Monday, June 13, 2011

HERLINGS TAKES GP OF PORTUGAL; TAKES COMMAND OF RED PLATE

2011-06-12 20:50
Dutch teenager and Red Bull Teka KTM factory rider Jeffrey Herlings came away from the MX2 GP in Agueda with 44 points, the overall GP victory and for the first time in his young career, the coveted red plate as championship leader.

But despite the continued success of the 16-year-old Dutch teenager, the day was less memorable for his teammate ken Roczen of Germany who after dominating the opening moto, came unstuck in the second, crashed hard and had to retire.

The first moto saw Roczen uncharacteristically missed the start from his pole position, while Herlings shot out of the gate like a bullet and surged ahead to put around seven seconds between him and the rest of the pack. Two thirds of the way through the race it looked like being a one man show, but in the end it just turned into a 1-2 KTM show. Roczen hit the gas, turned up the adrenalin and went after riders like a man possessed. One by one he brushed them aside as he carved away at the time advantage to his teammate. Then he tucked in behind him in the final three laps and the race was on to see which one of the two young KTM factory riders would be the first to the flag. Herlings defended well almost up to the final lap but in the end it was Roczen who prevailed. The dominance of the two KTM riders was again obvious as they rocketed across the finish 25 seconds ahead of third placed Zach Osborne.

In the second moto, it was Roczen who hit the front in the early stages and it looked as though he was again going to dominate the race. Then a mistake on the bumpy track proved costly as he was pitched over the handlebars and landed hard on the dirt track, taking a blow to the chest and head. The German rider who has been attracting attention on both sides of the Atlantic then had no other option but to return to the pits, leaving the way open for Herlings to take control of the race. Jeffrey hung onto the lead until the final third of the race but came under strong attack by Tommy Searle, the only other rider who has won a GP so far this season. Searle had something to prove after registering a DNF in the first moto when his bike picked up a swathe of the green netting that marks the track. In the end Herlings took the cautious approach and settled for a comfortable second place, knowing both the GP victory and the red plate was safely in his hands.

Jeffrey Herlings: ?I?m six points ahead of Kenny now and I have to keep it like that. It?s going to be really hard because Ken is in very good shape and he?s really fast, but all in all it was a good weekend for me. I?ll try to be cool, that?s the main thing I have to do to hold onto the red plate. It will be hard but I?m looking forward to the races next weekend and I hope to keep it.?

Ken Roczen on the other hand was in a lot of pain after his big crash. He was taken to the hospital by team officials for a full medical check but now has the all clear to stay on with the team as they remain on the Iberian peninsular to prepare for the GP of Spain next weekend.

MX2 Results
1, Jeffrey Herlings, Netherlands, KTM, 22 ? 22 – 44
2, Gautier Paulin, France, Yamaha, 16 ? 20 – 36
3, Zachary Osborne, USA, Yamaha, 20 ? 16 – 36
4, Max Anstie, UK, Kawasaki, 18 ? 14 – 32
5, Arnaud Tonus, Switzerland, Yamaha, 10 ? 18 – 28
Other KTM
8, Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM, 25 ? 0 – 25
9, Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM, 15 ? 9 – 24
11, Jose Butron, Spain, KTM, 12 ? 11 – 23
13, Nicolas Aubin, France, KTM, 5 ? 13 ? 18
14, Jake Nicholls, UK, KTM, 8 ? 10 – 18
15, Nick Triest, Belgium, KTM, 7 ? 8 ? 15

MX2 Standings
1, Jeffrey Herlings, Netherlands, KTM, 257
2, Ken Roczen, Germany, KTM, 251
3. Tommy Seerle, UK, Kawasaki, 224
4, Zachary Osborne, USA, Yamaha, 198
5, Gautier Paulin, France, Yamaha, 196
Other KTM
9, Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM, 138
11, Nicolas Aubin, France, KTM, 122
12, Jordi Tixier, France, KTM, 71
15, Jose Butron, Spain, KTM, 52
16, Pascal Rauchenecker, Austria, KTM, 52

Herlings holds the red plate for first time

Herlings on the chase in Portugal

Great first moto for Ken Roczen
12/06 2011

STEFFI LAIER 2ND IN FINLAND DESPITE STOMACH PROBLEMS

Red Bull Teka KTM factory rider Steffi Laier of Germany fought through the discomfort of stomach cramps in Round 3 of the FIM Women?s Motocross Championship in Vantaa, Finland on Sunday to finish second overall and retain a healthy lead in the championship.

