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2005 WORLD MX

2005 WORLD MX: R8 of 17, June 12, 2005 - Castiglione del Lago, ITALY

• Grand Prix of Italy
• Crowd: 18000; Temp: 26ºC

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 ITALY

MX1 MOTO1

• 1 Townley Ben, Nzl, Ktm, 39:57.092
• 2 Jorgensen Brian, Den, Yamaha, 39:59.510
• 3 Leuret Pascal, Fra, Honda, 40:04.148
• 4 Smets Joël, Bel, Suzuki, 40:05.621
• 5 Everts Stefan, Bel, Yamaha, 40:06.821
• 6 Coppins Joshua, Nzl, Honda, 40:07.925
• 7 Barragan Jonathan, Spa, Ktm, 40:15.254
• 8 Seguy Luigi, Fra, Yamaha, 40:22.357
• 9 Ramon Steve, Bel, Ktm, 40:23.176
• 10 Federici Claudio, Ita, Yamaha, 40:23.929
• 11 Pyrhonen Antti, Fin, Tm, 40:24.628
• 12 Atsuta Yoshitaka, Jpn, Suzuki, 40:24.674
• 13 Noble James, Gbr, Honda, 40:32.956
• 14 Theybers Danny, Bel, Suzuki, 40:36.960
• 15 Leok Tanel, Est, Kawasaki, 40:52.247

MX1 MOTO 2

• 1 Townley Ben, Nzl, Ktm, 40:12.350
• 2 Everts Stefan, Bel, Yamaha, 40:13.335
• 3 Smets Joël, Bel, Suzuki, 40:14.810
• 4 Barragan Jonathan, Spa, Ktm, 40:26.297
• 5 Coppins Joshua, Nzl, Honda, 40:34.613
• 6 Jorgensen Brian, Den, Yamaha, 40:38.857
• 7 Leuret Pascal, Fra, Honda, 40:43.367
• 8 Seguy Luigi, Fra, Yamaha, 40:49.097
• 9 Leok Tanel, Est, Kawasaki, 40:50.793
• 10 Noble James, Gbr, Honda, 40:56.065
• 11 Nemeth Kornel, Hun, Suzuki, 40:59.664
• 12 Pyrhonen Antti, Fin, Tm, 41:04.216
• 13 Ramon Steve, Bel, Ktm, 41:05.931
• 14 Atsuta Yoshitaka, Jpn, Suzuki, 41:06.085
• 15 Theybers Danny, Bel, Suzuki, 41:08.635

MX2 MOTO 1

• 1 A. Cairoli Yamaha ITA 40' 6.959
  2 A. Chiodi Yamaha ITA +1.591
  3 D. Philippaerts KTM ITA +19.943
  4 S. Sword Kawasaki GBR +20.294
  5 A. McFarlane Yamaha AUS +34.970
  6 P. Caps Honda BEL +41.528
  7 C. Melotte Yamaha BEL +44.952
  8 D. Guarneri Yamaha ITA +46.007
  9 M. Maschio Yamaha FRA +46.622
  10 C. Nunn KTM GBR +1' 4.411
  

MX2 MOTO 2

• 1 S. Sword Kawasaki GBR 39' 20.073
  2 C. Melotte Yamaha BEL +8.890
  3 A. Cairoli Yamaha ITA +12.021
  4 D. Philippaerts KTM ITA +17.418
  5 A. Chiodi Yamaha ITA +19.691
  6 A. McFarlane Yamaha AUS +21.101
  7 D. Guarneri Yamaha ITA +34.830
  8 M. Maschio Yamaha FRA +41.000
  9 C. Pourcel Kawasaki FRA +42.839
  10 P. Caps Honda BEL +49.707

YAMAHA MX1 REPORT: ITALIAN GP 2005

MX1 : Everts enforces championship position

• Castigilione del Lago, located in the scenic region of Umbria, was the host for the eight round of motocross world championship. Solid results landed Yamaha L&M Motocross Team riders Stefan Everts and Brian Jorgensen respectively second and fourth overall. Everts' closest contender Mickael Pichon (Honda) had a black weekend and failed to score points, allowing Stefan to walk away with a healthy 339 points tally, 63 points more than second placed Joël Smets (Suzuki), Pichon drops back to fourth in standings, while Jorgensen climbs up to eighth.

