Weekend Ketchup – Phillipaerts, Cairoli, Desalle and Blazusiak

Posted by Ray | 16 February 2009 | Comment

It was back to a full weekend of racing for many top European motocross riders, firstly Belgium held its first event of the year in Grobbendonk.

Surprise winner in a lot of eyes was Clement Desalle, Desalle won both races from Kevin Strijbos who dominated last week in Mantova. For Desalle this was just what he was looking for at this level. Marc de Reuver was third two consistent rides.

[u][b]MX1 Results
[/b][/u]
Clement Desalle (Honda, Bel) 50
Kevin Strijbos (Honda, Bel) 42
Marc De Reuver ( Honda, Ned) 38
Steve Ramon ( Suzuki, Bel) 32
Antti Pyhronen (Honda, Fin) 30
Kristof Salaets (Honda, Bel) 24
Jan Laurijssen (Honda, Bel) 22
Ken de Dijcker ( Suzuki, Bel) 22
Jurgen van Nooten(KTM, Bel) 21
Kevin Wouts (Honda, bel) 20

In the MX2 class it was German Marcus Schiffer who repeated Clements feat with two race wins in a field packed full of sand specialists. Jeremy Van Horbeek finished second ahead of Dennis Verbruggen who looked back to good form after a terrible 2008 season.

[u][b]MX2 Results
[/b][/u]
Marcus Schiffer (KTM, DUi) 50
Jeremy van Horebeerk (KTM, Bel) 42
Dennis Verbruggen (Honda, Bel) 34
Joel Roelants (KTM, Bel) 33
Xavier Boog (Suzuki, Fra) 27
Nick Triest (KTM, Bel) 26
Glenn Coldenhoff (KTM, Ned) 25
Sascha Naude (Honda, Zaf) 24
Jeffrey Herlings (KTM, Ned) 22
Yohei Kojima ( Suzuki, Jap) 20

Over in Italy Phillipaerts, Cairoli and co were racing the first round of the Italian championship at the Montevarchi. After last weeks disaster for both Yamaha riders in Mantova both had a point to prove.
And prove they did as Phillipaerts took the overall from Estonian Tanel Leok and third placed Tony Cairoli – three Yamaha’s on the podium not bad going from one manufacture.

Tanel Leok having fun on his new De Carli Yamaha ride

[u][b]Results
[/b][/u]
1 PHILIPPAERTS DAVID ITA
2 LEOK TANEL EST
3 CAIROLI ANTONIO ITA
4 BILL JULIEN SUI
5 THAIN RODRIG FRA
6 COPPINS JOSHUA NZL
7 LEONCE LOIC FRA
8 MARTIN CRISTOPHE FRA
9 VANNI JULIEN PAUL FRA
10 COMPAGNONE FELICE ITA

Elsewhere in the world of offroad KTM extreme Enduro factory rider Taddy Blazusiak again illustrated his immense skills on his KTM to take his second consecutive victory in the notorious two-stage Hells Gate competition in Tuscany, Italy on Saturday.

Taddy Blazusiak salutes hid victory at Hells Gate – Image Jonty Edmunds

Blazusiak battled the course and the opposition on a day that was sunny but extremely cold and icy during what was nine tough hours of competition. He finished the race ahead of fellow KTM rider Alexander Botturi with Dougie Lampkin of Britain taking third. It was a test that went beyond riding skill to be also one that demanded fitness, mental strength and personal endurance and in the final shakeout only seven of the original 80 riders were at the chequered flag.