Cairoli Unbelievable in Italy

The legend, Antonio Cairoli of the Red Bull KTM Factory team has gone 1-1 in his home Grand Prix, to win his 81^st GP of his career, but maybe one of his most impressive. The Sicilian went head to head with sand specialist Jeffrey Herlings and came out on top on both occasions.

Herlings went 2-2 for second overall, and Max Anstie was third overall with 5-3. Herlings has pushed so hard that he was physically sick after the moto, he couldn’t stand on the podium or make comments after the race.

Without a moto win from the French and Russian GP’s, the eight time world motocross champion closed many people’s mouths, and showed that maybe we are seeing the best Antonio Cairoli ever.

The 31 year old Cairoli also extended his series points lead over Clement Desalle and Gautier Paulin, as Herlings caught those two in the points race. Cairoli has 67 points over Desalle and 70 pts over Paulin. Herlings is 96 points back.

Antonio Cairoli: Yes, I was feeling great you know. I could push when Jeffrey came back. I am very happy. Thanks to everybody. We know that Jeffrey is a good sand rider we all know this, he was very fast, but the races are 35 and two laps and I am happy with this and the team made an awesome bike this year. I love the crowd here and also the KTM group. We made it again.

Max Anstie: It was awesome (to make the podium). A hot day today and the first race I hit the gate, and came back, then the second one Jeffrey passed me and I was like, wow he is riding fast, but I was able to do ok.

MXGP moto one

Cairoli won a great opening MXGP moto. The Italian legend held of the big challenge from his younger KTM team-mate Jeffrey Herlings to win. In a cat and mouse race, the two never really battled hard, but kept eachother very close, one getting the upper hand, then the other, before Cairoli showed his experience to win by a handful of seconds.

“Yes, I am very happy, it’s tough, but I have good training and I could manage. Jeffrey was faster in parts of the track, for sure after the long straight. I saw him coming and I responded when he tried to pass me. I want to win the second one.”

Cairoli led the opening MXGP moto, but Herlings has also made a good start around sixth place. First Cairoli, Paulin, Gajser, and Herlings after a few corners. This is going to be good.

Bobryshev goes down and Herlings blasts past Paulin. The Dutchman is flying and going after Cairoli.

After one lap its Cairoli, Herlings, Paulin, Gajser, Desalle, Coldenhoff, Tonus, Nagl, Butron, Jasikonis in 10^th.

The two Red Bull KTM factory riders have gapped the field and are gone. Herlings closing in, but the Italian won’t be giving up quickly. Cairoli then moves a little away from Herlings in a quick lap. Cat and mouse at the moment.

Herlings clearly made up ground on Cairoli as the two put on a show for the large Italian crowd. After four laps its Cairoli, Herlings, Paulin, Coldenhoff, Gajser, Desalle, Tonus, Febvre, Nagl and Butron in 10^th.

On lap five Herlings into Cairoli and looking to pass the red plate owner. A lap later and Cairoli turns up the pace and moves away again. If you ask me, Herlings is waiting, but we all know Cairoli, he can turn it up any time he likes.

After eight laps Cairoli and Herlings are now 17 seconds ahead of third placed man Paulin, followed by Gajser, Coldenhoff, Desalle, Febvre, Nagl, Anstie, and Tixier 10^th.

Cairoli extended his lead on lap 12 to three and a half seconds, and the top ten was Cairoli, Herlings, Paulin, Gajser, Febvre, Coldenhoff, Desalle, Nagl, Anstie and Tixier. Gajser all over Paulin for third place, the defending world MXGP champion finding some extra speed.

Herlings suddenly finds some extra speed and closed in on Cairoli. Herlings all over Cairoli and the lead should change any time soon. Herlings might have been playing with the Italian.

Febvre also on the charge as he pulls up to Paulin. Herlings goes for a pass and Cairoli blocks him, but there is no stopping the Dutchman. Suddenly, Cairoli pulls a big lead, was the Italian actually playing with the Dutchman?

