Charlier 13th in tough home race
With just one week between the British GP and the French Grand Prix, there was little time for riders and teams to prepare for the next challenge. After a long absence from the Motocross World Championship calendar, Villars Sous Ecot made his return last weekend. 24MX Honda Racing's Christophe Charlier rode to 13th place in difficult conditions.
For the 8th round of 18 in the FIM World Championship, the team, unfortunately without Filip Bengtsson, went to Villars sous Ecot in the east of France. Charlier, who is in his first season in the top class, was feeling good on Saturday. In the timed training he achieved 9th place, in the qualifying race he sent his Honda CRF450R to a 10th place.
Although he had a good starting position, Christophe went wrong during the start of series one. With a slip in the first round, he then faced a tough assignment. From the very back of the field, Charlier still managed to climb to 17th. In the second round, the former European MX2 champion was well ahead. The 24MX Honda rider was in a good position going into the first corner but found his way blocked by two fallen riders, Simpson and Philippaerts. From the very last position, Charlier started an impressive recovery. When the Corsican got into his rhythm, he set top-10 lap times. At the end of the heat he defeated Frossard and Waters to finish 12th.
Christophe Charlier: “It was a difficult day! With a good start you can compete with the fastest men from the first round. If you don't have a good start, it will be difficult anyway. Especially here. After a terrible start in the first moto, there was nothing more to do than limit the damage. In the second series I had a much better start, but due to two riders falling in front of me I had to chase again. So of course I am disappointed. There could certainly have been more in it, but my speed was okay. Now I still have to improve and we have to keep working on the bike to get a better start.”
Steven Lettani, team owner: “Christophe made a nice effort in the second series. His lap times and regularity were also positive in general. It was difficult to overtake, especially in the first heat, and there were not many lines on the track, although that was the same for everyone. In MXGP, starts are more important than ever, so we have to keep working on that. Fortunately, Christophe was fit again this weekend and had little trouble with the illness that he had to deal with last week. Now it is a matter of continuing the positive trend. Things are also going in the right direction with Filip (Bengtsson). He will be at the start next week during the Belgian Championships in Kester and will make his return appearance in the World Championships in Maggiora.”
Series 1: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 34:07.793; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:03.893; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:25.131; 4. Dean Ferris (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:30.105; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:32.380; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:37.604; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:42.512; 8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:43.953; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +0:52.376; 10. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:57.131; 11. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +1:02.960; 12. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +1:06.689; 13. Mike Alessi (USA, Suzuki), +1:09.943; 14. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), +1:10.798; 15. Cedric Soubeyras (FRA, Yamaha), +1:11.855; 16. Steven Frossard (FRA, KTM), +1:12.689; 17. Christophe Charlier (FRA, 24MX Honda), +1:16.589; 18. Fabien Izoird (FRA, Honda), -1 lap(s); 19. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 20. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 21. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 22. Dennis Ullrich (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 23. Kei Yamamoto (JPN, Honda), -1 lap(s); 24. Kim Schaffter (SUI, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 25. Clamps Gercar (SLO, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 26. Morgan Jacquelin (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 27. Anthony Guidolin (FRA, Kawasaki), -2 lap(s); 28. Angus Heidecke (GER, KTM), -4 lap(s); 29. Pier Filippo Bertuzzo (ITA, Yamaha), -7 lap(s); 30. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), -14 lap(s); 31. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), -20 lap(s)
