Motocross

Tony Cairoli and Jeffery Herlings unbeatable at Valkenswaard.

Author: Aaryn Minerds

Posted:

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

7:42 AM

Tony Cairoli and Jeffery Herlings unbeatable at Valkenswaard.

Red Bull KTM factory riders Tony Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings both launched their bids for 2012 World Championship titles in MX1 and MX2 respectively with both riders taking double moto wins at the first GP of the 2012 World Championship season in Valkenswaard.

Cairoli turned in two near perfect moto's on what he says is his favourite track to pick up yet another red plate for his collection. After winning the first moto, he came out of the start of race two in fourth place, the Italian quickly moved into third behind a Clement Desalle and Steven Frossard.

After biding his time Cairoli made the two necessary passes to move him to the front and he quickly stretched out the advantage, before holding the lead all the way to the chequered flag. Finishing the race with a very comfortable 13.5 seconds ahead of Desalle and Frossard who held on to second and third, Cairoli was please to make it through the day relatively mistake free and with the points lead.

"I just rode a smart race with not so many mistakes." stated Cairoli. "I had a good speed and also good fitness levels so everything was good to take the win."

"Riding in the sand is just fun for me and I don't really get tired. Now I look forward to see what my speed is like on hard pack" the current world champion concluded.

Desalle rode to a strong second place at round one. Credit: Suzuki Racing

With Desalle and Frossard also finishing second and third in the first race, the top three in both races and the overall podium looked the same with Cairoli standing a top followed by Desalle and Frossard.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki World's Desalle was satisfied with his race results after giving it his best on a track that he described as bumpy and difficult.

"I'm satisfied because I feel good; I rode pretty safe and at my own speed." Desalle said. "The pace was good, the track was bumpy and difficult, but it is not like Lommel."

"We had four categories this weekend and the track was managed for all that racing so there were not many bumps inside the actual corners. I gave the best I could and this is OK for the moment." the Belgium born rider concluded.

French rider Frossard felt he did not ride well in race one making mistakes that seen him off the track on more than once occasion, race two was better for the Monster Energy Yamaha as he finished the race feeling happier with his performance.

"I didn't ride well in the first moto." Frossard said. "I had a few good laps at the beginning but then I had some arm-pump and then pushed a bit too much. I don't know how many mistakes I made! I went outside the track twice."

"I was very disappointed because I rode like I did a few years ago in MX2 by pushing too much. I turned the day around and I was happier after the second moto because I rode quite close to how I do in training. The track was strange." he added.

"In the first moto some parts were very bad but then they were graded too much for the second." Frossard concluded.

Frossard put his Monster Energy Yamaha on the Podium at Valkensaard

Gautier Paulin finished out the day in fourth position with a 4-7 score card while Kevin Strijbos finished fifth in the first race followed by a sixth in the second race to round out the opening leg of the championship in fifth position.

"This was a very important start for me and everyone on the Kawasaki Racing Team. We have all worked extremely hard over the winter and this weekend we proved we are competitive and ready to fight in the most difficult conditions." said Paulin regarding his fourth place finish.

"My starts were not so good and this is something I will work on for the next round. I'm confident with the KX450F and we also proved today that my fitness is my strong point. I'm looking forward to Bulgaria" he concluded.

Redbull KTM fill in rider Ken de Dycker impressed, edging out Honda rider Rui Goncalves by two points to take sixth place for the day. Finishing in eighth place was Shaun Simpson ahead of Estonian rider Tanel Leok and Italian David Philippaerts in ninth and tenth respectively.

Herlings once again proved he was the master of the sand with two big race wins - Credit: R Archer

The day belonged to Herlings in the MX2 class, as the Dutch teenager who put on a stunning display of sand riding at his home circuit at Valkenswaard. He was 51 seconds ahead of the field at the end of the first moto, lapping up to seventh place and then finished the second race 37 seconds ahead, lapping up to sixth place.

Regarded as one of the best sand riders in the World championship series, Herlings now has to put his head down and prove he is just as strong on other surfaces. It was the third season in a row that Herlings has won in Valkenswaard.

I knew I was going to be fast and that no one could stay with me if I was riding well." stated Herlings. "Although I rode well my starts weren't that good even if I managed to make up the ground I lost."

