Rattray and Searle second and third at MX2 GP
By TMX Archives on 1st Jun 08
Red Bull KTM's Tyla Rattray snatched the first moto but got caught up in crashes in the second on a roughed up circuit at Mallory Park finishing overall second behind Italy's Antonio Cairoli in the GP of Britain.
Factory team mate Tommy Searle was third and second in the two motos for overallthird place in front of his home crowd while fellow Briton and KTM rider ShaunSimpson finished fourth. With Anthony Boissiere of the KTM supported HDI Franceteam in sixth place, riders of the Austrian manufacturer took four of the firstsixth places. The third Red Bull KTM rider, Rui Goncalves of Portugal had aluckless day and finished eleventh.
Tyla charges through pack insecond race
Rattray made a huge effort to hunt down the leaders afterdropping right back in the order in the early part of the second moto. He madean impressive charge from the back of the field, continually gaining ground onthe front group. Although the gap between fourth and third was too great for himto breach, he did well to salvage his fourth place for 18 valuable championshippoints. The KTM factory rider from South Africa, while promising to come backstrong in the next event, was clearly disappointed to have to relinquish thecoveted red number plate as championship leader to rival Cairoli by a singlepoint.
Committed to regaining red plate
"I plan to get thered plate back in the next GP," said a determined Rattray. "Today I got theholeshot in the first race and I managed to stay out in front all the way. It'shard to pass on this circuit and you have to be very concentrated to get goodlines." Rattray did just that after being involved in two crashes in the firstpart of race two.
Searle hoped for more at Mallory Park
Tommy Searle was less than satisfied with his day in front of his homecrowd, particularly when his chances of getting the lead in race one were spoiltby a close encounter with arch rival Cairoli. "My riding was ok but notbrilliant today," he said. "I didn't have very good starts and I made a fewmistakes. At the end of the second race there was just too much of a gap for meto be able to close it." Tommy now trails Cairoli by 10 points in what hasdeveloped into a three rider competition (Cairoli, Rattray and Searle) for thetitle.
Bad day for Rui Goncalves
Red Bull KTM's RuiGoncalves admitted his day had not been a good one. "I had problems with thelines in the first race and my riding as not good. I tried to relax more in thesecond but it just seemed to get worse. Then I had a crash and hit my knee andmy head and blacked out for a moment." Goncalves will also get a medical checkon Monday.
First time at Mallory Park Circuit
The man-madecircuit at Mallory Park, some 50 km from the city of Birmingham, is constructedon the interior of an existing and well known road racing facility. It was thefirst time riders in the MX world championship have raced here on this technicaland demanding circuit. The surface is medium soft and sand has been added to thecorners.
MX2 GP Results
1. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, Yamaha
2. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, KTM (Red Bull KTM)
3. Tommy Searle,Britain, KTM (Red Bull KTM)
4. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM (KTM UK)
5.Stephen Sword, Britain, Kawasaki
Other KTM
6. Anthony Boissiere,France, KTM (Team HDI France)
11. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM (Red BullKTM)
12. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM (GP Juniors Team Champ)
13. JeremyTarroux, France, KTM (Team Silver Action)
19. Julien Vanni, France, KTM(Team HDI France)
Championship Standings
1. Antonio Cairoli,Italy, 243 points
2. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, 242
3. Tommy Searle,Britain, 233
4. Nicolas Aubin, France, 158
5. Shaun Simpson, Britain,156
6. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, 148
Other KTM
10. Jeremy vanHorebeek, Belgium, 109
13. Anthony Boissiere, France, 91
12. JoelRoelants, Belgium, 68
17. Jeremy Tarroux, France, 59
30. Julien Vanni,France, 12