While the reigning champion had no trouble in qualifying on Saturday ? she took pole position with a generous 25-second lead over second rider Chiara Fontanesi if Italy, Laier woke up in discomfort on Sunday and despite very hot temperatures was still able to salvage second place after Sunday?s WMX GP at the Finnish venue.

Steffi immediately seized the lead in the opening moto and started putting distance stomach cramps and had to ease back, allowing the other riders to close the gap. While she was able to hold off fellow German Larissa Pappenmeier, she did not have the reserve energy to hold back an attack in the final corners by the Italian Fontanesi.

Her condition got worse as the day went on and even though she rested during the motos, she was in worse shape for the start of the second moto. Despite this, Steffi still took the lead and tried to establish a gap but Fontanesi hung onto her back wheel and overtook her in the fourth lap. Despite fighting to improve her position she had to settle for second and second overall.

Steffi Laier: ” I can only be happy with this result even though I did come here to win. I felt terrible when I woke up this morning. I had no energy and my stomach hurt all the time. It was all I could do to hang onto the bike in the first moto and the second race was just a matter of survival. I was throwing up at the start gate and I wasn?t sure I would be able to race at all. The first laps went okay but I really pushed right on my limit to try to get as many points as possible.

Steffi now has one week to get back in shape before Round 4 of the competition in Umbria, Italy. After three rounds she has a 9-point lead over Fontanesi in the 9-round championship.

WMX Results in Finland
1, Chiara Fontanesi, Italy, Yamaha, 25 ? 25 – 50
2, Steffi Laier, German, KTM, 22 ? 22 – 44
3, Larissa Pappenmeier, Germany, KTM, 20 ? 20 – 40
4, Marielle De Mol, Netherlands, TM, 16 ? 16 – 32
5, Francesca Nocera, Italy, KTM, 18 ? 14 ? 32

WMX Standings
1, Steffi Laier, German, KTM, 119
2, Chiara Fontanesi, Italy, Yamaha, 110
3, Larissa Pappenmeier, Germany, KTM, 102
4, Francesca Nocera, Italy, KTM, 76
5, Marielle De Mol, Netherlands, TM, 73

Great ride by Laier despite illness

After third round Laier still leads championship
12/06 2011

RED BULL ROOKIE BALDASSARRI TRIUMPHS ON WET SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT

Lorenzo Baldassarri of Italy rode a near faultless race in treacherous wet conditions on Sunday to steal an impressive victory in the second of two Red Bull Rookie races held on the British circuit this weekend.

The 14-year old rider finished 11 seconds ahead of Austrian Lukas Trautmann, who won Saturday?s race and is now just five points behind championship leader Arthur Sissis of Australia.

Frenchman Alan Techer who started from pole position, finished third. It was the first time that the Red Bull Rookies has visited the British circuit and it was a weekend that shook up the standing order. Sissis, who has been in the forefront of the competition was only able to finish in sixth spot and declared it his worst ever weekend in his 3-seasons in the competition, saying he had to forget it and move on.

Baldassarri, who finished second on Saturday, was delighted with his result. ?It was a great race, I made a good start and I immediately found a good feeling. I was very comfortable going at that speed and I only had a slide on the first lap when I ran on the grass, after that everything was OK. I looked behind and could see Lukas there but I was not worried, I was getting cold and wet but I knew I could win if I didn’t make any mistakes.?

Trautmann was also pleased with his second place, saying ?The start was good and when I saw Lorenzo have his big slide on the first lap I was able to catch him. But that was also a warning about how easy it was to make a mistake in these slippery conditions and I really didn’t want to make a mistake. He was so fast in a couple of sections that I realized it was not possible to go with him and I was happy with second.?

Pole sitter Techer had been disappointed with sixth on Saturday but was pleased to be on the podium.

Riders have now absolved 6 of the 14 races on the 2011 calendar so the championship remains wide open. They will reconvene on the Dutch circuit of Assen in two weeks time. All Red Bull Rookies ride identical KTM 125 RR machines.

Results
1, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Italy
2, Lukas Trautmann, Austria
3, Alan Techer, France
4, Ivo Lopez, Spain
5, Xavier Pinsach, Spain

Championship standings
1, Arthur Sissis, Australia, 96
2, Lorenzo Baldassarri Italy, 91
3, Alan Techner, France, 68
4, Lukas Trautmann, Austria, 67
5, Ivo lopes, Spain, 51

Source: KTM

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