Cairoli wins it, brilliant ride by the Italian.

MXGP moto two

In the second MXGP moto, Jasikonis led from Cairoli, Anstie and Herlings, then came Nagl, Desalle, Bobryshev, Tixier, Febvre, Leok in 10^th.

Herlings into third place as he passed Anstie. Jasikonis on fire in first place as Cairoli losses ground on him, and had a small lead over Herlings.

Cairoli suddenly pulled up on the leader, and Herlings was also closing in. Cairoli all over Jasikonis and make the pass on lap two. Cairoli looks very fast, but the quickest lap was Herlings in third place.

Herlings straight away onto Jasikonis, but Cairoli is pushing hard to get a big lead. Herlings passed Jasikonis and went after Cairoli.

Herlings clocking the quickest lap times, as he closes in on the leader. Right on the back wheel of Carioli now.

Cairoli and Herlings again get away from the field as these two legends put on a show for the big crowd.

Herlings went to pass Cairoli and the Italian block passed Herlings. Jasikonis is suddenly onto the two leaders. Nice ride by the Suzuki rider.

Herlings back on Cairoli, I can’t see a block pass working again. The 22 year old vs the 31 year old.

Cairoli makes a mistake and Herlings takes the lead. Cairoli looking a little ragged, but Herlings makes a mistake. Jasikonis also in the battle. Cairoli looking for a way past, but Herlings blocks the pass.

Herlings getting away a little as he looks to try and take control of the moto and the Grand Prix.

After six laps its Herlings, Cairoli, Jasikonis, Anstie, Desalle, Nagl, Bobryshev, COldenhoff, Tonus, and Febvre 10^th. Paulin back in 11^th place, Gajser 14^th. Both riders looking tired as the circle the tough sand track.

Nine laps and Herlings lead is more than two seconds, followed by Cairoli, Jasikonis, Anstie, Desalle, Nagl, Bobryshev, Febvre, Tixier and Tonus.

Cairoli back onto Herlings as the fans go crazy. Herlings looks spent. Herlings blocking Cairoli, but the Italian looks stronger. Again Herlings stops the change by Cairoli.

Cairoli takes the leads as he takes the lead and probably the Grand Prix win. Within a few laps Cairoli had extended the lead to 24 seconds, really impressive by the king of MXGP.

After 16 laps it was Cairoli, Herlings, Anstie, Jasikonis, Nagl, Desalle, Febvre, Tonus, Lupino, and Paulin in 10^th. Herlings looking tired as Anstie was closing in on him, just seven seconds back in third.

Cairoli wins it, from Herlings and Anstie.

MXGP – Championship Classification

1 222 Cairoli, A. ITA KTM 431
2 21 Paulin, G. FRA HUS 364
3 25 Desalle, C. BEL KAW 361
4 84 Herlings, J. NED KTM 335
5 243 Gajser, Tim SLO HON 282
6 461 Febvre, Romain FRA YAM 275
7 89 Van Horebeek, J. BEL YAM 261
8 12 Nagl, M. GER HUS 255
9 777 Bobryshev, E. RUS HON 245
10 4 Tonus, Arnaud SUI YAM 227
11 259 Coldenhoff, G. NED KTM 223
12 99 Anstie, Max GBR HUS 216
13 27 Jasikonis, A. LTU SUZ 187
14 24 Simpson, Shaun GBR YAM 123
15 7 Leok, Tanel EST HUS 123
16 17 Butron, Jose ESP KTM 104
17 77 Lupino, A. ITA HON 94

EnduroGP Hungary 2017 - Highlights Day 1

Qualifying Highlights MXGP of Lombardia 2017

MXGP Ottobiano, Italy

Yamaha head to Italy

There is a lot of excitement surrounding the eleventh round of the FIM Motocross World Championship which will take place this weekend – June 24th and 25th – at a venue that is new to the MXGP calendar, Ottobiano, Italy. Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre is gearing up with hopes of landing on the podium for the first time this season while his teammate, Jeremy Van Horebeek, will be watching from afar, unable to compete due to a broken index finger. The Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP squad will be out in full force with the highly anticipated return of their ‘sand-master’ Shaun Simpson, while Arnaud Tonus looks to carry in that same momentum that landed him on pole in Russia.

