Taking victory at the Grand Prix of Lombardia ( Mantova, Italy) , Antonio Cairoli wrote a new page in Motocross history as he collected the maiden Grand Prix win of a 350cc machine in the likes of the KTM 350 SX-F. Clement Desalle and Max Nagl completed the MX1 podium.
Marvin Musquin took his fourth consecutive heat win to win the Grand Prix from Ken Roczen and Jeffrey Herlings.
MX1 CLASS
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX1’s Cairoli walked away from Mantova with his first GP win of the season and with the MX1 red plate which he snatched from team mate Nagl, winner in Bulgaria last weekend. Cairoli’s success marked the first ever triumph in a Motocross GP of a 350cc bike in the likes of the KTM 350 SX-F. The Italian recovered to second in moto one after a bad start but rode an impressive final heat, dominating from the start to the flag.
Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1’s Desalle took victory in the opening heat which he started leading after previous leader Philippaerts made a mistake and crashed. In the second moto instead he had to recover from the bottom of the top ten to a final fourth to secure the podium.
Third man on the rostrum was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX1’s Max Nagl who dropped down to second in the Championship. The German ended third twice in the heats.
Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci’s Ken De Dycker ended fourth overall ahead of a surprising Xavier Boog of Kawasaki Racing. The French MX1 debutant even took the holeshot in the second race.
Home rider David Philippaerts ended a bitter eight. He was second in heat two but a penalty in the first heat where he crashed and broke his exhaust pipe- saw him drop down to 19th.
Team Martin Honda rider Jimmy Albertson used a Dunlop sand profile on his rear wheel to make an excellent start in the first moto and was running in the top five for half of the 35 minute and 2 lap distance. He upped his speed in the final phase to secure sixth and his best finish so far. In the second race the same rubber did not produce a similar launch from the gate and the American had to battle from mid-pack to take 13th.
Tony Cairoli: "I'm very happy to win the first ever GP on the 350. Like Stefan (team boss Stefan Everts) said it is a historical victory for us. It's a great feeling to be the first one who has ever won a GP on this bike. I have won on different bikes but to be the first, well that's a different emotion. For sure with this victory I'm convinced that I have a very strong bike. I'm happy to be back with the red plate but it would have been okay also if it was with my team-mate. The most important thing is to have it at the end of the championship. Now I look forward to Valkenswaard. I like the track there and it's going to be a great race."