Zas you in Racial states could read, it was a busy MX weekend, MXM collected reactions from the various tenors afterwards. We start our round in Mill.
David Philippaerts, Monster Energy-Yamaha (1+1), sound fragment in English
[audio:http://nl.motocrossmag.be/audio/philippaerts0310.mp3]Marc De Reuver, Beursfoon-Suzuki (4+2)
[audio:http://nl.motocrossmag.be/audio/dereuver0310.mp3]Kevin Strijbos, Beursphone-Suzuki (3+3)
[audio:http://nl.motocrossmag.be/audio/strijbos0310.mp3]
Not a great day for Keeno who felt sick.
Ken De Dycker, Ricci Racing-Yamaha-Monster Energy (2+DNF)
“All in all, Mill wasn't too bad, we tested a few more things in the morning and they were definitely positive. In the first heat I was able to get to the front, but when it came down to it I couldn't push through. Like I was blocking. During the day I felt sicker, even though it had been brewing for several days. The second heat started badly because the engine was quiet, but after a few kicks I got away. I really had no strength in my body, my stomach started to play tricks on me so much that I had to leave the match.”
Gauthier Paulin, Monster Energy-Yamaha (2+1)
“Of course I am satisfied with my performance today. In recent weeks I was in Belgium to ride in the sand and that certainly contributed to this result. My start wasn't that good in the first race, but I was able to move to the front. When I got into the lead, I couldn't hold on to it because Roelants kept coming back. In that first series the engine was not set up exactly as I wanted. That was certainly a disadvantage, otherwise I could have won. In the second moto my start was better, I was able to pass both Roelants and Herlings and arrive alone in the lead. It is good for confidence if you can beat two sand specialists such as Herlings and Roelants.”
Joël Roelants, JM Racing KTM (1+3)
[audio:http://nl.motocrossmag.be/audio/roelants0315.mp3]
Jeffrey Herlings, Red Bull-KTM (3 + 2)
“I'm a little disappointed because I came here for a win. Unfortunately that didn't work out, I feel like there could have been more to it than third and second place. Hopefully I can go home with the victory in two weeks in Halle. In the first heat I was in the lead and then I made a mistake. I ended up over a fence and had quite a bit of difficulty getting back on track. Fortunately I was still able to finish third. I also had a good start in the second moto. I was second and then I moved to the front, I was also able to pull away a bit but Gautier Paulin caught me back. After that I lost my way a bit, it didn't turn out the way I wanted, but I came in second. I'm not in a bad position in the championship, I'm only a few points behind Joël (Roelants) so I'm keeping all my chances open there.”
Nick Triest, Shineray (4+5)
“I return home with a good feeling, fourth in the final standings is certainly not bad considering the field of participants. Compared to last year at the first ONK, this is even a revelation! Gemert last year was an absolute disaster, because I didn't score any points. I know that I can go a little faster and that I will also become physically stronger, but I am satisfied with my form at the moment.”
In France there was racing on the hard and fast Pernes-les-Fontaines. A perfect match for the specialists and also a nice comeback victory for Seb Pourcel. Musquin's last series was also very strong, beating everyone on his MX2 bike.
Back with a vengeance: it had been a long time since Sebastien Pourcel won again.
Sebastien Pourcel, Kawasaki Racing Team (1 + 2 +2)
“A great victory, but it could have been easier with good starts! Actually, I came to Pernes with the idea that I could win the three series. However, I always had to make up too many places at the start. In the second series the doubled players played tricks on me. I crashed and lost the match. The best series for myself and for the fans was of course the last race. Until the finish I was in a battle with Marvin Musquin. On the last lap I passed him, but then I crashed! That's part of it now.”
Marvin Musquin, Red Bull-KTM (3 + 4+1)
“It went very quickly with a lot of good riders, both in MX1 and MX2. Pourcel, Boog and Frossard… They were all strong here! In the start you are always at a disadvantage on the 250 of course and then it is not easy to come back. I was able to ride freely in the last series and that became my best race. I have really enjoyed it."
Xavier Boog, Kawasaki Racing Team (9 + 1 + 3)
“The first series wasn't as good as I expected. The engine stalled twice, causing me to lose valuable time. I wanted to take revenge in the second race and I succeeded because I won my first race at the Elite! In the final race I met the man with the hammer ten minutes before the end. I had gone from seven to one and that had probably cost me too much strength. Still, I am satisfied with my weekend, because such a typical southern job is not really my thing.”
Steven Frossard, CLS Kawasaki (2+5+7)
“About the first two races I was satisfied, only the last one was less because I had stomach problems. Until the closing stages of the second heat I had a chance of winning, but when we got among the stragglers I crashed and I could shake it. The most important thing is that my speed was okay this weekend. On Saturday I was lucky, just before I drove to the biggest jump on the circuit, a stone hit my footrest. I did a 'superman', then I just took it easier!”
The Jerre is successfully working on his speed on hard surfaces in France. He is second in the MX2 championship after two rounds.
Jeremy Van Horebeek, CLS Kawasaki (6 + 6 + 6)
“Between Sommières and Pernes we continued to train in the south of France, but that is not enough to beat the French on their own ground. However, confidence grew over the weekend. The hardest part for me are the first ten minutes, after that it just takes off. Now we still have to work on my start, but that is always extra difficult here because we have to compete against the 450s!”
Photos credit: CDS, Pascal Haudiquert
