MXGP

MXGP Riders Give Their Thoughts After Season Opening Race in Qatar

Author: Aaryn Minerds

Posted:

Monday, March 2nd, 2015

9:50 AM

Read below as the top ten riders from the opening round of the 2015 World Motocross Championship give their thoughts on how their weekend went.

1st - MAX NAGAL, Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing.

"What can I say. This is the kind of perfect championship start everyone dreams of, it‰Ûªs amazing that my season has started in this way. I‰Ûªm so, so happy. Everyone in the team has worked so hard for this.

"We have to remember that this is only the first GP and that there are a lot of races ahead of us in the championship, but it‰Ûªs a great start. I had two perfect races, but they were not easy. The track was really rough, especially in the second moto. You had to be completely focused all the time, it was so easy to make a mistake.

"Towards the end of the second race I started to get a little worried, because the track was really rough. My bike and suspension was incredible, and I know that helped me so much.

"Two wins is a great start for me and the team. Now we will keep working and soon begin our preparations for next weekend‰Ûªs GP.‰Û

2nd - CLEMENT DESALLE, Rockstar Energy Suzuki

2nd - CLEMENT DESALLE, Rockstar Energy Suzuki

‰ÛÏIt is a strong result and I am happy with my riding and my feeling with the bike and the new stuff.

"We try to improve every year and this was a good beginning to the season. My starts can be better; this is something we can work on for the next race.

"We will fly back now and benefit from the time at home to get ready for Thailand.‰Û

3rd - GAUTIER PAULIN, Team HRC Honda

3rd - GAUTIER PAULIN, Team HRC Honda

‰ÛÏIt‰Ûªs the first race in the World Championship for me with Team HRC so I‰Ûªm really happy to start the season like this, and it‰Ûªs always good to be on the box.

"We‰Ûªre not at the top, but the season is long so it‰Ûªs already good to be in third place. For sure you always want better but it‰Ûªs been a very smooth first grand prix.

"I‰Ûªm really happy to work with my crew. We improve every time I go on the bike so we‰Ûªre in good shape.‰Û

4th - ANTONIO CAIROLI, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

4th - ANTONIO CAIROLI, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

"Third for me was good on a track that is not one of my favourites and that was hard and slippery and sketchy in some places.

"For sure I didn't give my best but I controlled the race and the points are very important for the championship. I was a little tired in the second race from the medication I took before the first moto then I got a big stone on my arm and had some pain.

"My goal was not to crash, to get some points and to finish."

"For sure it is normal that he's (Ryan Villopoto) getting used to these kinds of tracks. He was struggling a bit but that's what we do when we're in America. He will be in front in the next races when he's adapted a bit.

5th - JERMEY VAN HOREBEEK, Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube

5th - JERMEY VAN HOREBEEK, Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube

‰ÛÏIt was the first GP and I was not really relaxed and I struggled to find a good setting because the track was really sketchy. I don't like it at all.

"The design is very nice but there are many deep, square bumps. I struggled also with the starts and they were the key this weekend. I think I have the speed; it is not like the guys are pulling away from me.

"I was better in the second moto and the gap to the others stayed the same from the first lap. I could see the others ahead. I think I changed what could have been a bad weekend into a good one because I wasn‰Ûªt comfortable out there. So, the same as last year and I will be ready to pull the trigger next week.‰Û

6th - ROMAIN FEBVRE, Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube

6th - ROMAIN FEBVRE, Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube

‰ÛÏIt was a pretty good first GP except that my starts were not that great. I was tenth on the first corner of the first race but I made some moves to seventh.

"I was stuck behind Shaun Simpson and it was really difficult to pass him. He made a mistake with three or four laps to go and I could get by.

"The result was good because the track was difficult with many sharp bumps. The grip varied and it was difficult to get a feeling with the bike. My start was worse in the second moto and I made a mistake by coming short on a double jump and almost crashed.

"I was really lucky. I was behind Villopoto for many laps and passed him. I think I used too much energy with Villopoto, which meant that I had nothing left to chase Strijbos. Anyway sixth overall with the new team, new bike, new class is positive and I‰Ûªm happy.‰Û

7th - RYAN VILLOPOTO, Monster Energy Kawasaki

7th - RYAN VILLOPOTO, Monster Energy Kawasaki

‰ÛÏI haven‰Ûªt raced since May last year, and it wasn‰Ûªt a good day but we scored points and that‰Ûªs definitively something we have to work on.

"I never had a schedule like that one for a long time, but I‰Ûªve got to get used to that and all the rest, including how the gate drops, how they do everything. We struggled a little bit with the start today, a little me and a little the bike, but we came back and got points.

"We‰Ûªve definitively some work to do, but that‰Ûªs part of it. We learned a lot this weekend and will be stronger at the next GP; we have to work on setup stuff, which make thinks a little bit easier.

"For me every time I went on the track this weekend things went better; in the second race I had some issues as my rear brake felt strange; I don‰Ûªt know if it‰Ûªs a rock or what, but it‰Ûªs part of the deal.

"We can make some stuff this week, even if the team doesn‰Ûªt go back home, and we will be better next weekend.‰Û

8th - EVGENY BOBRYSHEV, Team HRC Honda

8th - EVGENY BOBRYSHEV, Team HRC Honda

‰ÛÏIt‰Ûªs been a long time since I‰Ûªve raced like this so it‰Ûªs good to be back for sure. I now have to build it up. We have lots of races so I just want to be consistent, stay positive and build from here now that I‰Ûªm back.

‰ÛÏIn the beginning it was difficult because I was fighting in the middle and the front group already pulled away so when I got the space I was alone in the middle so it‰Ûªs difficult to find the right speed. It could be better for sure but I have to be happy.

"Yesterday I had problems with the stone in the brake so I had last gate pick and was right on the outside of the first corner so to finish 9 and 8 is ok. Overall I‰Ûªm really happy with the bike, it‰Ûªs all working really good so thanks to the team who have done a great job.‰Û

9th - KEVIN STRIJBOS, Rockstar Energy Suzuki

9th - KEVIN STRIJBOS, Rockstar Energy Suzuki

‰ÛÏI had a lot of pain in my wrist all weekend. It was difficult because I had a good winter and I want to do well and go for the podium; at least top five.

"The first moto was really bad. I had pain in the morning so we tried to strap it‰Û_and on top of that I had a bad start. I could not ride the way I wanted to, which meant I tightened up and had arm-pump.

"I felt better in the second race and the start helped. I went from third to sixth and stayed there all moto. My wrist was not hurting, which was good. I think I made a mistake because I should have taken painkillers before warm-up and repeated the dosage before the motos. At least we know for next week.

"Overall I can be happy with how things went considering the problems.‰Û

10th - SHAUN SIMPSON, Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM

10th - SHAUN SIMPSON, Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM

‰ÛÏI‰Ûªve never had a race like that. I cannot believe how many things happened to me in the first twenty minutes! I enjoyed the track but it was tricky. I was unlucky to get that rock flying at me in the first seconds of the second moto. It meant it was hard to see, hard to overtake and hard to judge some of the jumps.

"Basically it was a hard second race. Butron wiped me out something proper and I really thought I had broken my foot; thankfully the x-ray afterward showed it was OK. It took me a while before I could see though.

"Tenth overall on the strength of the first race but I could and should have had top sixes tonight. Some good starts though.‰Û