With the FIM Motocross World Championship 2010 season coming to an end in Fermo, Italy, this weekend, hometown rider David Philippaerts started off strong by taking the MX1 pole ahead of tomorrow‰Ûªs races while Ken Roczen took the MX2 Pole.
Philippaerts is chasing the second position in the Championship after Tony Cairoli won it in Brazil.
The Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross rider raced hard to keep the lead as Frenchman Nicolas Aubin and Sebastien Pourcel chased hard.
Rockstar Energy Bud Racing Kawasaki‰Ûªs Aubin became dangerous at lap four when he managed to move past Philippaerts and take the lead. Though the Italian fought back to place himself on top again and from then on he dominated the race to take his fourth pole of 2010.
Aubin was settling for a solid second when Kawasaki Racing‰Ûªs French countryman Pourcel moved past. The latter wrapped up the runner up position ahead of Aubin as both celebrated their best qualifying result of 2010.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX1‰Ûªs Tony Cairoli found himself fifth after a mistake at the first corner and was forced to fight back to an eventual fourth place, moving past Belgian Steve Ramon. 2010 MX1 World Champion Cairoli tried to catch Aubin for third but preferred to save his energy for tomorrow, when he and Philippaerts try to give their home crowd fans a Grand Prix win.
Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1's Steve Ramon rode a consistent race and rode in fifth from beginning to end but the Belgian made several mistakes which saw him crash and in danger of losing his position. However, his gap with his pursuer Davide Guarneri of Italy was big enough to keep his position until the chequered flag.
Davide Guarneri was a solid sixth as he still seeks his maiden podium in the MX1 class while Max Nagl was seventh.
Runner up in the Championship Clement Desalle struggled after his crashes at Lierop and ended a brave eighth. Life will not be easy tomorrow for the Belgian, with both Philippaerts and Nagl aiming at his position in the standings.
"Wow
that was difficult," Desalle said. "Just shifting my balance on the bike was hard. I have taken some painkillers but I don't feel so sharp as a result. I started 16th in the gate so I have a better position for tomorrow. I will have to decide my strategy for the start because I don't want to take any risks. I think a top six or seven finish in each race will be enough to secure second in the championship."
American Jimmy Albertson and Xavier Boog completed the top ten ahead of Josh Coppins, racing his last Grand Prix this weekend.
Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2‰Ûªs Ken Roczen stormed to his fifth pole position, where he dominated the qualifying heat to win ahead of archrival Marvin Musquin. The Frenchman took the holeshot but Roczen made a swift move to snatch the lead in the first lap.
From then on the 16 year old German, who promised to give news on his future tomorrow after the Grand Prix, led the way from Musquin to take the chequered flag one second in front of him.
"2010 has been a good year, my first full championship of being able to race every GP and there have been ups and downs but I really hope to end the season with a win here. I still feel a bit sick and not 100% but it should not be a problem for tomorrow," Roczen said.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX2‰Ûªs Musquin was a solid second to Roczen as he showed he could match the rival‰Ûªs pace throughout the whole race. The two will battle with each other to take victory in the final round of 2010 tomorrow.
Kawasaki CLS‰Ûª Jeremy Van Horebeek took third, his team mate Steven Frossard was fourth as he followed the leading trio for the whole race.
Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross‰Ûª Gautier Paulin completed the top five after he won last weekend‰Ûªs Grand Prix of Benelux on the sand.
Main Photo: David Philippaerts (19) leads the MX class away
Credit: Youthstream
MX1 Qualifying Race top ten:
1. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 24:33.353
2. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:03.788
3. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:05.316
4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:07.550
5. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:13.835
6. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Honda), +0:16.212
7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:16.956
8. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:26.565
9. Jimmy Albertson (USA, Honda), +0:27.269
10. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:28.231
MX2 Qualifying Race top ten:
1. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), 24:18.105
2. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), +0:01.048
3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:25.550
4. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:34.366
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:36.677
6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Suzuki), +0:39.739
7. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KTM), +0:50.712
8. Zach Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:56.682
9. Michael Leib (USA, Kawasaki), +1:00.743
10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Yamaha), +1:02.959
