Kawasaki Racing Team’s Paulin has obtained the first overall victory of the season on his new 450cc machine after being second and first in today’s heats.
In the first heat, Paulin admitted that he made several mistakes because he is still getting used to the extra power of his bike, but he managed to finish second. However, in the second moto Paulin had an excellent race, and once he overtook Christophe Pourcel on the opening lap, he pulled away until the chequered flag.
CP377 Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit’s Christophe Pourcel rode an incredible first race, getting the lead in the first lap and dominating it until the end. In the second race, he took the holeshot and led the opening lap, but he admitted that he was surprised by Paulin’s speed and had to settle down for the second position.
The third step of the podium was for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Cairoli after finishing fourth and third in today’s heats. The Italian, who is still leading the championship, suffered from arm pump in the beginning of both heats, so it was difficult for him to keep the speed. Cairoli decided to ride safe, get as many points as possible and he is now ready to improve his riding on hard pack to win on home soil next weekend.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s De Dycker did not have a good start in the first race and was only seventh, but he got a much better start in the second moto, he fought against Cairoli and Desalle and moved up to third position at one point of the race. In the end, De Dycker was fourth in the second moto, which gave him an overall fourth position.
For Honda World Motocross’ Bobryshev it was not an easy weekend, as his right thumb is still hurting a lot, but he battled against the pain and finished fifth overall. In the first heat, the Russian did not take the first corner well and was stuck in the eighth position most of the race, but in the second one he had a better start and finished fifth.
Boog had a really good start in the first heat and finished sixth, but in the second moto he had to fight from an initial thirteenth position to finish in a solid seventh place, which gave him an overall sixth result. The French was followed by Philippaerts, who was fifth in the first heat but a crash in the second moto made him cross the finish line in 13th position.
Desalle had a consistent first moto and managed to finish third, but in the second heat, while he was fighting for the fourth position, he made a mistake after the finish jump and his handle bar was completely torn. Desalle tried to make a lap, but he had to enter the pitlane to receive some assistance from his team. His 18th position in the second heat made him obtain an overall eighth place.
Simpson was ninth and Sebastien Pourcel completed the top ten.
MX1 Race 1 top ten:
1. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 39:09.159
2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:05.667
3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:07.718
4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:08.467
5. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:20.631
6. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:21.770
7. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:36.027
8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:44.249
9. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:44.410
10. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Yamaha), +0:57.539
MX1 Race 2 top ten:
1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 39:17.879
2. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:02.427
3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:23.189
4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:26.379
5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:29.251
6. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:29.975
7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:31.978
8. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), +1:05.762
9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:07.483
10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +1:08.192
MX1 Overall top ten:
1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 47 points
2. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 47 p
3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 38 p
4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 32 p
5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 29 p
6. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 29 p
7. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 24 p
8. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 23 p
9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 22 p
10. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 21 p
MX1 Championship top ten:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 88 points
2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 79 p
3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 67 p
4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 63 p
5. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 59 p
6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 51 p
7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 49 p
8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 45 p
9. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 44 p
10. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), 42 p
MX1 Manufacturers:
1. KTM, 88 points
2. Kawasaki, 82 p
3. Suzuki, 77 p
4. Yamaha, 68 p
5. Honda, 58 p
6. TM, 1 p