‘You’re only as good as your last race’ is a phrase that is often thrown around the motocross paddock, and for Romain Febvre, that was a near win. With a 12 second lead and only two laps to go in the final race at the MXGP of Russia 10 days ago, Febvre had it all but won. Unfortunately, the Frenchman connected with a rider that was one lap down and crashed, handing the lead to the eventual Grand Prix winner Clement Desalle. He finished second in that particular race and after a crash in the extremely muddy conditions in Race 1, where he managed to salvage eleventh, he finished sixth overall.

Despite the overall result, Febvre set the fastest lap-time in the most recent race of the season by more than 2,4 seconds. That is a whopping margin. He has proven his potential and it’s something he hopes to deliver on this weekend.

Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Arnaud Tonus was also running a fever-pitch pace in Russia where he won his maiden Qualifying Race. The Swiss rider definitely favors a hard and slick surface – which is in complete contrast to the loam of Ottobiano – although he has already demonstrated his ability to run the pace in the sand this year. He set the fastest lap in Timed Training at the MXGP of Europe in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, one of the trickiest sand tracks on the calendar, back in April.

As a proven grand prix winner, with one GP win this year – at round two in Indonesia – Shaun Simpson will make his return after a six-week hiatus. The Scotsman had the third metacarpal in his right hand plated after he broke it at the seventh round of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Latvia. He has since missed three rounds yet remains fourteenth in the championship chase.

Ottobiano is a tight and compact sand circuit located 45km South West of the Italian Capital, Milan. It has never hosted a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship before but is a popular testing venue for most of the Official Approved Teams and riders. This weekend it will make its MXGP and MX2 debut and in addition it will also be hosting the fourth and sixth rounds of the EMX125 and EMX250 championships.

Romain Febvre: “After Russia I started riding again in the sand, but because of the heat I am not spending so much time on the bike. I like the track in Ottobiano and I have heard they have put more sand on it, so it should be really sandy. I think it will be really hot so I think it will be important to conserve as much energy as possible to stay fit for the racing on Sunday. It should be good.”

Jeremy Van Horebeek: “It’s a bummer to not be racing in Ottobiano, I really like that track, I have always felt like I am really fast there. It’s going to be difficult for me not to be on the line, but I am more focused on my training now and coming back stronger than before. I will see the doctor on Friday and hopefully have the plaster taken off my hand. They will tape my two fingers together and it shouldn’t be too long after that that I can be back on the bike. I will make a decision based on the strength and pain in my hand next week whether I return in Portugal or Loket.”

Arnaud Tonus: “I felt really good in Russia, that was a track that suits me really well. I hope to do the same this weekend even though it’s in the sand. It will be really hot as well, so it’s important to stay smooth and drink a lot of water.”

Shaun Simpson: “I know this is the most over-rated thing to say but I just want to go there and ride, and then see where I am at. The hand has been pretty good, only after I ride it gets a bit stiff the next day, so I have been riding one day on, one day off and the second day it’s back to normal. I’m feeling good on the bike, I was expecting to feel rusty, but like most motocross riders, it only takes a few days off of the bike before you start stressing out and thinking “I’ve got to get back on the bike.” As soon as I got back on it, I felt really comfortable. It sounds a bit strange, but I would say we left Latvia with quite a good feeling, mainly because we went into Latvia after doing a lot testing on the bike and it was working so good. I guess that gave me the mental boost I needed for when I got back on the bike, that I knew straight away that the bike was good and where it needs to be. I felt at home right away. I wasn’t right up to speed and hitting all of my marks right away, but for the most part, I felt really good and closer to 100% than I expected. I’m looking forward to getting back on the line and mixing it up this weekend.”

