It is finally time to take a well deserved two week break after a hard fought Czech Grand Prix. With only three rounds remaining, David Philippaerts took back the MX1 point lead by winning this 12th Grand Prix ahead of Sebastien Pourcel and Jonathan Barragan, who both crashed in the heats. Max Nagl and Steve Ramon rounded out the top five.
In MX2 Tommy Searle and Tyla Rattray ended first and second overall and took the same amount of points to leave the Championship standings with no changes-Rattray leads Searle. Anthony Boissiere took an unexpected podium as Nicolas Aubin and Stephen Sword rounded out the top five.
MX1 CLASS
Monster Yamaha Rinaldis' David Philippaerts had a great day in the Czech Republic as he took the GP victory and point lead back from Teka Suzuki WMX1's Steve Ramon. Despite crashing in the opening heat, the Italian recovered and took second; he wrapped up the overall by winning the final heat. GPKR's Sebastien Pourcel was second at his first podium appearance since France as AXO KTM Silver Action's Jonathan Barragan rounded out the podium after winning the last three GP's.
First moto winner Max Nagl of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing was fourth with Ramon fifth.
Gregory Aranda put together a strong ride in his first MX1 GP by finishing 12th overall.
Honda Cas rider Billy Mackenzie crashed in heat one while running second. He was taken to the nearest hospital. The x-rays found no fractures.
MX1 Moto 1
Nagl started strong but he lost a few positions when he had to pass through a first lap tangle; the German rode back to Barragan's tail as the Spaniard moved up to first by exploiting a mistake of previous leader Pourcel.
Nagl eventually moved to first with three minutes to go and secured the win from Barragan. Philippaerts took an unexpected third after he recovered from a first lap crash while Ramon and Pourcel rounded off the top five. Factory Kawasaki Tanel Leok was sixth ahead of Coppins who rode the whole moto with no goggles -a stone broke them on lap one.
MX1 Moto 2
The second moto was a different story for David Philippaerts, who rode a flawless heat to take victory and the Grand Prix.
Barragan was second when he crashed at lap two; he rode strong to recover from the bottom of the top ten to an eventual fifth. De Dycker was third as he, Steve Ramon, Priem and Tanel Leok entertained the crowd with a good battle inside the top ten. Ramon followed his teammate in fourth as the duo gained one position when Coppins crashed (at the bottom of the track) from third.
The Kiwi finished tenth as Suzuki rider Clement Desalle was eighth after riding in second during the opening laps.
David Philippaerts:
"This is a great win for me and it has come at a good time. I pushed really hard in that first moto after a stupid crash and passed many riders. I found some good lines and just went for it. The track was very difficult but the team had worked hard in the last week to give me a bike that was perfect and I felt really happy being able to push. My goal was to at least catch Ramon but I found I could keep going and the top three was possible. In the second moto I took one or two risks but then was able to make good lap-times when I was in the lead and had a great race. For me Loket is a very real and natural motocross track and has similarities to some places in Italy. We have three races left now and I will try hard each time to get the best position I can. We will then see if the championship is ours or not!
Sebastien Pourcel:
"In the first race I was leading but I made a mistake, then I was nervous and got pumped up arms. I had a good jump of the gate in the second race but lost some positions in the first few corners. Then I made a strong come back in the first half of the race but when I was closing the gap with Philippaerts I crashed. I didn't lose my second place but it was not possible anymore to put pressure on him, so I simply secured my position.
"Next week I will race the final round of the French Elite Championship and then we'll prepare with the team and some Japanese engineers for the last few GPs."
Jonathan Barragan:
"I am happy to be the podium again, I picked up some more points and the good result, which follows on from my three consecutive MX1 wins. The track here had many ripples and turns and it was not so easy to lay down good laps. I was second in the first race but Nagl was very strong. Then I had a crash in the second and finished fifth. From now on I want to be on the podium as often as I can and we will see what happens in the championship when we get to the last race in Italy."
MOTO 1
1. Maximilian Nagl, KTM
2. Jonathan Barragan, KTM
3. David Philippaerts, Yamaha
4. Steve Ramon, Suzuki
5. Sebastien Pourcel, Kawasaki
6. Tanel Leok, Kawasaki
7. Joshua Coppins, Yamaha
8. Ken De Dycker, Suzuki
9. Clement Desalle, Suzuki
MOTO 2
1. David Philippaerts, Yamaha
2. Sebastien Pourcel, Kawasaki
3. Ken De Dycker, Suzuki, BEL
4. Steve Ramon, Suzuki, BEL
5. Jonathan Barragan, KTM
6. Tanel Leok, Kawasaki
7. Manuel Priem, Kawasaki
8. Clement Desalle, Suzuki
9. Maximilian Nagl, KTM