April 30rd 2012
Strijbos takes 7th in Italian heat
HM Plant KTM UK’s Kevin Strijbos obtained a top ten finish with seventh position overall at a tricky Fermo circuit for the Grand Prix of Italy and what was the third round of sixteen in the FIM Motocross World Championship.
The Belgian was hampered by a poor starting position in the gate (14th after Saturday) for the two 35 minute and 2 laps motos that were played out in hot and sunny conditions on the east coast of the country. 17,000 spectators came to the hillside venue to watch the fastest off-road racers around defy the G-effects of the sheer drops and climbs of the Monterosato layout.
Concentrated watering to fight the dust and soften the hard-pack soil created a strange terrain that was soft and extremely rough and rutted in places and then slippery and flat in others. Overall it was a circuit that was hard to judge.
Strijbos made a bad start in the first moto and needed full concentration to reach the top ten. The former world championship runner-up made better headway in the second race and was just pipped by Gautier Paulin in the closing stages for sixth place. Kevin however secured enough points to retake sixth position in the MX1 standings.
Elliott Banks Browne was unlucky not to be able to compete in the MX2 class at Fermo. ‘EBB’ tangled with Jeffrey Herlings on Saturday and in the ensuing accident injured his thumb and could not effectively hold onto his 250SX-F.
The second round of the European EMX125 series saw James Dunn reaching the top three and again showing some very encouraging speed on the 125SX-F. The youngster even led the second moto for a while before crossing the line in second position.
HM Plant KTM UK now head back to base after more than two weeks touching the edges of eastern and southern Europe. The third round of eight in the Maxxis British Championship awaits at Lyng in Norfolk before flyaway Grands Prix in Mexico and Brazil.
Kevin Strijbos:
“My weekend started very badly. I didn’t have a good feeling with the track and yesterday I was only fourteenth in the qualifying race. This morning in the warm-up I felt better and I made good lap times because I found the lines on the track.
A bad start in the first race but I came back until tenth and this was ok for me after yesterday’s result. In the second race I made a better start and was sixth but before the flag Paulin passed me. Finally I was seventh in the Grand prix and that is OK. For sure it was not the best weekend but finally the result is alright.”
Roger Magee, Team Principal:
“Yet another bitter-sweet weekend for HM Plant KTMUK with the agony of EBB suffering yet more bad luck in Saturday's qualifying race after tagging Herlings on the opening lap causing him to crash and injure his thumb, effectively ending his Italian GP. In contrast, Kevin again proved that he is one of the main contenders in the 2012 MX1 World Championship with another two top-ten finishes regaining 6th overall in the standings. He has really proved competitive on his 350SX-F machine on the different types of terrain encountered so far. James Dunn also proved that he can be a contender for the EMX125 Championship after finishing 2nd behind Championship-leader Gajser, having led the race for a time at half-distance. We now head back to the UK for the 3rd round of the British Maxxis Championship where hopefully Strijbos can extend his MX1 Championship lead and EBB can close the gap on the leader of the MX2 class."
Photos courtesy of Ray Archer
MX1 Moto1
1. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 40:45.152; ; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:00.807; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:10.841; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:45.920; 5. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:46.277; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:49.834; 7. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:57.051; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:59.812; 9. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +1:04.282; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +1:07.930.
MX1 Moto2
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 39:48.505; 2. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:09.147; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:15.265; 4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:20.222; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:31.310; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:42.169; 7. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +0:54.334; 8. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +1:02.716; 9. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +1:05.010; 10. Dean Ferris (AUS, Kawasaki), +1:06.052.
MX1 Overall
1. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 47 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 38 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 37 p.; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 32 p.; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 31 p.; 7. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 25 p.; 8. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 25 p.; 9. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 23 p.; 10. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), 20 p.;
MX1 World Championship standings
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 133 points; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 116 p.; 3. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 106 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 105 p.; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 95 p.; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 76 p.;
7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 72 p.; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 69 p.; 9. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 69 p.; 10. Tanel Leok (EST, Suzuki), 62 p.;
MX2 World Championship standings
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 144 points; 2. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 114 p.; 3. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 109 p.; 4. Joel Roelants (BEL, Kawasaki), 85 p.; 5. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), 80 p.; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 78 p.; 7. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), 73 p.; 8. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 69 p.; 9. Harri Kullas (FIN, Suzuki), 65 p.; 10. Michael Leib (USA, Yamaha), 61 p.;
EMX125 Overall
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, KTM), 50 points; 2. Magne Klingshelm (NOR, KTM), 36 p.;
3. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 35 p.; 4. Davide Bonini (ITA, KTM), 33 p.; 5. Riccardo Righi (ITA, KTM), 30 p.; 6. Jaap Corneth (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 7. James Dunn (GBR, KTM), 22 p.; 8. Iker Larranaga (ESP, Suzuki), 22 p.; 9. Tommaso De Pietri (ITA, Suzuki), 22 p.; 10. Henry Jacobi (GER, KTM), 22 p.;
EMX125 Championship standings
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, KTM), 100 points; 2. Davide Bonini (ITA, KTM), 75 p.; 3. Magne Klingshelm (NOR, KTM), 66 p.; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 60 p.; 5. Henry Jacobi (GER, KTM), 56 p.; 6. Anton Lundgren (SWE, KTM), 47 p.; 7. Jaap Corneth (NED, KTM), 46 p.; 8. Riccardo Righi (ITA, KTM), 45 p.; 9. James Dunn (GBR, KTM), 44 p.; 10. Tommaso De Pietri (ITA, Suzuki), 40 p