Yamaha release Roman Borak image

2017 Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series // Round 04 Highlights

Jordan Ashburn used consistency and speed to grab his first major victory as a pro at the Crow Canyon Full Gas Sprint Enduro – round four of the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series presented by PRI Powersports Insurance in Uhrichsville, Ohio

Racing the Back Alleys of Portugal with Jonny Walker

Jonny Walker takes on the grueling course of the Extreme XL Lagares, in Portugal. Not one to back down to a challenge, follow Jonny as he tackles the rugged course along the sea wall and then taking to the narrow streets of Porto's old city.

Rodney Smith promoted to head up Beta USA race department.

 

Photo Credit: Adam Booth

Beta USA's Rodney Smith has been promoted to head up the Beta USA race department. 

The AMA Hall of Famer and five-time GNCC champion has been working for Beta for the last 12 months as a rider coach and now will take over as the race team manager. 

Beta USA's President Tim Pilg comments, “It has been a huge benefit to our team ever since Rodney came aboard full time last season. His approach to racing matches our goals for the team so it made perfect sense to have him take over the team manager position.”

Smith is looking forward to developing the team and more, “I'm very excited to have this opportunity to run the Beta USA race team! I've been working & coaching the riders this year and now Beta has asked me to manage the team. 

“I'm very excited to bring my experience I've learned over the years as a racer and champion as well as being inducted in the AMA hall of fame! I've had the chance to see & learn from my past managers including Mike Webb and now I'm looking forward to being able run my own team & to further give our racers the knowledge & experience to win some more championships for my riders, Beta, & myself.”

MX Legends Pedal Across America!

Four icons in motocross are currently in the middle of what could possibly be the most grueling race of their lives, the Race Across America. Cyclists will work their way across the United States, including the mountain ranges, deserts, and rivers that lay between Southern California’s Oceanside Pier starting point and the finish line in Annapolis, Maryland. The “Legends of the Road” team is comprised of Doug Henry, David Bailey, Micky Dymond, and Jeff Ward, with each rider putting in shifts in the non-stop event. Just before the team took off late last week, the Road2Recovery crew shot a quick video
Read more at http://motocross.transworld.net/videos/legends-of-the-road-race-across-america/#YQw1qWGXiPfcbkWK.99

MXGP Changing Since Returning To Europe

A new chapter will begin at the Grand Prix of Lombardia, as the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship will leap into the second half. The first ten rounds have truly vanished in the blink of an eye. That fact prompted us to reflect on what has transpired and uncover a collection of intriguing statistics from the season thus far.

– A lot changed when the FIM Motocross World Championship returned to Europe, but just how different have things been since the Grand Prix of Trentino? The points from the last seven rounds have been put into the table below and, just as one would expect, it changes the ranking that Jeffrey Herlings occupies quite drastically.

1st	Antonio Cairoli	245
2nd	Jeffrey Herlings	232
3rd	Gautier Paulin	221
4th	Clement Desalle	215
5th	Romain Febvre	153

– The struggles that Jeffrey Herlings encountered at the first four rounds were well-documented. Those results have dragged his stats down somewhat, as his average finish across nineteen motos has been a seventh. Antonio Cairoli, in comparison, has an average finish of third, which would explain the impressive advantage that he is currently sat on in the standings.

– How does that average finish that Antonio Cairoli has compare to what he has achieved in previous seasons? ‘222’ had an average of fourth through ten rounds last year, which is actually quite impressive considering how poor his term was. When he last won the title – three years ago – his average was a second. What has been his worst average through ten rounds in a title-winning season? A sixth in 2012. A dismal day in Sweden was the reason for that.

– Antonio Cairoli has won five motos thus far, which is exactly the same amount that he won across all eighteen rounds last year. That number is quite far from the personal record that he set five years ago though; he won thirteen of the first twenty motos. It is quite obvious why he had a lead of ninety points after ten rounds that season. Gautier Paulin and Clement Desalle trailed him in the standings that year too!

