Weekend Ketchup - Simpson wins in Belgium and Reed takes Toronto

March 31, 2008

Shaun Simpson once again looked in great form at the Belgium championship and walked away with the overall win in Beervelde, Shaun now heads for the first round of the World championship at Valkenswaard brimming with confidence, great news for KTM UK for sure.

GPKR riders reach the podium in both France and Belgium
 GPKR riders reach the podium in both France and Belgium The Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing Team head to both Beervelde in Belgium and Penes les Fontaines in France for some national championship action just one week before the first grand prix of the season.

Fastest rider in Pernes les Fontaines – home of the third round of the French MX1 Elite championship – Sébastien Pourcel eventually claimed second position overall while Alexandre Rouis had a tough weekend with a crash at each start! In Beervelde for the opening round of the Belgian championship Kevin Strijbos made an exceptionally strong comeback with third place overall.

On Saturday the weather at the track was sunny in Pernes and Sébastien Pourcel posted an amazing lap almost two seconds faster than second placed rider Nicolas Aubin!

On Sunday he reconfirmed his great speed and dominated the three races but he won’t celebrate a triple success in Pernes. Sebastian’s pipe broke during the first race and cost him a one-minute penalty. Awarded sixth position in that race Sebastien won the two other races easily by 40 and then 15 seconds over Aubin and is now fifth in the series, 29 points behind the leader.

Alexandre Rouis had an even worse day as he was involved in a pile up in the first turn of the three races! He rode strong to consolidate some points for the series and finished 9th, 17th and 12th to sit in 8th in the standings.

The racing conditions were not as good in Belgium but the club did a good job to prepare a decent layout to the riders. Kevin Strijbos was back in action after being sick one week earlier and despite his lack of racing he was able to battle for the win. Runner-up in the opening heat, he collided with Philippaerts in the next one but still scored a strong 3rd position. Kevin got the holeshot in the last race then made a couple of mistakes to finish 5th and 3rd overall.

Pourcel: “If I didn’t have this technical trouble in the first heat it would have been a perfect day for me! I was excited before the second start and in the last two races I posted a couple of fast laps to secure my lead. Twice Aubin came second but it was pretty easy to control him. I had better starts here than in Thomer especially in the second and third race but we’ll have to wait next weekend in Valkenswaard to be sure that the problem is solved. We’ll do some testing on Wednesday and I will continue my physical training all week long.”

Kevin Strijbos: “The track was rough and it was important to be carefull on the bike - especially so close to the first GP. I’m happy with the first two races where I had a good speed and never gave up but the last one was more difficult. I felt tired and couldn’t go as fast as I would have liked but it was a good training before Valkenswaard.”

Alexandre Rouis: “It was a black day for me as I had to came back in each race from the last place to secure some points. I chose another place behind the grid for the last start and I was in the top 10 at the first corner when another rider crashed under my front wheel. The only positive thing is that I had good lap times during the races and I didn’t feel tired at the end of the day.”

Roger Pourcel: “We never damaged any part of the exhaust pipe this season in testing or racing but here during the first race Sébastien had a problem and he got a penalty. That’s the rule and we have to deal with it. He recovered pretty well in the following races and took a GP ryththm to test the bike and himself. Alex was especially unlucky here but he never gave up and still scored points in each race.”

Patrick Geladé: “It was an important event for Kevin who didn’t race a lot in the pre-season with injuries and illness. Kevin showed that he has good speed, he got some great starts with the bike and it was important for his comfidence. For sure he is a little bit late in his preparation and didn’t do so much testing yet but we are all convinced that the base is strong enough for the first GPs.”

Kawasaki Racing Team back to full strength in Beervelde
 Kawasaki Racing Team’s Manuel Priem and a rejuvenated Tanel Leok mix it up in Belgian National season opener at Beervelde Overcast and damp conditions greeted the Kawasaki Racing Team who were at full strength for the first time since the Valence International for the opening round of the Belgian national championship at Beervelde.

With Leok ready to race again after his early pre-season shoulder injury and the ever-improving Manuel Priem looking more and more settled on the factory KX450F-SR the team were hoping to continue the improvement they’ve shown in recent weeks and the riders did not disappoint.

Manuel lead the way in qualifying finishing in 4th spot while a tentative Tanel eased his way back into race mode posting a fine 6th position and within three seconds of the fastest rider on the two-minute plus lap.

