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2005 WORLD MX

2005 WORLD MX: R17 of 17, Sept 18, Desert Martin, Ireland

• Round: 17 - Grand Prix of Ireland
• Circuit: Desert Martin
• Crowd: 8000
• Temp: 15ºC

SCHEDULE:

• Practices: Saturday 9.30 am
• Qualifying: Saturday 2 - 5pm
• Race: Sunday
• MX2 races 12.05 and 3.02 pm
• MX1 races 1.05 pm and 4.05 pm

2005 RACE RESULT - MX1

MX1 MOTO1

• 1 S. Everts Yamaha BEL 39' 13.384
  2 B. Townley KTM NZL +0.897
  3 J. Coppins Honda NZL +18.587
  4 T. Leok Kawasaki EST +26.394
  5 M. Pichon Honda FRA +30.909
  6 S. Ramon KTM BEL +39.379
  7 K. Strijbos Suzuki BEL +42.652
  8 J. Barragan KTM ESP +58.354
  9 J. Noble Honda GBR +58.524
  10 K. De Dijcker Honda BEL +1' 36.829

MX1 MOTO 2

• 1 S. Everts Yamaha BEL 39' 59.247
  2 B. Townley KTM NZL +21.015
  3 S. Ramon KTM BEL +39.814
  4 J. Coppins Honda NZL +40.370
  5 K. Strijbos Suzuki BEL +45.994
  6 J. Barragan KTM ESP +50.080
  7 M. Pichon Honda FRA +1' 6.716
  8 T. Leok Kawasaki EST +1' 8.615
  9 M. Priem Yamaha BEL +1' 18.043
  10 B. Jorgensen Yamaha DNK +1' 19.43

MX2, MOTO 1

• 1 M. De Reuver KTM NED 39' 6.110
  2 T. Rattray KTM RSA +11.570
  3 M. Alessi KTM USA +22.236
  4 D. Philippaerts KTM ITA +26.857
  5 A. Cairoli Yamaha ITA +29.629
  6 A. Leok KTM EST +31.212
  7 A. McFarlane Yamaha AUS +34.476
  8 B. MacKenzie Yamaha GBR +48.654
  9 C. Pourcel Kawasaki FRA +52.432
  10 C. Nunn KTM GBR +59.950

MX2, MOTO 2

• 1 T. Rattray KTM RSA 40' 27.510
  2 A. Leok KTM EST +8.834
  3 M. De Reuver KTM NED +22.649
  4 G. Swanepoel Kawasaki RSA +36.211
  5 J. Alessi KTM USA +48.550
  6 A. Chiodi Yamaha ITA +49.799
  7 M. Nagl KTM GER +53.746
  8 M. Seistola Honda FIN +56.340
  9 P.A.. Renet Yamaha FRA +57.210
  10 B. MacKenzie Yamaha GBR +1' 5.796