"I think in Bulgaria if I ride well, stay healthy and make a good start I can there win too. We'll do our best. I know the team is behind me. I have a good bike so it all comes down to me." concluded the Dutch rider.

Joel Roelants was awarded second place for the day on count back from British team mate Tommy Searle after both rider scored 42 points taking a second and third place each in the two moto's, Roelants however scored the better finish in the second race giving him the second place trophy at Valkenswaard.

"I was a little nervous in my first GP for the team and made a mess of the first start but we've got the bike working so well after the winter tests that I was able to come all the way through to third." said Roelants.

"I was so confident for race two that I was even able to follow Herlings for several laps, but he was just too fast and I focused on securing my second place." he concluded

Joel Roelants was awarded 2nd for the day after finishing tied with the same amount of points as team mate Searle.

Knowing he could not run Herlings pace in the sand Searle was happy with his days efforts.

"I'm not a sand expert so I knew that I couldn't race with Herlings here." stated Searle.

"In fact this result is like a win for me because I have done most of my training in California and England on the sort of tracks we will race in 14 of the 16 GPs this year so I am now confident for the season ahead; I can't wait for the next race in Bulgaria." Searle explained.

Jeremy van Horebeek of Belgium missed the podium by one place, finishing fourth at round one after two fourth place race finishes, while French rider Jordi Tixier closed out the top five riders at the season opener.

Round 2 of the 15 round series will take place on the 22nd of April in Sevlievo, Bulgria.

Valkenswaard Race Results:

MX1 Race 1:
1 222 Cairoli, Antonio ITA KTM
2 25 Desalle, Clement BEL Suzuki
3 183 Frossard, Steven FRA Yamaha
4 21 Paulin, Gautier FRA Kawasaki
5 9 de Dycker, Ken BEL KTM
6 22 Strijbos, Kevin BEL KTM
7 19 Philippaerts,David ITA Yamaha
8 121 Boog, Xavier FRA Kawasaki
9 4 Leok, Tanel EST Suzuki
10 999 Goncalves, Rui POR Honda
11 24 Simpson, Shaun GBR Yamaha
12 287 Schiffer, Marcus GER Suzuki
13 39 Guarneri, Davide ITA KTM
14 36 Bonini, Matteo ITA KTM
15 91 Karro, Matiss LAT KTM
16 61 Brakke, Herjan NED Yamaha
17 7 Barragan, Jonathan ESP Honda
18 37 Krestinov, Gert EST Honda
19 32 Potisek, Milko FRA Honda
20 10 Boissiere, Anthony FRA TM

MX1 Race 2:
1 222 Cairoli, Antonio ITA KTM
2 25 Desalle, Clement BEL Suzuki
3 183 Frossard, Steven FRA Yamaha
4 999 Goncalves, Rui POR Honda
5 22 Strijbos, Kevin BEL KTM
6 9 de Dycker, Ken BEL KTM
7 21 Paulin, Gautier FRA Kawasaki
8 24 Simpson, Shaun GBR Yamaha
9 377 Pourcel, Christophe FRA Kawasaki
10 91 Karro, Matiss LAT KTM
11 4 Leok, Tanel EST Suzuki
12 777 Bobryshev, Evgeny RUS Honda
13 7 Barragan, Jonathan ESP Honda
14 121 Boog, Xavier FRA Kawasaki
15 19 Philippaerts, David ITA Yamaha
16 287 Schiffer, Marcus GER Suzuki
17 39 Guarneri, Davide ITA KTM
18 11 Pourcel, Sebastien FRA Kawasaki
19 37 Krestinov, Gert EST Honda
20 50 Barr, Martin IRL Kawasaki