With Priem working on finding the optimum power delivery for the KX450F-SR in recent weeks it was no surprise to see both KRT riders in the top-10 from the start in moto one. While Priem worked on chasing down Ken De Dycker for third, Leok moved up from 8th to 6th only to lose a place in the closing moments of the 20-minute plus one lap race. Priem stayed a satisfactory 4th unable to pass De Dycker even though he set faster laps for much of the moto.

Moto two once more saw Leok and Priem get their factory Kawasakis off the line well with Manuel 5th and Tanel in 6th position. Both riders moved into the top five where they looked set to end the race until Manuel made a rare mistake - getting stuck in some deep mud - on the last lap dropping from 3rd to 6th behind his KRT teammate.

On a much rougher circuit for race three both KRT riders once more gated in the top 10, progressed to the top four then proceeded to battle for the final podium spot. Improving more and more with each second spent on the KX450F-SR Leok actually finished the race just five seconds short of the winner Ken De Dycker in a thrilling battle which had the crowd on their toes. Priem was able to stay 4th throughout the race once more proving his amazing fitness by setting his fastest lap of the race in the closing half.

"My starts were pretty good today and the riding went also well but the track was really hard," explains Priem. "In the second heat I got stuck in the mud three turns from the finish - that caused me to miss the podium by a whisker. In heat three the pace lay a bit lower and I was able to follow Leok and use his lines after he’d passed me. I am pleased with the progress I've made - especially my three good starts."

Despite being in a little bit of discomfort Tanel Leok was pleased with his comeback."Everything went okay today so that was a real relief because it was my first big race after my shoulder injury! I managed to enjoy myself although the shoulder still felt a little bit sore. However I can ride through the pain so it should be fine for the GP in Valkenswaard."

The Kawasaki Racing Team travels to Valkenswaard in the southern half of the Netherlands next weekend for the opening round of the MX1 world championship where team riders Manuel Priem and Tanel Leok will both be looking for top five finishes.

RACE PODIUM IN BELGIAN CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT FOR TERREBLANCHE
 Motocross racing is a passion in Belgium. Unimaginably so. Relative to its size a population, the world's diplomatic capital arguably has the highest per capita number of motocross fans in the world. Every weekend thousands of fans stream to a variety of races in various federations, and with a learning school this tough, it is no surprise that many of the true greats in the history of the sport have either been Belgian, or have based themselves there. The reputation of Belgium as a motocross powerhouse exists despite (or maybe because of) the fact that many Belgian motocross tracks resemble nothing so much as a maize patch. In the weekend gone by, however, were it not for the heroic efforts of the staff of Meganck-Collewaert, the track for the first Belgian championship event would have resembled nothing so much as a rice paddy. Some persistent rain soaked the entire region under centimetres of water, but the sand recovery company achieved the seemingly impossible, and presented a rideable track.

The good and the great of Belgian motocross descended on Beervelde between Antwerp and Gent for the first of the Big Ones in Belgium, the United Telecom Belgian Championships. Coming as it did just a week before the first GP of 2008, there was great interest in the event, and the plentiful rain leading up to the race could dampen all but the spirits of the motocross faithful. "Never mind", the weather man said. "there will be sunshine and mild temperatures to cheer you all." In the time-honoured tradition of weather men over the ages, he was wrong. Intermittent batches of rain and a sniping wind gave the lie to the prediction, but the racing went on as scheduled.

With teammate Erik Eggens doing the honours at a home race in Emmen, Holland, Shannon Terreblanche was the sole representative of the Beursfoon Suzuki team at the Belgian event. The South African was aiming for a good result in the race, having set a top finish in the Belgian series as one of his goals for 2008. Already during the combination training-qualifying session, it was clear that this track was a meanie. Well -prepared as it was, the conditions were going to play a role, and the track quickly carved up and developed ruts that would do any canal builder proud. Because of this, the track rapidly became strewn with stranded riders, and getting in a clear lap proved difficult. Shannon was hampered on several laps and could only post the 12th fastest qualifying time.

All dreams of a good overall result on the day went up in smoke (or maybe steam) right at the start of the first race. Charging down the start straight, the handlebars of the Suzuki got entangled with those od another bike, and it took the two riders a good while to separate themselves and get going. Shannon soldiered on, despite the fact that the early accident had robbed him of all his rhythm. He clawed his way well into the points and was lying 15th position when the treacherous conditions again reared up and bit him. After a hairy moment, he shot off the track and crashed hard into the track railings, numbing and bruising his upper arm. With all the work left to do again and time running out, he set off to recover what he could. Yet again his never-say-die attitude stood him in good stead. After a race that he would really rather forget, he managed to eke out 3 points with his 18th place finish.

