An action packed Honda Grand Prix of Brazil, rounding off the 2009 FIM Motocross World Championship, concluded with the victories of Clement Desalle and Marvin Musquin, as the latter also wrapped up the MX2 Championship.
Steve Ramon and Max Nagl completed the MX1 podium while 2009 World Champion Tony Cairoli struggled to end ninth; German Nagl wrapped up the second place in the Championship.
Ken Roczen and Frossard rounded off the MX2 podium ahead of fourth overall Rui Goncalves who ended an eventual second in the Championship.
MX 1 Class
LS Motors Honda's Clement Desalle steered his machine to his second career GP victory at Canelinha where the Belgian performed as strong as ever. Desalle moved past Nagl in heat one to take victory and settled for second in heat two where a superb Ramon won his first season's heat.
Teka Suzuki World MX1's Steve Ramon secured the podium with victory in heat two. In moto on the two time World Champion was seventh despite a good start.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Max Nagl completed the Brazilian podium by taking second in moto one after he let Desalle by and fifth in the final heat, where he struggled with the track conditions. Nevertheless Nagl wrapped up the runner up spot in the Championship ahead of Desalle.
Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross' Joshua Coppins was fourth overall ahead of Ken De Dycker of Teka Suzuki WMX1.
2008 World Champion David Philippaerts missed the third place in the Championship as he dropped down to sixth in the overall standings after a second moto crash.
World Champion Tony Cairoli also had a tough Brazilian outing, slipping in moto one and getting stuck in a second corner accident in heat two. The pole man was ninth overall at his first Grand Prix after undergoing knee surgery in the week following Lierop.
Brazilian Jorge Balbi was tenth overall to be the best placed home rider as his sister Mariana, the first ever woman to have raced an MX1 Grand Prix, was 24th.
Clement Desalle: "I'm really pumped with my second GP win. Even more because it's always special to win an overseas event and certainly in front of this big and passionate crowd here today! So capping of my season in third overall was just perfect. Today was also the birthday of my sister Cloe and I'm dedicating my victory to her, because she's always been very supportive of my career.
It's true that compared to other GP's we had less time to familiarise with the track, but that didn't matter to me. I had the idea before that the track would suit me and that turned out to be correct! In the second moto I tried to hunt down Steve (Ramon), but he was just too strong. Ramon was too far off and I need all my focus to stay on two wheels and defend my position from Coppins."
Steve Ramon: "Today was a little bit difficult for me. I had some problems with arm-pump in the first moto but we made some changes to the set-up before the second race and I took the holeshot and could ride easy. It gave me a great feeling to win again and I am really happy, especially to end the season in this way."
Max Nagl: I am very happy to finish second in the MX1 title, it's my best career result so far. I had a great start in the first heat but Desalle got past me. He's been very strong lately and I didn't want to make any mistakes that might have spoiled my chances. I only had to go for two more points after my good result in race one. I had a good start again and it was my ain to finish on the podium. This result was even better than I expected but I have a great bike and a great team and that really helps a lot. Now I'll concentrate on the MX of nations coming up soon. We have a very good national team and it's my goal to finish well there."
MX1 Race 1: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 39:14.078; ; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:02.735; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:08.439; 4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:09.877; 5. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:13.631; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), +0:37.453; 7. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:42.279; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), +1:25.452; 9. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), +1:28.749; 10. Antonio Jorge Balbi Jr. (BRA, Honda), +1:29.845;
MX1 Race 2: 1. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 39:20.165; ; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), +0:04.350; 3. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:05.996; 4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:24.343; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:32.527; 6. Carlos Campano (ESP, Yamaha), +0:43.224; 7. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:54.357; 8. David Vuillemin (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:09.893; 9. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), +1:16.604; 10. Julien Bill (SUI, Aprilia), +1:20.582;
MX1 Championship: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 561 points; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 525 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 508 p.; 4. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 497 p.; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 495 p.; 6. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 485 p.; 7. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), 395 p.; 8. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), 262 p.; 9. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 229 p.; 10. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 217 p.;