Alessi and Musquin dominate qualifying in US GP
Heavy gusts of wind caused delays today in Glen Helen, but after the afternoon the beautiful circuit was able to run at full speed. In qualifying it was KTM on top again with victories by Marvin Musquin and Mike Alessi.
In MX1 qualifying KTM was on top with the fastest start for Nagl followed by Alessi, Philipaerts and Townley. Alessi wasted no time and immediately took over the lead from Nagl. 'Mickey' opened a gap that Townley, who quickly moved up to second place, could no longer close. Alessi easily won the race ahead of Townley, Nagl and Cairoli. Clement Desalle seemed to be on his way to fifth place for a long time, but made another mistake on the last lap and fell back to eighth place. LS-Honda rider Davide Guarneri finished fifth ahead of Steve Ramon and Ryan Hughes.
Results MX1
1. Mike Alessi (USA, KTM), 25:24.830; ; 2. Ben Townley (NZL, Honda), +0:08.431; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:10.173; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:20.216; 5. David Guarneri (ITA, Honda), +0:28.445; 6. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:29.758; 7. Ryan Hughes (USA, Honda), +0:31.036; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:34.224; 9. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:43.217; 10. Anthony Boissiere (FRA, TM), +0:49.521; 11. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Honda), +0:49.985; 12. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Aprilia), +0:50.835; 13. Ryan Sipes (USA, Yamaha), +0:51.154; 14. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:52.563; 15. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), +0:55.235; 16. Sebastian Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:11.224; 17. Grant Langston (RSA, Yamaha), +1:16.931; 18. Ken De Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), +1:22.766; 19. Nicholas Aubin (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:24.545; 20. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +1:36.961; 21. Kevin Wouts (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:47.738; 22. Richard Dietrich (USA, Kawasaki), +1:50.945; 23. Evgeny Bobryshev (US, Honda), +1:54.518; 24. Justin Soule (USA, Kawasaki), +1:57.002; 25. Cedric Soubeyras (FRA, KTM), +1:57.426; 26. Bobby Garrison (USA, Husqvarna), +2:11.209; 27. Dennis Stapleton (USA, Honda), +2:14.544; 28. Matthias Walkner (AUT, KTM), +2:15.279; 29. Antonio Balbi (BRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 30. David Gassin (USA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 31. Kyle Phenix (USA, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 32. Jimmy Albertson (USA, Honda), -3 lap(s); 33. Kyle Chisolm (USA, Yamaha), -4 lap(s); 34. Ivo Steinbergs (LAT, Honda), -5 lap(s); 35. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), -6 lap(s); 36. Marc de Reuver (NED, Suzuki), -8 lap(s); 37. Yentel Martens (BEL, KTM), -10 lap(s);
The KTMs were also fastest off the start in the MX2 qualifying. Musquin immediately took the lead and didn't let anyone come near him again. Jeffrey Herlings came second after the first lap but crashed after four laps. He left the door open for Jeremy van Horebeek, who was able to hold this place firmly and even drove the fastest lap of the race. The young Max Anstie finished third, followed by Ken Roczen, who found it difficult to get into the rhythm after a poor start.
Dennis Verbruggen came back from nineteenth to twelfth place and Joel Roelants had to retire after a bad start a few laps before the end.
Results MX2
1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 25:28.165; ; 2. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:07.826; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, Yamaha), +0:11.446; 4. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), +0:16.895; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:19.246; 6. Zach Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:22.223; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:26.272; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Suzuki), +0:41.715; 9. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:45.423; 10. Harry Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +0:49.165; 11. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KTM), +0:50.508; 12. Dennis Verbruggen (BEL, KTM), +0:56.597; 13. Vince Friese (USA, Yamaha), +1:18.654; 14. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +1:25.698; 15. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +1:52.853; 16. Joey Rossi (USA, Kawasaki), +1:57.040; 17. Petr Smitka (CZE, KTM), +1:59.054; 18. Dakota Tedder (USA, Kawasaki), +2:02.526; 19. Michael Leib (USA, Kawasaki), +2:09.074; 20. Myles Tedder (USA, Kawasaki), +2:10.935;
After the races, the riders mainly pointed out that there were too few lines on the circuit. Townley even said that he had never experienced Glen Helen in such a bad way and that it was really not fun to ride on. The weather forecast for tomorrow shows even warmer weather, which will ensure that it will be a real battle of attrition. Physicality therefore becomes an important factor, just like the start!
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