Hear from the stars following round 15 of the Motocross World Championship.
Antonio Cairoli (1st MXGP): “Everything went well this weekend, we have moved again on the 450 and switching bike its not so easy but my goal it’s to choose what bike use for next year so thats why we are making so many test and changes. I have to say that I’m happy today, because the speed is there now and that’s really important. In the first moto I’ve pulled away a little bit and I was in control on a nice track that was very technical with some deep ruts. In the second moto I took again a good start, trying to pull away again but it was not possible because Tim was really fast. He went close to me and he passed me, then I’ve tried to follow him but my fitness is not yet at he top, so I couldn’t hold for so long the rhythm and I did some mistake. Then Romain passed me but it was not a problem for the final victory, so I rode very conservative and carefully, to secure the Grand Prix victory but in the last lap I had some troubles with a lapped rider and I made a small crash that costed me two positions and I was very disappointed. Anyway we get the overall on this beautiful venue, in front of this fantastic public and thats the most important. Now we have some time off, to make some testing before Assen and we will be ready to make a good race in the sand.”
Tim Gajser (2nd MXGP): “In the first moto I took a good start and was right there with Cairoli and Paulin and preparing my pass for the lead, but then I closed the front in a rut and went down. It was hard without everyone coming past me so I had to wait for almost everyone to pass before I could pick the bike up again. Fortunately it was still running so I could get going easily, and then I was pushing really hard. It’s difficult to pass here because of the nature of the track and the long ruts. We could see that the speed was there, but I wasn’t happy with ninth. The second race was much better as I took the holeshot, but then went too much to the outside so Cairoli came past me. When I made the pass Toni was pushing me hard, and then Febvre was too, so we had some good racing. I’m really glad to be on the podium, especially after the mistake in the first race. Now there are three races left this season, and we still have a good lead. Honestly we don’t change anything because the best way to keep doing what we are is to continue as we have been all season, but yes we do start to think a little bit more about the championship now…!”
Romain Febvre (3rd MXGP): “The first moto was good, but I made a mistake and lost positions and lost my rhythym here on this track. In the second moto the start wasn’t as good, but I came back after the second lap and gave everything to try and win. Physically I was on the limit, so with two laps to go I didn’t want to make the same mistake. I’m really happy to be on the podium with this result. Next we go for some testing in Italy all week, and then two weeks off to be prepared for the sand in Assen.”
Gautier Paulin (4th MXGP): “In the first race I was feeling really strong and I could take the holeshot, although I ran wide a little and Cairoli could come back past me. After that I had a good battle with Febvre. I made a little mistake and he passed me, but then shortly after it was his turn and I repassed him to take second which was good. In the second race I couldn’t get to the inside of turn one because from the middle of the track it was deep and wet so it slowed my start. I was far back but I pushed hard to climb to seventh, which would have been good enough for a podium today, but I had a small crash when standing up in a rut and Tixier hit me, so I lost some positions. Without the crash we could have been on the podium today so I feel bad for that, but the podium pace was definitely there today.”
Glenn Coldenhoff (5th MXGP): “The feeling and the speed were both good over the weekend but everyone was very close and when you take a bad start like in the first moto, its difficult to come back and through the pack. I pushed hard but I only managed 11th and I was disappointed not to be in the top ten. I pulled a good start in the second race and I rode all the moto with the riders up front. We’ve been looking for these results, so it was good. I want a good result in Assen because that’s been my goal for a long time. We’ve also made a step up with the bike over the last couple of weeks and everything is working really well, especially on a technical track like this. I’m really happy with the bike at the moment and I can’t wait for Assen.”
Tommy Searle (6th MXGP): “Sixth overall today in Switzerland and I enjoyed the track and the races, for my best weekend of the year. A couple of decent starts made life easier; it was close in the second moto and I was just a couple of seconds away from third place but I just couldn’t make the passes I needed, and also did a mistake. Thanks to the team for working so hard these last few weeks. I feel I’m strong at the moment, nothing goes wrong and the team is really focus on me so we can do some improvements.”
Jordi Tixier (7th MXGP): “I’m a little bit frustrated by the final result, as I had a great feeling with this track this weekend and posted some good results in the practice session, but I struggled at the starts and we all know that it’s impossible to get a good result without a good start. I was between tenth and fifteenth each time; we need to work with the team to find solutions as it’s the part of the puzzle that is missing at the moment to get top five results. I had good lap times in the races; I posted the second fastest lap in the first race, and as I have no more pain or troubles with my wrist I remain confident for the rest of the season. It was a great event with many fans, a good promotion for our sport.”
Evgeny Bobryshev (9th MXGP): “This weekend was a bit tough really. Into the weekend the track looked great, and when I saw it on Friday I thought it would really suit me with good fast corners and some flow that I like. But actually there were so many ruts by the race and they were so deep that it wasn’t so much my track. Once you were in a rut in a corner it was difficult to change line so when you were behind someone it was hard to find time and to make passes. This is why when I crashed from fifth in race one I found it hard to come back through the field. The second race was much better though as I stayed fifth for the whole moto, until the end when I got fourth as Cairoli made a mistake. So I’m happier after the second race today than I was earlier this afternoon, even though we could have had more today. Now we have a little break after the last three back-to-back races so we can recharge and be ready for the final three races of the season.”