  Danish star Brian Jorgensen enjoyed a thrilling first race to wipe out bad memories of last week's drama in England. Jorgensen grabbed the holeshot ahead of Smets (Suzuki) and France's Pascal Leuret. The MX1 riders rolled along the hard packed track in close formation trailing Jorgensen, but Ben Townley was clearly the man on the move. By half race distance the MX2 world champion had climbed up from fourth to take the lead. However after two laps Townley dropped back to third following a small mistake. The end of the race saw a nail-biting thriller with Jorgensen and Townley dicing for victory. On the last lap Jorgensen seemed to have a slight edge over the New-Zealander, when Brian had to settle for a heart braking second when a mechanical problem four corners before the end handed victory to Townley. Leuret managed a surprising third ahead of Smets, while Everts had to settle for fifth after a difficult race troubled by arm pump.

KTM / TOWNLEY REPORT: MX1

Townley takes home double victory at Italian GP.

• New Zealand MX star, Ben Townley has ridden to two superb victories at the eighth round of the MX1 Motocross series in Castiglione del Lago. In doing so the twenty year-old handed KTM their second ever MX1 GP win and is certain that there are more to come.
• A technical uphill start saw Townley leaning over the front end of his factory KTM in order to get the best traction possible. The Kiwi prodigy didn’t have it all his own way from the start and had to fight his way through to third position in the opening laps. A spectacular battle ensued with GP veteran, Joel Smets however it was the younger Townley who muscled his way pass and set after leader Brian Jorgensen. Townley caught the Dane, made a quick passing manoeuvre and immediately pulled a comfortable gap. A small mistake almost cost BT the race when he ran off the track and lost his lead to Jorgensen and Smets. Townley’s superior speed soon put him in front of Smets and hot on the heels of Jorgensen for the second time. The Italian crowd loved every second of the tussle and with one lap to go Townley capitalized on a Jorgensen mechanical problem and deservedly took the chequered flag to draw first blood.
• The second moto start was just as difficult however BT miraculously cut his way through the pack with surgical precision and appeared in second position, ready for a re-match with Jorgensen. The Dane didn’t last long this time as BT quickly passed him on the first lap and opened up a four second lead. With fifteen minutes gone Townley was experiencing clutch problems which enabled arch rival Stefan Everts to close the gap and take over the lead. Townley’s sheer determination would not let him be counted out just yet as he tailed Everts for and by the final lap he was breathing down the Belgian’s neck. Everts was pressured to make a hasty pass on a back marker and went down in the process - Townley punched the air as he took the chequered flag for a magnificent double victory.
• Said Townley, ““It was an amazing day. They did a really great job with the track. It is hard to find such a place where there is traction everywhere and places to pass. I enjoyed it out there today and it was fun to ride. I had some luck in both races but it was my turn for some good fortune. I was angry with myself and that small mistake in the first moto. I used a lot of energy to get to the front and having to go back to third and do it all over again was difficult. I had problem with the clutch in the second moto and it kept coming and going. It is pretty tricky for me to ride third gear on my bike without the clutch especially in the tight corners. I was struggling when Stefan passed me but I stuck to his wheel as much as I could. I was lucky at the end of the race because my clutch came back and he also ran into some trouble with backmarkers. This race was the first time the Grand Prix has been live in New Zealand and it was cool to win for my family and friends watching back home. This is an awesome win for me. To sit here with Stefan and Joel either side of me I don’t know how many titles there are here! They are both people who have helped me with my career since I have been in Europe, beating both of them was like a dream come true.”

COPPINS / HONDA MX1 REPORT

Coppins still third in championship standings.