YAMAHA / EVERTS REPORT: MX1

Everts leads Yamaha to manufacturer's title

• World Champion Stefan Everts won his eighth Grand Prix, his third from the last four races, the second in succession and fourth double moto haul of the season at Desert Martin this afternoon for the seventeenth and last round of the 2005 FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship. After securing the Motocross GP world championship in the Netherlands two weeks ago and having entered the record books for winning his ninth world title, the Belgian star also helped Yamaha taking the MX1 manufacturers title in Ireland. Yamaha takes the 2005 constructor's crown with seven points over second-placed Honda and 26 points over KTM.
• The 32-year old gave a demonstration at a cold and windy event in Northern Ireland and ruled both 35 minute and 2 lap races ahead of Ben Townley and Josh Coppins. The YZ450FM mounted Belgian took his time to size-up and overtake Coppins for the lead in the first moto and then withheld a strong challenge from Townley in the last third of the duration, passing the chequered flag less than a second ahead of the works KTM rider. In the second race he wowed the 8,000 spectators packed in and around the hilly, sandy and very rough course by closing down an eight second margin to Townley and sweeping past for another bagful of 25 points. Everts' speed, form and mastery of the technical terrain was a joy to watch.
• Brian Jorgensen ended an unhappy season with 10th position overall after a bad start and ailing motor caused him to crash in the first moto ending up with 13th. The Dane was riding in some discomfort after a hefty fall during practice yesterday and damaged his ribs in the race 1 spill. He then grabbed tenth place in the second sprint.
• Everts won his fifth consecutive World Championship (two 500cc, one MXGP and two MX1 titles) a fortnight ago. The Monaco resident was able to re-polish his crown thanks to eight overall wins from seventeen and fourteen moto victories from a possible thirty-four. Jorgensen celebrated a moto success at Namur and contributed to Yamaha's manufacturer's title.
• Both Yamaha L&M Motocross Team riders will now prepare to represent their countries at Ernee, France next week for the 59th Motocross of Nations.
• Stefan Everts (Yamaha L&M Motocross Team) - overall winner
  "I still like to ride my bike! Today the track was pretty good. It was tricky but the rougher the better for me and I was able to be at my best in the second moto when it was more difficult. Ben was pulling away but it was not possible for him to make that same pace the whole race. In the beginning I tried to set a good rhythm and when I saw that he was slowing down a little I knew it was the right time to attack. As soon as I passed him I pushed as hard as I could for four or five laps and the race was won. I enjoyed the GP and I had a good weekend. My condition was good towards the end of the season and this helped me mentally. It has been a hard year with a few mistakes but it came good towards the end and I proved that I have been a good champion this season."
• Brian Jorgensen (Yamaha L&M Motocross Team) - 10th overall
  "I felt really sore after the first race because of a big crash yesterday. I hit and compressed my neck and in the first moto I bashed my ribs; not so good! I came back to thirteenth which was OK considering. In the second race my start was not fantastic and I had to come back from seventeenth to tenth; it was not anything spectacular and I was riding consistent. I was making the speed I felt I could do and trying to stay on the bike otherwise I would not have been able to get out of the bed tomorrow! It has been quite tough this year with some concussions and big crashes. I would prefer to try and forget the results of this season and start to build for 2006."

KTM / TOWNLEY REPORT: MX1

Townley second in GP finale.

• KTM factory star, Ben Townley, has ridden his last GP in Europe before heading to the US to further his professional career. The Kiwi phenom went 2-2 in Desert Martin, Ireland putting on a great show with title winner and friend, Stefan Everts.
• Starters orders were given for the first MX1 heat of the day. Townley muscled his way into the ninety degree first corner and emerged in sixth spot as he shot alongside the pit-lane. It didn’t take BT very long to gain a few positions and we was now hounding Stefan Everts and leader, Josh Coppins. The trio were setting an amazing pace and it was Everts who made the first move to pass Coppins for the lead. Townley followed moments later relegating his fellow house-mate to third. Both Everts and Townley pulled a gap and the race was now on. With five minutes to go BT started to pressurize Everts and was trying different lines to pass the Belgian. The battle would continue right to the chequered flag but Everts had an answer for every BT attack attempt.
• In his final MX1 GP race, BT rocketed to an awesome start and lead the pack into the first lap. He put together a string of amazing laps and proceeded to put 8 seconds between himself and second place man, Stefan Everts. BT kept his advantage over the Belgian consistent but by the halfway mark Everts was slowly reeling the Kiwi in. Everts had a better rhythm going and with ten minutes to go he had closed the gap and was into the lead. Townley tried his best to challenge Everts but had to settle for second as he was greeted by friends and fans at the finish line.
• “I finally got a hole-shot and was leading by about 8 seconds. I don’t think I went much slower, I just think Stefan went faster. He was just better in the second moto and after he passed me I tried to follow some of his lines. I pushed really hard but I couldn’t follow him - I was pretty happy with my ride. There were a lot of people on the last lap who were clapping for me, especially to be at the finish line with everyone was really great. I have built up some great friendships while I have been here in Europe and I’m sure going to miss everyone. I’m really sad to leave and it’s only started to hit me today that I’m going and my life’s going to change again.” said an emotional Townley.
• Townley was scheduled to ride the MX2 class at MX of Nations next week but fellow team-mate Daryl Hurley injured his knee while training and has been replaced by Cody Cooper. BT will ride his factory KTM 450 in the Open class and looks forward to putting New Zealand on the podium.