Clement Desalle (10th MXGP): “I had a good qualifying race on Saturday; I was leading for a few laps and then Cairoli and Gajser passed me but third was ok for the gate pick. Today my starts were average, but in the first race I was able to come back to third, not so far from second place. It was a good race and I knew that the podium was possible, but soon after the second start another rider slid out in a corner and hit my front wheel. I crashed, and was unable to take my bike straight away after as it happened at an unsighted place for the other riders and it was dangerous. I lost a lot of time, I lost my rhythm, but I was back from twenty-seventh to seventeenth when another rider again hit my front wheel so I could only salvage a few points in this race.”
Max Nagl (12th MXGP): “It was a difficult weekend for me. I hurt the middle finger on my left hand during Saturday’s qualifying race and it was almost impossible to ride afterwards. For Sunday’s motos I had to tape my two fingers together but I couldn’t get a good feeling with the clutch. I did my best in both motos and I’m happy I managed to salvage a few more points for the championship. My plan is to give my hand some time to rest now, in order to be ready to give 100% again in three weeks time in Assen.”
Valentin Guillod (14th MXGP): “The atmosphere at home is really cool. To ride for the Swiss fans is really great. I’m proud of my first race, and fifth place is really terrific here. In the second race I crashed really hard and couldn’t do anything about so I’m disappointed about that. In three weeks in Assen we can come back stronger.”
Kevin Strijbos (15th MXGP): “I cannot say I feel too great about today. In the first moto I had a decent start and worked my way up four positions on the first lap but then I made a mistake in a deep rut and I crashed. I had to pit because my front brake was out of position and I could not reach it. The team fixed the problem and I tried to put my head down when I got back on track. I was reasonably happy with the riding and the lap-times, if not the result. Second moto; I was feeling OK but made a couple of small mistakes and lost some positions. After that the race didn’t really turn into much. I had some good lines but I struggled on the three jumps before the wave section; I tried doubling them once and almost lost it. Ninth was not the result we were looking for after Lommel but I was pretty tired by the end and had put a lot into the first moto to get some points. Now we have some Belgian Championship races and then straight to Assen. It will be good to have some more races in this break in the calendar and it is also good to do some in Belgium because we don’t have that many events or tracks anymore.”
Max Anstie (1st MX2): “It was an awesome GP and it felt really nice to get my second overall victory. During the last three weeks we’ve raced in three completely different tracks and to me that makes for a real world championship. We had a great battle with Jeremy in both motos here in Switzerland. In the opening moto I got the lead early on and managed to open a small gap for the win. In the second race it was just me and Jeremy battling it out all the way to the finish. He pushed extra hard in front of his home crowd, so it was great I ended up getting another moto win. Climbing to fourth in the series standings is also good. My plan is to take each of the remaining races separately to collect as many points as I can before the finish of the series.”
Jeremy Seewer (2nd MX2): “I didn’t expect the Swiss public to be that great: so many people, flags…it was amazing to ride here. I didn’t win, which would have been the small present to them and myself but I’m happy and I have three second places in a row now. I just need to find that last piece of the puzzle. Maybe I should have waited longer to take the lead in the second moto but I had some better lines in some places and could push but he [Anstie] came back and followed me strongly. It was a good race and I just missed that ‘little bit’ to be able to win. Now I’m just focussing on myself and that approach has been the same for the last three GPs when Jeffrey has not been riding. I am still trying to do the best I can and beat the riders that are on the track with me. It [the championship] was not on my mind this weekend and it won’t be for the next GP.”
Benoit Paturel (3rd MX2): “This is for my mom. I love you so much, and I’m proud to be here on the podium for you.”
Thomas Covington (7th MX2): “I felt the speed was there for me to get on the podium this weekend. Unfortunately, two not so good starts and a few small crashes held me back from that goal. I got a bad jump out of the gate in moto one, but got some good lines in the first two corners to place myself in seventh. I made a few good passes and was even battling for fourth but a crash dropped me to seventh again. In the second race I got a terrible start and had to battle from the back of the pack. I worked my way from completely last to seventh but then another small mistake meant I had to settle for 10th. Overall, it was good to see I have the speed for the podium. I’m just hoping for some better luck next time out.”
Conrad Mewse (11th MX2): “There were some positives to take out from this GP. The weekend started with me getting the holeshot and then leading the qualifying race for the first few laps. Unfortunately, I had an issue with the back brake and had to make a pit stop. Not getting a good starting position made my life more difficult for Sunday’s races. In both motos I had to battle from the back of the pack. In moto one I finished 13th. It wasn’t a bad race but I got a bit tired towards the end. I felt a lot better in moto two. I kept fighting to end up eighth for 11th overall at this GP. If my starts were better I believe I could have easily earned a place inside the top five. We continue making steps in the right direction and hopefully I can battle for the top again in Assen.”
Brian Hsu (15th MX2): “A difficult day. I’m a very technical rider and I had a good feeling on this track. I enjoyed riding it and set some nice times but there was something blocking me from really going for those top positions. We have been working with the bike a lot this season and since I could come back from the injury. Today wasn’t easy for my wrist but I’m still missing the feeling I need to really push. We’ll see if we can feel better for Assen.”
