Karro_MXGP_2013_R03_RX_589250ac98 Baragan_MXGP_2013_R03_RX_57026f7276 73697_Herlings_MXGP_2013_R03_RX_7375 gp3_gp_ph_8483 73687_Herlings_MXGP_2013_R03_RX_4559 73677_Fabvre_MXGP_2013_R03_RX_1765 73702_Nicholls_MXGP_2013_R03_RA50305 mx23lieber8 dean-ferris 73704_Nicholls_MXGP_2013_R03_RX_7604 73714_Tixier_MXGP_2013_R03_RX_5080 73659_Cairoli_MXGP_2013_R03_RX_8663 73668_DeDycker_MXGP_2013_R03_RX_5769 mx13desalle32 mx13strijbos13 Kemea_DSC9143pb mx13strijbos31 petrov_G38F3625pb mx23anstie4 mx23suzuki-mx25 fors_G38F2039pb petrov_G38F4372pb P20130401213250446 MX1_2013_Valkenswaard_Searle07 MX2_2013_Valkenswaard_Lupino01 MX2_2013_Valkenswaard_Ferrandis07 bobryshev_gp03_valkenswaard2013_d1713 nagl_gp03_valkenswaard2013_d1890 MX1_2013_Valkenswaard_VanHorebeek06 MX1_2013_Valkenswaard_Paulin09 MX2_2013_Valkenswaard_Lupino02 MX2_2013_Valkenswaard_Lacan03 MX2_2013_Valkenswaard_Lacan02 nagl_gp03_valkenswaard2013_d5621 MX1_2013_Valkenswaard_VanHorebeek02 MX1_2013_Valkenswaard_VanHorebeek05 MX2_2013_Valkenswaard_Ferrandis02 bobryshev_gp03_valk2013_d4451 nagl_gp03_valk2013_d5588 MX1_2013_Valkenswaard_Paulin08 amb_bobryshev_gp03_valk2013_d6061 MX1_2013_Valkenswaard_Paulin02 MX1_2013_Valkenswaard_TeamKRT01 MX2_2013_Valkenswaard_Lupino08 MX1_2013_Valkenswaard_Searle04 MX2_2013_Valkenswaard_Lupino07 bobryshevvan_horebeek_gp03_valkenswaard2013_d1894 P20130401213954134 MX2_2013_Valkenswaard_Lupino06 amb_nagl_gp03_valk2013_d5468 bobryshev_gp03_valk2013_d4151 MX1_2013_Valkenswaard_Paulin03 MX2_2013_Valkenswaard_Ferrandis04 The races at round 3 of the world motocross championship from Valkenswaard in Holland made for a great spectacle…the track was switched around to run backwards and the frozen surface made for interesting lines throughout the entire weekend. Here’s what the riders had to say about their racing.
Christophe Charlier: “Not much luck today, in fact the day didn’t start well at all with two crashes in the first race. I fought for what I could and then wasn’t able to do better in the second moto because I could feel that the bike had a problem on the sighting lap. Anyway, we will forget about this weekend and it doesn’t change my motivation. We go to Italy next and this will almost be like a home GP for me.”
Clement Desalle: “It was really cold this morning but I guess this was not a surprise after yesterday. I had a good jump out of the gate in the first moto but I was really close to some riders around the second corner. It is very fast there and someone touched me – I think it was Leok – and crashed, hitting my head pretty hard. I was dazed for a few seconds there but it wasn’t anything too bad and I could find my way back to eighth. I was by myself for the second half of the moto…it was better to have this than a DNF. I was a bit wary of the start for the second moto and I felt a lot of pressure with us all coming so close together. I took some time to pass Nagl and ended up fifth. Nothing special. I was sick during the week so I couldn’t train like I wanted. It’s not an excuse but I think if I’d have had two days on the bike then perhaps it would have been better today. We will work on because there is still a long way to go and I’m feeling positive.”
Kevin Strijbos: “It was a tale of two different motos really. I had a good start in the first race – around fifth or sixth – and in the beginning I just tried to mix it up but by the third lap I had loads of arm-pump. I couldn’t hold on any more and I was so mad about that. I wasn’t tired or anything but I just couldn’t push. I was angry after the race and I knew with the front fork and the shock the way they were I wouldn’t be able to hit the lines and ruts like I wanted. I talked to Frank about the set-up and he tried something drastic that had worked for me in 2011 when I had a few wild-card rides with the team. A big thanks to him because it was so much better. I could move the bike around a lot more and could do what I wanted. It is a bit of a pity we didn’t get it sorted for the first race because I could have made the podium today. I had the speed for sure. It is good to make the top three anyway and again I want to thank the team for its support, everyone worked hard and helped me turn this day around.”
Max Anstie: “We did a lot of work in the last couple of weeks but it was all at Lommel and then we come here and the sand is frozen and hard! We were searching all weekend for the right setting and we were also testing a few little bits and pieces, trying to bring it together but it didn’t really happen. I had a good start in the first race and ran my pace. We are getting there and this should have been a top-five no problem. I’m not tired physically but I couldn’t really ride like I wanted to today. All we can do is keep working and I know we are close. We’ll go again in a couple of weeks.”
