F - KTM) 12 + 15 = 27
SERIES STANDINGS after 5 (of 15) rounds: 1 Cairoli 247 points, 2 Pourcel 181, 3 Rattray 180, 4 Leuret 143, 5 SEARLE 137, 6 Aubin 121.
NEXT ROUND: May 27 - Sugo, JAPAN.
For full report, results and pictures see T+MX NEWS, Friday, May 18, 2007.