Walker, Gomez, Roman and Young square up for Extreme Lagares
Photo Credit: Robert Lynn/Future7Media
The stage is set for a cracking 13th edition of the Extreme XL Lagares in Portugal with Jonny Walker, Alfredo Gomez, Mario Roman and Wade Young all ready to make their presence felt.
With pretty much all the stars of hard enduro entered, bar Graham Jarvis, the race action is set to be hot and heavy in Portugal. Staged over two days for 2017, the race gets underway with it’s now infamous city prolgue in downtown Porto before finishing off Saturday with a night time superenduro styled race in Lagares.
Sunday is the feature race where two laps of the surrounding mountains will test both man and machine.
KTM’s Alfredo starts the event as the defending champion and looks to capture his third consecutive Lagares win this weekend. Claiming the hat trick will see him match Jarvis as one of the most successful riders in the history of the race. And after a tough outing in Brazil, Gomez will be hungry for redemption.
But he’s got a fight on his hands with Sherco’s Mario Roman more than capable of giving him a run for it in Portugal. Roman almost won the race in 2016 and having missed the trip to Brazil starts this weekend fresh and raring to go.
Photo Credit: Robert Lynn/Future7Media
Third overall in 2016, Wade Young won’t want to be out shone by his teammate Roman. Having made his Lagares debut last year, he knows exactly what to expect this time around and should come out swinging.
Ready to kick start his 2017 outdoor season Jonny Walker (KTM) makes his Extreme Lagares debut this weekend. After an injury-hurt 2016 season in hard enduro, Walker is determined to get back to his winning ways and will be on the attack in Portugal.
Looking to make his presence felt, Mani Lettenbichler is a rider easily capable of figuring highly. With Saturday’s format expected to suit the 2016 SuperEnduro Junior champion, the young German may just claim a surprise result.
Photo Credit: Robert Lynn/Future7Media
Second at Hell’s Gate, South African Travis Teasdale looks to continue his run of good form in Portugal, likewise Lars Enockl, Pol Tarres, Pierre Pallut and Sergi Leon won’t disappoint.
Unfortunately a foot injury for Billy Bolt will see him most likely sit this out out while David Knight is also rumoured to be a non-starter.
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Antonio Cairoli is like a fine wine. I remember the Sicilian telling me at the Latvian Grand Prix—during his injury riddled season two years ago—that we hadn’t seen the best of him. I have to be honest, I wasn’t sure if that was the case. With around 75 GP wins to his name at that time and eight world titles, it was hard to see him better what he had already done.
Then came the start of the 2017 season—a win in Qatar, that marvellous performance in Trentino a month ago, and his fighting off the challenge of the next king of MXGP, Jeffrey Herlings, in Germany last weekend. He has been a great champion and with the red plate and a very handy 44 point lead over Tim Gajser in the MXGP points, you could have to think that he is heading for championship number nine.
In Germany last weekend the Italian left smiling, and looking forward to what is coming in the next months. His first moto performance a little less than he hoped for, but a strong performance.
Antonio and his girlfriend, Jill, in Germany.
“I’m really happy,” Cairoli said after his win. “I got three good starts this weekend and this is what we have been working on for a little while. On a track as rough as the one we had today, it was really important to try and ride smoothly and without any mistakes. I enjoy riding here because the soil is similar to that of my home track. In the first moto I got the hole shot, but Jeffrey was real close to me and he was very fast in certain sections. He quickly closed down the gap and managed to pass me. He was the fastest on track during the early part of the race, and I lost contact as I was constantly searching for good lines. After a while I managed to find my rhythm and picked up a good pace, managing to close the gap down. Unfortunately I got caught up with some lapped riders, losing valuable seconds, and couldn’t get close enough to try for the pass.”
His second moto result was typical Cairoli. Let Herlings have that first moto, but in the second, and the all important GP overall winning moto, he showed his class. Riding off into the distance and winning easily.
“Anyway there was still a second moto to try to get the GP win, so I concentrated on getting another good start and then just put my head down and pushed hard for the whole moto, which worked out pretty well for me! I’m really happy with this victory and in extending my points lead, even though it’s not vitally important at this point of the season. I’m already looking forward to the next race in France, where we will have many fans! It’s a nice track and I want to try and have fun and to keep focused on good starts, as in today, because this is crucial. I also want send with my fiancé Jill a special thought to our friend Nicky Hayden and his family, wishing him to win the hardest battle of his life.”
If Antonio wins this title, it will no doubt be his most rewarding.
While he didn’t win Latvia a couple of weeks earlier, he did show his speed was good, and only bad starts slowed his progress.