Julien Lieber: “The first race was pretty good and the start was perfect. I finished sixth and felt a bit tired with some back pain so I wasn’t sure what to expect in the second moto. My start wasn’t as good and I was behind Banks-Browne in the top 10 when I crashed and then fell again. I was picking up my bike when I saw the other riders coming and had to let it go. It was in no state to ride after it had been hit. I’m really lucky that I’m OK. The track was difficult today.”
Jonathan Barragan: “I rode okay in the first race and pushed at the end to close in on Simpson for 12th but Simpson made a mistake and nearly crashed and I hit him and went down so only ended up in 16th. The second race my back wheel locked up and I couldn’t move the bike. I have some hard pack tracks coming up at Italy and Bulgaria and I’m looking to get some better results at those and then build from there.”
Matiss Karro: “First race I wasn’t that happy with 18th but I know I rode good and second race I didn’t ride as well but ended up with a better result in 14th. Overall I achieved my goal of finishing both races in the points and with no crashes. So I’m happy and can move forward from here in the next few races.”
Mel Pocock: “I’m happy. I struggled my arse-off yesterday and got really beaten up. I went down at the start of the qualification heat and someone hit my leg and another person whacked my knee! I passed about twenty guys and was really steaming through when I came around and someone had crashed ahead of me. As I came by they lifted up their bike and I hooked the handlebar, quashing my left bicep muscle and that really hurt! I settled down after that and took the place I was in. Today I had two really good starts and fought all the way through the race. I rode so much better than yesterday. I’ll keep plodding away because I haven’t had the best of starts to the season. I am fit, I just need things to go my way.”
Maxime Desprey: “This track was very strange to ride but my feeling with it got better through the weekend. In qualifying I finished tenth and this was pretty good. I must continue to work through the longer motos and get better. My feeling with the bike is improving and I’m happy with the direction the season is going.”
Tony Cairoli: “The track was very hard. In your mind you think it’s sand but some bumps were really square and I made some mistakes at the beginning of the second race after winning the first race easily. I couldn’t find my rhythm for the first 15 minutes of race two but my last lap was the best of the race and in the end we almost had a photo finish with Ken.”
Ken de Dycker: “We both had a good start in the first moto and then Tony let me by after he made a mistake. I tried to keep calm but then one time I started to slide and the bike threw me off. I was a bit dizzy for two laps. There was one place where I could have passed Bobryshev if I had been closer. The race was one lap too short. The second moto was really easy but I did make some mistake half way and towards the end.”
Jeffrey Herlings: “It definitely wasn’t easy from gate pick 40 but I made the best of it. I got a good start in the first moto but it wasn’t good at all in the second, so the first race was a bit easier for me but I made it happen. Then in the last laps it was great to see all the Dutch flag, I like that!”
Jordi Tixier: “For me it was a good weekend, I was twice second but it was like I won. I got two holeshots and was in front for the first 25 minutes in the first moto and in the second I was in the lead up to five laps before the end.”
Tommy Searle: “The qualifying race was tough as I was last in the first corner, but I recovered and finished fourteenth. The sand was hard this year and everyone was riding fast; it was difficult to pass and I finished tenth in the first race. The second race was similar with a ninth position. It was my first GP in the sand with the 450 and I need to gain more experience to get better results.”
Nikolaj Larsen: “What can I say? I was so tired and it was really, really tough! My preparation has been far from perfect so I had to dig deep in these conditions. Especially when you’re not at 100% yourself that’s when you realize even more how hard the competition is in MX1. But I won’t complain and I’m happy at least to take some points. The bike was working well, now we need to get the guy on the bike to a higher level!”
Jeremy Van Horebeek: “On Saturday I was pleased to be back in the top six of the timed practice period, and I confirmed that ranking in the qualifying race. Today was different; my starts were not as good and the starts were so important! I fought back from twentieth to eleventh in the first moto, and I was running tenth in the second one and battling to move further forward until something happened and I had to retire to the pits.”
Alessandro Lupino: “I have spent a lot of time in the Netherlands to prepare for this race, but I didn’t get the reward this weekend. The crash at the start of the qualifying race ruined my GP, as it left me twenty-sixth on the grid. In the first moto my feeling was not good and I made too many mistakes, but we changed some settings on the bike before the second race. Again my start wasn’t good but I recovered to tenth and was moving in on Pocock for ninth when I crashed with only two laps to the finish. I am determined to make up for my bad luck at the next round in Italy.”
Jordan Lacan: “The team asked me to race here on Thursday, and I only had chance to ride the bike for one hour before coming here. I knew that it would be difficult as I have never raced in the sand but you can’t refuse such a great opportunity, and I did my best. I finished both races, but my start was really bad in the first race and then I crashed at the start of the second one.”