Series 2: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), 34:41.009; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:03.574; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:25.199; 4. Dean Ferris (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:27.686; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +0:31.461; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:38.026; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:43.190; 8. Ken De Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:47.747; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:52.688; 10. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:54.542; 11. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:56.472; 12. Christophe Charlier (FRA, 24MX Honda), +1:04.769; 13. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +1:08.736; 14. Steven Frossard (FRA, KTM), +1:17.955; 15. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:25.377; 16. Cedric Soubeyras (FRA, Yamaha), +1:47.180; 17. Kei Yamamoto (JPN, Honda), -1 lap(s); 18. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 19. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 20. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 21. Angus Heidecke (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 22. Fabien Izoird (FRA, Honda), -1 lap(s); 23. Mike Alessi (USA, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 24. Dennis Ullrich (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 25. Kim Schaffter (SUI, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 26. Clamps Gercar (SLO, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 27. Morgan Jacquelin (FRA, Kawasaki), -2 lap(s); 28. Anthony Guidolin (FRA, Kawasaki), -2 lap(s); 29. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), -6 lap(s); 30. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), -12 lap(s); 31. Pier Filippo Bertuzzo (ITA, Yamaha), -20 lap(s)
GP of France final ranking:
1. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 47 points; 2. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 40 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 39 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 37 p.; 5. Dean Ferris (AUS, HUS), 36 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, SUZ), 28 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 24 p.; 10. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 17 p.; 11. Gregory Aranda (FRA, CAW), 17 p.; 12. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 15 p.; 13. Christophe Charlier (FRA, 24MX HONDA), 13 p.; 14. Tyla Rattray (RSA, COW), 12 p.; 15. Steven Frossard (FRA, KTM), 12 p.; 16. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 12 p.; 17. Cedric Soubeyras (FRA, YAM), 11 p.; 18. Mike Alessi (USA, SUZ), 8 p.; 19. Alessandro Lupin (STONE, HON), 7 p.; 20. Kei Yamamoto (JPN, HON), 4 p.; 21. Jeffrey DeWolf (BELL, YAM), 3 p.; 22. Nicholas Aubin (FRA, SUZ), 3 p.; 23. Fabien Izoird (FRA, HON), 3 p.; 24. Angus Heidecke (GER, KTM), 0 p.; 25. Dennis Ullrich (GER, SUZ), 0 p.; 26. Kim Schaffter (SUI, YAM), 0 p.; 27. Clemen Gercar (SLO, HUS), 0 p.; 28. Morgan Jacquelin (FRA, CAW), 0 p.; 29. Anthony Guidolin (FRA, CAW), 0 p.; 30. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 0 p.; 31. Pier Filippo Bertuzzo (ITA, YAM), 0 p.; 32. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 0 p
MXGP World Championship standings after 8 rounds
1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 332 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 313 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 291 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 282 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 252 p.; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 247 p.; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 169 p.; 8. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 138 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, SUZ), 134 p.; 10. Ken De Dycker (BEL, KTM), 133 p.; 11. Tyla Rattray (RSA, CAW), 130 p.; 12. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 126 p.; 13. Ryan Villopoto (USA, CAW), 124 p.; 14. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 103 p.; 15. Dean Ferris (AUS, HUS), 101 p.; 16. Steven Frossard (FRA, KTM), 80 p.; 17. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 78 p.; 18. David Guarneri (ITA, TM), 70 p.; 19. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 66 p.; 20. Christophe Charlier (FRA, 24MX HONDA), 56 p.; 21. Alessandro Lupin (STONE, HON), 51 p.; 22. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 49 p.; 23. Xavier Boog (FRA, CAW), 40 p.; 24. Rui Goncalves (POR, HUS), 33 p.; 25. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, 24MX HONDA), 27 p.; 26. Gregory Aranda (FRA, CAW), 22 p.; 27. Cedric Soubeyras (FRA, YAM), 15 p.; 28. Mike Alessi (USA, SUZ), 12 p.; 29. Nathan Watson (GBR, HUS), 12 p.; 30. Kei Yamamoto (JPN, HON), 11 p.; 31. Tunnel Leok (EST, WEST), 9 p.; 32. Paul Coates (GBR, YAM), 7 p.; 33. Dennis Ullrich (GER, SUZ), 5 p.; 34. Jeffrey DeWolf (BELL, YAM), 3 p.; 35. Fabien Izoird (FRA, HON), 3 p.; 36. Davis Ivanovs (LAT, COW), 3 p.; 37. Nicholas Aubin (FRA, SUZ), 3 p.; 38. Angus Heidecke (GER, KTM), 2 p.; 39. Yutaka Hoshino (JPN, KTM), 2 p.; 40. Graeme Irwin (GBR, SUZ), 2 p
Photo: CDS
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