“I’m was completely satisfied about how my weekend went, from a Championship point of view I’m happy, because my closest rival did worse than me and I’ve got the red plate back. What I’m not happy with, were my starts, that made my races way more difficult than they should have been. In race one I was outside of the top 15 from the start but luckily clawed my way back to 5th, which is not bad but I want to be fighting for the victory every race.”
“In the second moto I was feeling ok, I almost got the hole-shot but went off of the track and down to sixth. Fortunately my speed was good and I made some decent passes back up to third place, just before Gajser had a big crash in front of me. I was a bit shocked because it was a big one but I just keep riding till the end, finishing second and luckily they told me that Tim didn’t suffered any consequences.”
Now onto Ernee in France, another hard pack, another chance to cement his points lead. We all know that at the end of the day in Ernee, he will be consistent, and strong. We are all lucky to be witnessing this legend perform. Just like Stefan Everts a decade before him, the Red Bull KTM factory rider is doing things that very few can achieve, and he does it with modesty and respect for his rivals.
Fresh of the back of the German MXGP, the FIM world championship heads straight to Ernée this weekend for the MXGP of France. Gajser has some fond memories of Ernée as this is where he debuted racing the CRF450R, in the 2015 MX of Nations. Following his crash in Germany last weekend, he has been resting up at home this week. The Slovenian will be hoping to come back stronger from his run of bad luck he has experienced over the last two GP’s.
Ernée is a purpose built hard pack motocross track in the small village of Ernée in Northern France. It is famous for its steep drop offs and hill climbs. It is also extremely popular with spectators as they can view the whole track from the opposing hill. It was used in the 2005 and 2015 Motocross of Nations.
The weather is expected to be extremely warm over the weekend, with highs reaching nearly 30 degrees. There is a small chance of rain on the Sunday which could potentially make the race a little more challenging.
The MXGP qualifying race starts at on Saturday 27th May local time.
Tim Gajser: I am resting up at home this week in order to get ready for France so I hope I am not so sore as I want to come back stronger and fight for the championship again. We had the nations over there in 2015 and from what I remember it is a very traditional french track with stones and really tight corners. We get alot of spectators there and It is always nice to go to France. Roger Harvey: We will obviously be attending this race without Bobryshev whilst he recovers from having his collarbone plated last weekend but Tim will be racing in order to salvage some more points even though with less than a week between these two races, he will still be sore. We haven’t had Ernee on the calendar since the MX of nations in 2015 so it will be good to go back there. It is usually a very good track for spectators and it should suit Tims style of riding so we will see what the weekend brings.
Miri to host International Motocross C’ship next year
May 24, 2017, WednesdayJude Toyat, reporters@theborneopost.com
Lee (fourth left) and officials salute winners on the podium on Sunday.
MIRI: The state government is committed to assist Sarawak Motocross Club to organise the International Motocross Championship 2018 as a spur for sports tourism in the state.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin was speaking at the closing ceremony of Borneo Motocross Championships 2017 here on Sunday.
The event, organised by Sarawak Motocross Club and Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM), attracted 70 participants from Brunei, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
Lee noted that the Miri Motorcross Track, which is recognised by AAM, is most suitable for hosting international races. He said the circuit, which was built seven years ago, gives an advantage to Mirians to organise more local and foreign events.
“We have also produced many extreme sports motocross champions at the Asian level and ten of them have made their name in international tournaments,” he added.
The construction of the Miri circuit, he believed, helped to address the problem of illegal racing.
“We are also hoping to invite riders from Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Australia and so on to come to test the circuit that we have here,” Lee said.
Husqvarna’s Thad Duvall proves the mud maestro at X-Factor GNCC as problems hit championship leader Kailub Russell dropping him to 14th.
After several days of rainfall in Peru, Indiana the 2017 AMSOIL Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Maxxis, an AMA National Championship, continued with the inaugural X-Factor GNCC. For the first time since 2013's Mammoth GNCC, Racer Productions made the decision to combine the morning amateur race with the afternoon pro race.
At the conclusion of the two-hour race on an eight-mile long racecourse it was Rockstar Energy/Factory Husqvarna Racing's Thad Duvall who took home his first overall win of the season.
However, it would not be an easy task for Duvall as it was N-Fab AmPro Yamaha's Ricky Russell who got the $250 All Balls Racing Holeshot Award. R Russell led the first two laps, but would eventually fall back two positions ultimately earning his season best finish of third overall.