Shannon was a picture of determination in race two. This time the Suzuki rounded the corner inside the top 5, and the race was on. Let it be said that, with Shaun Simpson in devastating form, the race was always going to be for second place. The Scotsman has hit a purple patch in the early part of the season, and has established himself as one of the dark horses for world championship glory. Be that as it may, Shannon had the bit between his teeth. After a brief battle, he disposed of Belgian Kenny Vandueren and set off in pursuit of Pascal Brons. A fierce three way battle ensued between Shannon, Brons and Jeremy Van Horebeek for the second spot, with Van Horebeek finally gaining the upper hand, and Shannon coming home in third position, just a second or so adrift.

The disappointment of the first heat was now somewhat dampened, and Shannon was elated at having achieved a podium finish in the first race of the championship. He now occupies ninth position in the championship standings, only 10 points adrift of the third placed rider, and with every prospect of substantially improving on his ranking.

"It was a difficult day," he said through mud-caked teeth after the race. "The track was so rough, and you had to concentrate every second not to crash or get stuck. There were riders all over the place, so it was important to look ahead and not get caught up with them. I'm happy with the podium in the second race. Once I got to the front, I could maintain the same speed as the front guys, except for Shaun, who was gone."

The next race is the big one, the first MX2 Grand Prix at Valkenswaard.

Results from Belgium
 HEAT 1
1. Ramon, 2. Strijbos, 3. De Dycker, 4. Priem, 5. Breugelmans, 6. Van Daele, 7. Leok, 8. Philippaerts, 9. Renet, 10. Theybers

HEAT 2
1. Ramon, 2. De Dycker, 3. Strijbos, 4. Priem, 5. Priem, 6. Philippaerts, 7. Leok, 8. Breugelmans, 9. Salaets, 10. Van Nooten

HEAT 3
1. De Dycker, 2. Ramon, 3. Leok, 4. Priem, 5. Strijbos, 6. Breugelmans, 7. Philippaerts, 8. Salaets, 9. Theybers, 10. Godrie

MX2 Results
 1 241 SIMPSON Shaun 50
2 89 VAN HOREBEEK Jeremy 37
3 167 VAN HOE Horpjurn 33
4 131 DOMINGUEZ Jordi-Paez 30
5 103 VANDUEREN Kenny 29
6 82 HUYSMANS Jimmy 28
7 173 BRONS Pascal 26
8 811 TARROUX Jéremy 26
9 77 TERREBLANCHE Shannon 23
10 102 RAU Tommy 22

Reed Wins Seventh AMA Supercross Race in Toronto
 Team San Manuel Yamaha’s Chad Reed, of Tampa, Fla., won his seventh Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship race of the season before 36,888 fans at Rogers Centre, marking his second consecutive race win in Toronto. Honda’s Shaun Skinner, of Stuart, Fla., won the first AMA Supercross Lites class main event of his career.

Reed won the $1,500 Progressive Holeshot Award with Yamaha’s Josh Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., Honda’s Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., following closely in second and third respectively. Hill crashed on the opening lap and allowed Millsaps to move into second place.

Millsaps went down on the second lap and allowed Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., to move into second place. Windham crashed on lap seven and gave the number-two position back to Millsaps. On lap 15 Windham re-passed Millsaps for second place.

“I think this year we have been saying that each race gets tougher and tougher,” said Reed. “I did not want to crash in the main like I have in the last few races. The track had a lot of ruts and you had to be smart. We had a great week off, and I flew home to Australia.”

After starting the AMA Supercross Lites class main event in third place Skinner moved into the lead by the end of the opening lap and ran away with the next 14 laps en route to victory. He was challenged early by his teammate Kyle Cunningham, of Fort Worth, Texas, but a crash on lap two set Cunningham back several positions.

“That was a long race,” said Skinner. “I rode smart and smooth tonight. I tried to find a good line and keep moving forward. Our team swept the podium tonight, so we are really happy.

Results Dutch International at Emmen
 MX2
1 Erik Eggens NL Suzuki 47
2 Tyla Rattray Z-A KTM 43
3 Rui Goncalves Por KTM 42
4 Xavier Boog F Suzuki 34
5 Rinus van de Ven NL KTM 27

MX1
1 Marc de Reuver NL Yamaha 47
2 Maxi Nagl D KTM 47
3 Aigar Leok Est Yamaha 40
4 Bas Verhoeven NL Kawasaki 36
5 Patrick Roos NL KTM 30

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