Philippaerts savours first 2009 MX1-GP victory

Posted by Ray | 1 June 2009 | Comment

Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team’s David Philippaerts claimed his first win of the season and his third on the YZ450FM at a sun-kissed and busy Mallory Park circuit for the British Grand Prix and the seventh round of fifteen in the MX1-GP World Championship. 35,000 spectators witnessed the reigning champion score results of 1-2 in the motos to scale the top step of the podium, giving Yamaha their fifth victory of 2009.

The circuit, the venue for the British stop on the calendar for the second year in succession, boasted some spectacular jump sections as well as more ‘old-school’ elements with long off-cambered corners mixed in with the leaps. The track was demanding and technical and the winding layout meant overtaking was difficult. The heat and unrelenting sunshine also took its toll on the competitors.

Philippaerts secured his second pole position of the season with a comfortable victory in the qualification heat on Saturday and signalled his intent with good speed and an effective start. The Italian ran second behind Max Nagl in the first moto and seized upon a mistake by the German to take his first chequered flag of the season. Nagl rode error-free in the second race but Philippaerts was able to set a relaxed pace in second to secure his triumph; the fourth Yamaha rider in the MX1-GP this year to wear the winner’s garland.

World Championship leader Tony Cairoli only saw 2 points shaved off his gap at the front of the standings despite finishing 8th and 10th for 8th overall. The Sicilian was a victim of a first corner incident on Saturday that left him with a sore back and wrist, as well as a slot almost last in the start gate. After a night of little sleep Cairoli fought through from the rear of the pack in both races to feel satisfied with his efforts by the end of the day.

Josh Coppins was 4th overall. The New Zealander had to deal with a flying rock that hurt his left collarbone as well as damaged spokes on his front wheel in Moto1 as he took 5th; his overtaking move on Mickael Pichon and Brad Anderson on the same corner was the best move of the day. In the second race he circulated mostly alone in 4th.

Cairoli’s Yamaha Red Bull De Carli team-mate Tanel Leok was also a casualty of misfortune on Saturday and his spot of 19th in the gate also meant a difficult afternoon of work for the motos. Some mistakes in the second sprint delivered a 6th place to go with his 8th of earlier in the day and he took a top five overall position with 5th.

The 47 points totalled by Philippaerts has pushed him up to second in the world championship standings and he sits 34 behind Cairoli. Coppins is fourth and 12 from his team-mate while Leok is eighth. Yamaha front the manufacturer’s table by 50 points.

The British Grand Prix has started a busy period of five races in six weeks. The next meeting will take place in just seven days with the Grand Prix of France being held at the Ernee circuit, not far from Le Mans, for round eight of the series.

David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team, 1st:

“For me this is a great day after some difficult GPs. It feels like a long time, too long, since I last won at Loket last year. I almost forgot the feeling! The track was softer here last year and it was definitely easier on Saturday than it was today. I had some good starts but this has happened quite often this season and I owe a big thanks to the team for this; for sure to start at the front makes the job easier.”

Josh Coppins, Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team, 4th:

“Not too bad today and I felt better than the last few weeks; there was an improvement here and hopefully I will be able to get back on the box in France. The first moto was pretty eventful because a rock hit my left collarbone and that was pretty sore and I also broke some spokes on my front wheel when I clashed with Desalle. The wheel was a bit wobbly and I got some arm-pump so the front group got away. There were some good points about today.”

Antonio Cairoli, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 8th:

“I am very happy actually because after the crash yesterday I was thinking it was not possible to race, so 8th and 10th is good. Barragan and De Dycker did not do so well so that was also a positive thing. I was still sore after Spain and then on Saturday things got worse, so I hope to be OK for France. I did not like the track here. It was too difficult to overtake and in many places almost one line. It took a lot of time for me to close the gap to the guys in front. Still, there was another Yamaha win, thanks to David and that is good.”

Tanel Leok, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 5th:

“I had a tough position in the start gate and although I got a good jump for the first moto I ended up being pushed quite wide. It was really difficult to come from 15th to 8th. I was feeling good and my riding was going well but it was hard to pass. I had a better start in the second race but made some mistakes half way through the moto. The end was OK. Overall I had a bit of bad luck on Saturday and it did not help me today.”

Circuit Length: 1580
Crowd: 35,000
Weather: Sunny

Tags: anderson, Barragan, boxing, british, cairoli, coppins, desalle, ernee, france, gp, leok, mallory, NAGL, park, pichon, spain, yamaha