Duvall's teammate, Josh Strang, was also off to a good start where he would work his way into his first second place finish of the season by the end of the four-lap race. FMF/Maxxis/RPM KTM Racing Team's Chris Bach finished just off the podium with his second fourth overall finish in 2017.
Photo Credit: Ken Hill
After a favourable start behind R Russell, Beta USA's Jordan Ashburn would find himself tangled in a power washer cord after a brief pit stop. Ashburn would fall back to 8th as he checked into timing and scoring on the first lap, but put on a hard charge eventually ended the day with an remarkable fifth overall.
After heading into the woods in the back of the XC1 pack, JCR Honda's Trevor Bollinger plowed his way through the mud for a sixth place finish in XC1 and an 11th overall. Rocky Mountain ATV*MC/KR4/Husqvarna-backed rider Grant Baylor started the day with an unfavourable 11th place position as they came around the course after one lap.
G Baylor would work his way up to seventh in XC1, while still finishing just outside the top 10 overall in 12th.
FMF/KTM Factory Racing and defending GNCC National Champion, Kailub Russell would find himself heading into the woods last off the start after falling in the second turn with another rider. K Russell and teammate, Russell Bobbitt, would finish the day out in the eighth and ninth place positions of the XC1 Pro class.
K Russell would finish 14th overall, while Bobbitt salvaged a 20th overall finish. SRT/KTM rider, and round 1 winner, Steward Baylor would complete his first lap in the fourth place position. Unfortunately this would be the only glimpse anyone caught of S Baylor, as his race ended after that first lap due to an illness.
Heading into this weekend MXGP of France, set for the undulating circuit of Ernee, it isn’t hard to look back at the history of the French motocross riders and feel they have done their share in making the FIM Motocross World Championship a better championship.
Nine Frenchman have tasted victory at the end of a GP season and been crowned FIM Motocross World Champion. The French have picked up 13 titles in total as many of their world champs scored more than one championship in their careers.
Back in 1986 Jacky Vimond became the first ever French rider to win a FIM Motocross World Championship. He did so in the 250cc class, and while Vimond was the pioneer of success for French riders it was Jean Michele Bayle who won 125cc and 250cc titles in 1988 and 1989 and started a frenzy of interest and success for the tri-colors riders.
Bayle who moved to America soon after his GP success in 1988 did still compete in Europe in the winter at the annual Bercy Supercross. Beating the big name American riders, and making a long list of young French kids in attendance wish they could be like the good looking and very marketable Bayle.
It didn’t come straight away though, and while names like David Vuillemin, Stephane Roncada and Mickael Pichon looked to become the next J.M.Bayle it wasn’t until the summer of 1996 that another amazingly talented Frenchman stole the hearts of the motocross world.
When a 16 year old Sebastien Tortelli picked up the 125cc world championship ahead of British rider Paul Malin, and a new era in French motocross was born. Tortelli added the 250 title in 1998 after a season long battle with Stefan Everts and this opened the flood-gates for French success.
Soon to follow came world titles for Frederic Bolley in the 250cc class in 1999 and 2000, Mickael Pichon also in the 250cc class in 2001 and 2002, Mickael Maschio in MX2 in 2002, and Marvin Musquin and Jordi Tixier in the MX2 class in 2009 and 2010 and 2014.
Not to mention the latest world champion, Romain Febvre, who won the MXGP world title in 2015, and helped Team France to three consecutive MXoN victories.
The French have won the Motocross of Nations on four occasions, in 2001 at the famous Namur circuit, and again at Kegums in 2014, Ernee in 2015 and Maggiora in 2016.
Now in 2016 the French have a handful of riders capable of taking overall GP victories. Gautier Paulin, Romain Febvre, Jordi Tixier, and Benoit Paturel have all scored well in recent years and all hold a special place in the hearts of the French public.
You can be sure when the Grand Prix of France fires up on Saturday morning the always large crowd will be standing as close as possible to the circuit to cheer on their local heroes, and you can be sure names like Paulin, Paturel, and Febvre will be wanting more than anything to repay their countrymen with victory come Sunday night.
Photo Credit - Hazrin Yeob Men Shah/Icon Sportswire
According to reports, former MotoGP champion Nicky Hayden has died following an auto accident that occurred last week. The 35-year-old was struck by a car while training on his bicycle on the Rimini coast in Italy last Wednesday. He was transported to a local hospital with head and chest injuries before later being transferred to the Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in Cesena. He had been in intensive care since the crash.
The hospital announced on Monday that Hayden had died as a result of severe cerebral damage and additional traumatic injuries. He had been in Italy since racing in the World Superbike Championship on May 14. Members of his family reportedly flew out from the United States to be with Hayden while he was being treated at the hospital.
