Cairoli takes MX1 GP of Benelux; 37 career wins for the Italian KTM rider
by Jon Crowley on 08/09/10 at 5:50 am
Red Bull KTM factory rider Tony Cairoli continued to paint everything Orange on Sunday in Lierop, the Netherlands taking his eighth GP win for the season and his 37th career GP victory. Cairoli was already affirmed as MX1 World Champion in the last round in Brazil.
After Red Bull KTM teammate Max Nagl’s victory in the first moto the podium was safe in Orange hands with Cairoli and Nagl in the two top slots. Clearly Cairoli was in top form and said it had been important for him to prove he could also win in the sand.
“For sure I enjoyed racing here in the sand at Lierop. I have lots of good memories of here. This is where I won the championship last year and now I win the GP. I won the title in Brazil but I didn’t get to celebrate with friends and family so there are many here now and tonight we will have a big part. For sure I also want to win in next weekend In Italy. It’s the last race of the season and there will be a lot of Italian fans there.”
Good weekend for Nagl
German rider Max Nagl was very happy with his weekend. “I am happy to be second on the podium and I had very good starts this weekend. The first race was not easy but I was able to control it and managed to win and make up some points on David (Philippaerts). I made a couple of small mistakes in the second turn in race two and some riders went past me but I managed to finish overall fourth and David was behind so I got some more points. Now I will go to Italy and try hard to finish in third place in the championship. It won’t be easy because the Italian riders are always very fast at home but I will do my best.” Max has to make up the 10-point deficit on David Philippaerts, who is currently in third place in the standings if he is to achieve his goal of finishing third overall.
1-2 result in second moto; good result for Goncalves and 350 SX-F
Rui Goncalves, the third member of the KTM squad also had a good weekend, finishing fourth overall after finishing second in the second moto, which for the first time gave KTM a 1-2 result with the revolutionary new KTM 350 SX-F bike, ridden by both Cairoli and Goncalves.
Nagl dominates first moto
Nagl was in a class of his own in the first moto, ripping out of the start gates and leading for the entire race. He eased off the gas in the final lap and crossed the line to reduce his 15 seconds lead to just two at the flag. It was his fourth race win for the season and set him up with plenty of confidence going into the second moto. Meanwhile in the first moto, Cairoli got tangled with David Philippaerts in the opening scramble but made a characteristically gladiatorial charge from the middle of the field to eventually rocket into second place.
Cairoli untouchable in second moto
The second moto was safe in Cairoli’s hands and he dominated the track from start to finish on a day where the soft sand at Lierop caught many riders unawares and proved to be both challenging and energy sapping.
KTM takes Manufacturer’s title
The Leorop victory also settle the MX1 manufacturer’s title in KTM’s favor. When the Red Bull KTM factory team heads for the final GP in Italy next week the only outstanding award to be decided is the WMX title, for which KTM’s Steffi Laier is the favorite to win.
MX1 GP Results
1, Tony Cairoli, Italy, KTM (22-25—47)
2, Max Nagl, Germany, KTM (25-18—43)
3, Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki, 20-20—40)
4, Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM 14-22-36
5. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha, 16-16—32
Championship standings
1, Tony Cairoli, Italy, KTM 625 (already confirmed as 2010 MX1 world champion)
2, Clement Desalle, Belgium, 494
3, David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha, 473
4, Max Nagl, Germany, KTM, 463
5, Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki, 448
Other KTM
11. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM, 244
MX1 Manufacturer’s title
1, KTM, 657 (KTM confirmed at winning the Manufacturer’s title)
2, Suzuki, 575
3, Yamaha, 527
4, Honda 460
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