Dylan Ferrandis: “I didn’t know what I could expect from this GP as I broke a finger in my right hand last week at the French championship, but in the end it was not too painful. I crashed with Lupino at the start of the qualifying race so I only had twenty fourth pick at the gate, but my first start was pretty good. I raced the entire race in tenth and I was happy with this result, but the exhaust must have been damaged in a collision and I received a penalty of one minute after the noise control. I was so sad! My second start wasn’t as good as the first one, and I could only finish fifteenth, so it was not a great weekend.”
Max Nagl: “After making some changes to the bike yesterday, the starts were great today. I almost had a holeshot in the first race just behind Bobby, which was cool and I was third off the start in the second heat. The riding went well, as although I can’t stay with the first few guys with the speed missing from a lack of bike time, I could fight with Gautier Paulin and Clement Desalle, so I know it’s coming better. I was tired in the race, but not completely dead, so the physical condition is definitely improving. The bike was working awesome today; the suspension, engine, and everything was great. I am so happy for myself, the mechanics and the team, for Honda and everyone, as the last few races, weeks and months have been difficult; it’s really a big weight off the shoulders to get a good result. Next week I am staying in Belgium to t rain with my practice mechanic Maurizio on the bike, before going to Italy next week to test with the team and practice for a few days on the hardpack ground before the race in Italy, where I look forward to making even more improvements.”
Joel Roelants: “I felt really good in the first heat and my speed was really good also. I passed many guys but managed to crash four times and make huge mistakes without going down. I think without those crashes I could have been in the top five. I told myself for the second heat ‘keep it upright for the first fifteen at least’. I got a steady pace going but when I wanted to charge I could find anything. I think it was the effect from the first heat. I know that if I had ridden here like I do in training then I would have been in the top five both times for sure. The result is quite frustrating but there are some bright points from the first race. I fought for every point.”
Steven Frossard: “I cannot believe my luck. I was hit by a guy who somehow managed to turn into me on straight while I was riding and his footpeg smashed into my foot. I had a small crack but the bone has moved after riding yesterday and it took me five minutes to get my shoe on this morning. The best option was to fix it straight away and put a pin inside so I should hopefully be back for Italy in two weeks.”
Kiara Fontanesi: “It is not easy to come back and go 1-1 again at the first race so I’m really happy. After winning the world championship last year I wanted to come here and do well so there was some pressure but I started in a good way. The track was really hard and different compared to last year. It wasn’t like I expected it to be and I didn’t like it much as it was flat and difficult to pass. A difficult day but in the end a perfect result.”
Evgeny Bobryshev: “In the morning it was -2°C, but with the sun coming out, I knew it was going to get better. It was really slippery and frozen in warm-up this morning, but in the race I got an excellent start, as I took the holeshot. I was leading for a lap, but Tony and Ken were a little bit faster. I followed them and lap-by-lap I was feeling better, so I could take advantage of Ken when he made a mistake. I kept a good pace and it was nice to be up at the sharp end of the field, as it’s been so long since we have been able to race there. In the second race I got another holeshot, which was surprising, as it isn’t usual for me to take two in one day, so I was pleased with that. I have to say Ken was good today and with his s tyle he could hit the bumps so hard. I was struggling and I wasn’t so happy, as I couldn’t find the lines or my corner speed so well. I made quite a lot of mistakes and Strijbos passed me. Tony was pushing me for a few laps and he got by, so I decided to try and stay with him, as there was definitely more in the tank from me. I made a few more mistakes and had a little crash behind the lapped riders, but I managed to take fourth. I would like to keep this momentum going; Qatar was good and I think a podium in Thailand was possible, but it didn’t work out, so we just need to keep moving forward with consistent results. I would like to thank the team for all of their hard work and it’s a great feeling to be back on the podium.”
Gautier Paulin: “The track was strange this weekend as the sand was frozen below the surface; we’re not used to this though of course it was the same for everyone. I qualified fourth so I had a good gate for the races; my first start was pretty good as I was seventh, but the second one was worse. I had a good feeling in the first moto, but in the second one I only found the good lines and a good rhythm during the last ten minutes and that was too late. The result is not what I was expecting, but we will continue to work hard to prepare the upcoming rounds.”
Dean Ferris: “It’s only been 13 days since my operation and we knew that it would be a long shot making it for this GP but after riding the bike on Saturday I felt comfortable to attempt the event. The pain was actually quite bearable but I had no strength to handle the bike how I need to in the sand and that made it difficult to go fast. I’m confident that I’ll be back for the Italian GP in two weeks where I can hopefully grab back a hand full of points.”
Petar Petrov: “I’m so disappointed with the crash in the second race. I had a good start but in front of me riders started to struggle and I wanted to avoid them. I brake a little too hard, crashed myself and got like 15 riders over me. Luckily nothing is broken but today I feel sore and like a train hit me. Until then things were going really well. I felt really good on the Yamaha and I think I had the speed to battle for a top 5 place. Unfortunately that didn’t go as planned. Now I will take it easy for some days before I start working hard again for the next races.”
Images by Yamaha.KTM, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki
Source: http://moto.mpora.com/race-reports/riders-say-what-how-tough-was-this-years-valkenswaard-gp.html
Gaston Rahier Steve Ramon Tyla Rattray Chad Reed Warren Reid