The Kentucky native won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006, just three years after breaking into the premier ranks as a 21-year-old. He came out of nowhere and ended the five-year championship streak of Italian legend Valentino Rossi to claim the title. It would be his only MotoGP crown.
Hayden participated in MotoGP until 2015 before switching to Superbike full-time in 2016. He was ranked 13th in points this season following the last race in Imola earlier this month. Hayden finished fifth in the World Superbike Championship last season and won last year’s race in Malaysia. He was riding for the Red Bull Honda team.
Following the news of Hayden’s accident, Rossi issued a statement that described his rival as “one of the best friends I’ve ever had in the paddock.”
Downhill mountain biking can be a wild ride. See firsthand what it's like to rip down one of the heaviest downhill mountain bike tracks ever created, through he GoPro view of the creator himself, Dan Atherton. It's why Red Bull Hardline is an event like no other. The long and technical course plays on a variety of disciplines, where incredibly steep and rocky technical sections were combined with a motocross run in and 50-foot [15.24 meters] gap jump to create one of the
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Antonio Cairoli has taken control of the MXGP championship with his 80th Grand Prix victory in Germany today and extended his points lead over second placed man Tim Gajser. The legend went 2-1 and swapped moto wins with MX2 world champion Jeffrey Herlings, who went 1-2 for second overall.
Antonio Cairoli: Yes, its my 80th GP win, so I am very happy. I am looking forward to France, because I feel good at the moment. Yes, it’s important to get good starts and we worked on it, and this week good starts, so it makes it easier, when you start 15th or 20th it’s difficult to come through. First moto I struggled a little bit and Jeffrey had good lines, but I tried to look around for better lines. Second moto I head from the beginning until the end and I have a lot of fans in France, so I look forward to that.
Jeffrey Herlings: I felt like half way that I wasted so much energy to get from 10th to second and I used so much energy. The speed is there, but I had two bad starts, we need to get it all together and the last piece of the puzzle is the starts. I am looking forward to Ernee and get my starts improved
Gautier Paulin: Actually, both motos I made mistakes in the first corner. First moto I had to pass hard, and Antonio and Jeffrey already made the gap. Second moto I made mistakes and I had a good rhythm in the end and I caught back up to Jeffrey, but some lappers got in the way. I want to thank the team, we did a good job and we work hard.
Cairoli showed quick starts mean everything as he led both moto’s early, and didn’t let the Dutchman get close enough in the second moto to take the overall win. Herlings, who didn’t have brilliant starts, but showed great speed to once again show he is back to his best.
As for Tim Gajser, his weekend was once again full of crashes, and pain, as he finished with 12-10. Herlings is now just 40 points off Gajsers second place in the MXGP points. Amazing when you consider a little over a month ago he was 110 points behind the defending champion.
In a piece of brilliance, Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has won the opening MXGP moto from red plate owner and eight time world champion Antonio Cairoli. The two KTM riders put in a battle for the ages, in a season that just continues to produce the unexpected. Swapping the lead, and racing very close it was exciting for the large crowd in attendance.
“It was a tough race,” Herlings said. “I started well, worked my way into the lead, but Tony is tough, he didn’t give up. Its not my favourite track, but I had to give 100%. It was a good moto, I am very happy with it.”
Cairoli took the holeshot from Desalle, and Herlings. Coldenhoff was fourth, then came Van Horebeek, Paulin, Anstie, Tixier, Butron and Tonus.
Herlings was all over Desalle, who was doing some blocking, and Cairoli got away a little. Herlings made a pass on Desalle, and set out after the leader. Gajser back in 13th position.
Cairoli still getting away, despite Herlings having a clear track, but as we saw yesterday, Herlings seems to have a lot in the second part of the race. Paulin and Febvre went past Coldenhoff.
Paulin passed Van Horebeek and was all over Desalle, while Herlings gets away from those guys. Febvre was all over Van Horebeek, just as they did in the qualification race on Saturday. Coldenhoff passed Febvre, who made a small mistake, and Tonus was close to Febvre also.
Tonus railed around the outside of Febvre and passed. Herlings catching Cairoli, and you could be sure, the Dutchman would be onto the Italian sooner, rather than later.
Herlings moved even closer to Cairoli and on lap four it looked like we were heading for a nice battle. Herlings clearly the fastest rider on the track. The Bullet is really back. Herlings breezed past the Italian for the lead. It looked easy for the MX2 world champion.
Herlings was gone, and just like he did to the MX2 competition, he was doing with the MXGP riders at this stage. Tonus crashed out, and dropped a few places.