MX 2 Podium: Credit: R Archer

MX2 Race 1:
1 84 Herlings, Jeffrey NED KTM
2 100 Searle, Tommy GBR Kawasaki
3 34 Roelants, Joel BEL Kawasaki
4 89 van Horebeek,Jeremy BEL KTM
5 45 Nicholls, Jake GBR KTM
6 911 Tixier, Jordi FRA KTM
7 66 Tonkov, Alexander RUS Honda
8 119 Pocock, Mel GBR Yamaha
9 37 Teillet, Valentin FRA Kawasaki
10 22 Ferrandis, Dylan FRA Kawasaki
11 6 Anstie, Max GBR Honda
12 249 Larsen, Nikolaj DEN Suzuki
13 77 Lupino, Alessandro ITA Husqvarna
14 152 Petrov, Petar BUL Suzuki
15 25 Coldenhoff, Glenn NED KTM
16 151 Kullas, Harri FIN Suzuki
17 221 RÌ_tsep, Priit EST KTM
18 173 Guillod, Valentin SUI KTM
19 195 Justs, Roberts LAT Honda
20 600 Davis, Ivanovs LAT Kawasaki

MX2 Race 2:
1 84 Herlings, Jeffrey NED KTM
2 34 Roelants, Joel BEL Kawasaki
3 100 Searle, Tommy GBR Kawasaki
4 89 van Horebeek,Jeremy BEL KTM
5 6 Anstie, Max GBR Honda
6 25 Coldenhoff, Glenn NED KTM
7 911 Tixier, Jordi FRA KTM
8 22 Ferrandis, Dylan FRA Kawasaki
9 45 Nicholls, Jake GBR KTM
10 37 Teillet, Valentin FRA Kawasaki
11 151 Kullas, Harri FIN Suzuki
12 119 Pocock, Mel GBR Yamaha
13 77 Lupino, Alessandro ITA Husqvarna
14 35 Rauchenecker,Pascal AUT KTM
15 461 Febvre, Romain FRA KTM
16 195 Justs, Roberts LAT Honda
17 173 Guillod, Valentin SUI KTM
18 922 Fors, Kevin BEL Yamaha
19 18 De Waal, Micha-Boy NED Suzuki
20 66 Tonkov, Alexander RUS Honda

FIM World Motocross Championship Standings after round one:

MX1:
1 222 Cairoli, A. ITA 50
2 25 Desalle, C. BEL 44
3 183 Frossard, S. FRA 40
4 21 Paulin, G. FRA 32
5 22 Strijbos, K. BEL 31
6 9 de Dycker, Ken BEL 31
7 999 Goncalves, Rui POR 29
8 24 Simpson, Shaun GBR 23
9 4 Leok, Tanel EST 22
10 19 Philippaerts, D ITA 20
11 121 Boog, Xavier FRA 20
12 91 Karro, Matiss LAT 17
13 287 Schiffer, M. GER 14
14 377 Pourcel, C. FRA 12
15 7 Barragan, J. ESP 12
16 39 Guarneri, D. ITA 12
17 777 Bobryshev, E. RUS 9
18 36 Bonini, Matteo ITA 7
19 61 Brakke, Herjan NED 5
20 37 Krestinov, G. EST 5
21 11 Pourcel, S. FRA 3
22 32 Potisek, Milko FRA 2
23 50 Barr, Martin IRL 1
24 10 Boissiere, A. FRA 1

MX2:
1 84 Herlings, J. NED 50
2 34 Roelants, Joel BEL 42
3 100 Searle, Tommy GBR 42
4 89 van Horebeek, J BEL 36
5 911 Tixier, Jordi FRA 29
6 45 Nicholls, Jake GBR 28
7 6 Anstie, Max GBR 26
8 22 Ferrandis, D. FRA 24
9 37 Teillet, V. FRA 23
10 119 Pocock, Mel GBR 22
11 25 Coldenhoff, G. NED 21
12 77 Lupino, A. ITA 16
13 66 Tonkov, A. RUS 15
14 151 Kullas, Harri FIN 15
15 249 Larsen, N. DEN 9
16 35 Rauchenecker, P AUT 7
17 152 Petrov, Petar BUL 7
18 195 Justs, Roberts LAT 7
19 173 Guillod, V. SUI 7
20 461 Febvre, Romain FRA 6
21 221 RÌ_tsep, Priit EST 4
22 922 Fors, Kevin BEL 3
23 18 De Waal, M. NED 2
24 600 Davis, Ivanovs LAT 1

Main Photo: Cairoli on his way to winning the first Motocross Gp of the year
Credit: R Archer