• A sell out Italian crowd along with magnificent weather and track conditions set the scene for round eight of the MX1 world championship series in Castiglione del Lago. Josh Coppins could not capitalize on the perfect settings as the Kiwi was frustrated not to capitalize on his good speed over the weekend.
• As the gate fell for the start of race one, Coppins was nudged out by fellow Honda rider Mickael Pichon which blew any chances of a hole-shot or good start. The CAS Honda rider had to regain his composure and fight through the pack to make up his lost positions. Eventually Coppins found his race rythym and started to reel in Stefan Everts after he had disposed of Spanish youngster Jonathan Barragan. An exciting battle was on for fifth spot with Coppins all over the back wheel of his Belgian challenger but Lizard just couldn’t find the gap to pass his rival so had to settle for sixth.
• Race two seemed to be a carbon copy of the first with Coppins wheel spinning up the start and having to come through the pack. He managed to get by Brian Jorgensen around the halfway point and kept a steady position until the finish flag to come home in fifth.
• “My times were good all weekend so I had high expectations going into the race today. Although I really liked the track, I could find my race rhythm and left my self vulnerable because I was so frustrated that I couldn’t pass and get through to the front. I seemed to be fighting with myself which was a bit frustrating. I had wheel spin in both starts which sort of messed up my chances. On a positive note I’m still third in the championship and very close to Smets,” explained Coppins.

MX2 REPORT

Cairoli rules at home

• The MX2 Grand Prix of Italy was testimony to the health of Italian motocross with 19-year old Antonio Cairoli (Team Yamaha De Carli) claiming a convincing win and three more home riders made it into the top ten. In addition Cairoli regained the lead in championship standings with 270 points, McFarlane is now second with 263 points. Scotsman Stephen Sword (Kawasaki) and David Philippaerts completed the podium.
• Local hope Antonio Cairoli claimed the holeshot in the opening MX2 heat and quickly pulled away from the pack. The YZ250 F mounted Cairoli led every single lap ahead of Italian veteran Alessio Chiodi. However the first race of the day was far from boring with a furious battle for third between Philippaerts (KTM), Guarneri (Yamaha) and Sword Chiodi made a late attempt to close the gap and came within 1.3 seconds of Cairoli but the three-time world champion was not able to make a move. Cédric Melotte gave the crowd value for money coming back from 24th on the opening lap to finish seventh. Andrew McFarlane finished fifth ahead of Belgium's Patrick Caps (Honda).
• Cairoli repeated his signature holeshot in the afternoon, ahead of Chiodi and Sword this time. The nature of the Castiglione track proved perfect for close racing and again the front runners stayed close together. Chiodi was only allowed to enjoy his lead briefly after passing Cairoli on the eighth lap, Chiodi went down one lap later. An exciting three way fight between Cairoli, Sword and Melotte developed. Sword came out on top ahead of Melotte. Cairoli took third enough to record the third GP victory of his career. Chiodi came home fourth, McFarlane was sixth. Yamaha Rinaldi R&D development rider Andrea Bartolini took the opportunity of his home Grand Prix to sample some top level GP racing for the programme. Bartolini, 34, managed a credible 11th overall equaling tenth placed Christophe Pourcel. Yamaha's overall dominance of the class also strengthens the position of the brand in the manufacturers' world championship, where "the blues" lead with 197 points, Kawasaki is sec
  ond with 154 points, and KTM is third with 130 points.
• Antonio Cairoli (Team Yamaha De Carli) - overall winner
  "I'm so happy to win my first GP in front of my home crowd, especially since so many people from Sicily traveled all the way to support me. I rode with a pain killer for my wrist, and this worked pretty good in the first race. In the second race I knew I would have more pain, so my strategy was to push very hard in the first ten minutes and then I was able to control my race. My goal was to win the GP and to reclaim the red leader board, so my weekend could not have been better. To give my wrist some wrest before France I will limit my training to physical exercises rather than riding on the bike."

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