Consistency combined with speed makes Cairoli tough to beat (KTM Images/Ray Archer)

– A victory at the Grand Prix of Germany, following a second and a first, was the eightieth triumph that Antonio Cairoli has had in his career. How many of those wins have occurred with those exact moto scores? Sixteen of them. The last time that it happened, before that German outing, was at the Grand Prix of Bulgaria in 2014. There was a gap of one thousand, one hundred and twenty-eight days between the two.

– Just how competitive has the premier division been this season? Ten riders have led multiple laps at one point or another. Antonio Cairoli, Tim Gajser, Gautier Paulin, Clement Desalle, Jeffrey Herlings, Shaun Simpson, Glenn Coldenhoff, Max Nagl, Romain Febvre and Arminas Jasikonis have all had a turn at the head of the field. All five manufacturers are represented within that group.

– Eight of the ten riders listed there have completed every round of the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship. Tim Gajser, who has not raced two of the ten rounds that have been run, has actually led more laps than anyone else though. Gajser led a total of one hundred and five laps across motos in Qatar, Argentina, Mexico and Italy.

Tim Gajser still has some impressive statistics to fall back on (Honda Racing Corporation/Bavo Swijgers)

– Evgeny Bobryshev missed Teutschenthal and Ernee with a broken collarbone, so his total obviously suffered. ‘777’ was wildly inconsistent earlier in his career and simply could not complete a season without getting injured. That has changed in recent years, however, and the German Grand Prix was the first time that he was not on the starting line in nine hundred and eighty-one days!

– Inconsistency has been rife in MXGP, as just twelve riders have actually attended every round! Just five of those riders (Antonio Cairoli, Clement Desalle, Gautier Paulin, Jeffrey Herlings and Romain Febvre) have scored points in each moto.

– Clement Desalle is not known as a great starter, but he has been brilliant out of the gate thus far. Fourth has been his average-starting position across the nineteen motos that have been run. On the other hand, Antonio Cairoli and Gautier Paulin have been sixth on average. Jeffrey Herlings has been eighth and only in the top five at the end of lap one in seven of the races.

Clement Desalle has silenced naysayers through ten rounds (Monster Energy Media/Ray Archer)

– Kawasaki currently sit fifth in the manufacturer standings, even though they have claimed two Grand Prix wins with Clement Desalle. The fact that, for the most part, they have had to rely solely on ‘25’ has hurt their overall ranking. The last time that they were inside of the top three after ten rounds was three seasons ago; they four hundred and two points. They currently have three hundred and thirty-four.

– The two events that Clement Desalle won in succession earlier this year were actually quite the personal achievement, as he had only managed to win consecutive rounds once before that. That occurred at the Grand Prix of Czech Republic and Grand Prix of Belgium towards the end of the 2013 season. Desalle has now won twenty-two events in total.

Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: KTM Images/Ray Archer

Sierra Motocross Classic 2017

This past weekend may have been the best weekend for racing at the Hangtown national track in many years. Cloudy skys, temps in the low 70's and a perfectly prepared track. The Sierra Motocross Classic was what International Old Timer motocross is all about, fun, friendship, competation and a good time for everyone. One of the great things about these races is you always find someone to race with no matter how fast or slow you are. I watched the 50 novice class and I think it may have been the biggest class. It certainly looked like they were having the most fun. There were battles for place up front, in the middle and in the back. I watched memebrs of the Polka Dots MC and the Dirt Diggers battle it out for five motos to see who would have bragging rights. In the end it didn't matter, they all had stories to tell. The Sierra club put on a five star BBQ dinner and a raffle loaded with high end prizes. I think I saw one rider going home with two new helmets he won. Everyone was smiling, telling tall tales and having a great time. If you have never been to an International OT race you owe it to yourself to attend. The fun is off the charts!