MX2 REPORT

Yamaha claims final top three in MX2

• Ricci Racing team mates Andrew McFarlane and Alessio Chiodi confirmed the top three finish for Yamaha in the MX2 Motocross World Championship this afternoon when they captured respectively seventh and fourth place overall at Desert Martin for the final round of the 2005 FIM series.
• Australia's McFarlane secured his MX2 runner up title, battling to seventh and eleventh positions on a very rough and technical sandy terrain in Northern Ireland. After three DNFs in the last four motos McFarlane posted enough points on the board to beat team-mate Alessio Chiodi for the second overall position in the Championship before announcing his departure to ride for the American Yamaha of Troy team in 2006.
• Triple World Champion Chiodi was Yamaha's highest placed representative in a Grand Prix that was dominated by KTM riders (Tyla Rattray taking his third consecutive success and flanked by Marc de Reuver and Aigar Leok on the podium). The Italian was fourth overall after using his experience on the difficult terrain to score eleventh and sixth in the two motos and weathering a frantic mix of position changes as his peers made mistakes, fell and retaliated.
• Newly crowned MX2 World Champion Antonio Cairoli was riding with a cracked scaphoid in his left wrist and took a brave 5th position in the first moto after a race-long duel with countryman David Philippaerts (KTM). The teenager has not been able to ride since securing the title in Holland two weeks ago but still managed to hold Aigar Leok at bay for second position in moto 2 until being forced to pit with a damaged gear lever that dropped him down the order to 19th. Before this race it was announced that world champion Cairoli will be joined by the promising Matteo Bonini (born 20/09/1985) in the 2006 line up of Team Yamaha De Carli.
• Yamaha UK Racing Team's Billy Mackenzie confirmed sixth position in the World Championship with sixth place overall in front of a crowd of nearly 8,000 spectators.
• It has been a landmark season for Yamaha in the MX2 class with the manufacturer's crown complimenting their first rider's World Championship of the new millennium. The YZ250F has proved to be the superior machine in the category by claiming 11 from 17 Grand Prix and 21 motos from 34 in the hands of five different riders.
• Antonio Cairoli (Team Yamaha De Carli) - tenth overall
  "This GP was not good for me because I have a big problem with my wrist, and because I have not been training for two weeks it is hard on this terrain because there are many bumps. I started OK in the first heat but felt tired after a little while. I lost a lot of time with Philippearts, and Rattray and de Reuver had escaped. In the second race I was first and for twenty minutes I was OK. I was riding well but had no energy and my hand was hurting. I came together with one rider and I bent the gear lever so I needed to stop in the pit to get it fixed. The moto was good for training in preparation for the Nations."
• Andrew McFarlane (Ricci Racing) - seventh overall
  "It is my last GP and I wanted to finish on a good note because I will go to America next year. We had problems in the last three or four GPs and overall it was not acceptable. I am disappointed that we had to fight all weekend for me to finish the race and second in the World Championship. I wanted to be fighting for the title to the end. Second place is not too bad however and now I am looking to the new challenge."
• Alessio Chiodi (Ricci Racing) - fourth overall
  "Fourth is not so bad. It has been a long season and I have felt quite tired in the last two GPs. Finally I have taken third overall and that is better than last year. Today I did not enjoy the races. The track was nice but it was difficult to keep a good rhythm. In some parts I was riding very tight and I did not take the risk of losing any points."
• The unfortunate Cédric Melotte (Yamaha L&M Motocross Team) saw his 2005 MX2 campaign come to an abrupt end after braking the radius on his left hand in Gaildorf. Melotte had already been struggling for most of the season with his left hand after injuring the wrist during the Portuguese GP early on. In order to prepare for 2006, when he will return to the MX1 class with the Yamaha factory Motocross Team, Cédric underwent surgery on Friday. The objective of the operation was to reconstruct the broken ligaments in his wrist. The likeable Belgian said afterwards: "Everything went fine, they put in a plate and screws to let everything heal properly. This plate will be replaced by another one later, but in the meantime I will try to maintain my fitness as much as possible and the goal is to be back on the bike by mid-December when the second plate has been removed."

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