After five laps it was Herlings, Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Van Horebeek, Coldenhoff, Febvre, Anstie, Tixier and Jasikonis. Tonus down in 12th and Gajser 13th.
Tixier crashed and dropped a bunch of position, and that put Nagl into the top ten. Gajser moves to 12th place.
Not a lot happening as the riders spread out, and Herlings lead opens up to four seconds. After 10 laps its Herlings just three seconds ahead of Cairoli, then Paulin, Desalle, Van Horebeek, COldenhoff, Febvre, Anstie, Jasikonis and Nagl.
Cairoli closing on on the lead, just as he does so often to his opposition. Both riders are fast late, but the Italian has so much experience. Herlings made a few mistakes and the Italian is all over the Dutchman.
Another brilliant end to another MXGP moto. You can’t write this stuff, just amazing. Can’t imagine Herlings isn’t feeling the pressure from the legend. Cairoli having all sorts of problems with lapped riders.
Herlings got away from Cairoli, but with four laps to go you can count on the Italian coming back for more. After 15 laps it was Herlings, Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Van Horebeek, Coldenhoff, Febvre, Anstie, Jasikonis, and Tonus.
Herlings holding the lead, but massive pressure from the Italian. The battle we all wanted to see, the legend versus the new man on the block. Intense racing from these two.
Probably the race of the season so far, and that is saying something. These two are gone from the others. Three seconds a lap quicker than the other MXGP riders, and the pace hasn’t slowed.
Herlings broke away a little and I think Cairoli had conceded to the younger team-mate. Herlings wins it from Cairoli, WOW, just WOW.
Cairoli holeshot the second MXGP moto from Paulin, Desalle, Van Horebeek, Butron, Coldenhoff, Nagl, Herlings, Ullrich, and Anstie. Herlings quickly moved into fifth place and he was pushing hard.
Cairoli though is looking sharp up front, as he leads two other veterans in Paulin and Desalle. Herlings closing in on Van Horebeek. Herlings easily passes Van Horebeek, and goes after Desalle. This is a repeat of the first moto.
Talkessel isn’t a track to make up time quickly, so its going to be a tough job for the Dutchman. After two laps its Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Herlings, Van Horebeek, Coldenhoff, Butron, Anstie, Nagl and Jasikonis.
Herlings really struggling to find a way past Desalle, as Febvre comes back from a 15th place start and moves into 10th place. Gajser back in 15th spot.
After five laps Cairoli has a three second lead over Paulin, with Desalle next, then Herlings, Van Horebeek, Coldenhoff, Anstie, Nagl, Febvre, and Jasikonis. Herlings clocks his quickest lap of the race.
Herlings goes past Desalle and moved into third spot. He quickly made distance from the Belgian, and will chase down Paulin. Van Horebeek goes down and is struggling to get going again. Herlings moving closer to Paulin, and Febvre up to seventh place.
Herlings all over Paulin and makes a beautiful pass to get past Paulin and move into second place. Cairoli only five seconds ahead with 12 minutes and two laps to go. As he did with Desalle, Herlings has dropped Paulin quickly. Cairoli gets away a little from Herlings as he turned up the wick and extends the lead to seven seconds.
Coldenhoff nearly crashed and went off the track, handing Anstie and Febvre better track position. The lead by Cairoli extends to nine seconds and with six minutes and two laps remaining he is looking safe.
After 13 laps its Cairoli, Herings, Paulin, Desalle, Anstie, Febvre, Coldenhoff, Nagl, Jasikonis, and Gajser 10th.
The final stages of the second moto didn’t see many changes as Cairoli continued to lead and Herlings rode a just as lonely race in second place. Paulins did get close to Herlings, but couldn’t get close enough. Cairoli does a nacnac as he crosses the line for victory in the moto and the Grand Prix.
MXGP – Overall Classification
1 222 Cairoli, Antonio ITA FMI KTM 22 25 47 2 84 Herlings, Jeffrey NED KNMV KTM 25 22 47 3 21 Paulin, Gautier FRA MCM HUS 20 20 40 4 25 Desalle, Clement BEL FMB KAW 18 18 36 5 461 Febvre, Romain FRA FFM YAM 14 16 30 6 259 Coldenhoff, Glenn NED KNMV KTM 15 14 29 7 99 Anstie, Max GBR ACU HUS 13 15 28 8 12 Nagl, Maximilian GER DMSB HUS 11 13 24 9 27 Jasikonis, Arminas LTU LMSF SUZ 10 12 22 10 89 Van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL FMB YAM 16 6 22
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 7:55PM 
