Cairoli & Herlings Win in Bulgaria

FIM MX World Champs 2014

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Click here for the Highlights from the Bulgarian MX GP

The Bobryschev Crash

The Frossard Crash

Dust was never going to be an issue at the spectacular track of Sevlievo today with Mother Nature raining on the parade of MXGP’s round five the entire week prior. An extremely wet clay surface running up and down the hills of Sevlievo provided less than ideal conditions for the qualifying day of round five of the FIM Motocross World Championship, therefore race direction decided it was in the best interests of the event to cancel free practice for all classes in order to preserve the circuit for the races.

Thanks to the clouds lifting with the skies eventually making way for some sunshine, the track ended up drying out perfectly, leaving loads of tacky ruts for the riders of not only MXGP andMX2 but also the European EMX250EMX125 and EMX300 classes to sink their tyres into.

Cairoli wins MXGP in Bulgaria

cairoli if

Red Bull KTM Factory rider and defending World MXGP Champion Antonio Cairoli picked up his second win at the Sevlievo circuit, to add to his win in 2007, as he scored 2-1 results for the MXGP victory. Ray Archer image

Second overall was Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Gautier Paulin and third Yamaha Factory rider Jeremy Van Horebeek.

The Italian maybe got a little luck as heavy rain turned the circuit into a slippery mess (for the second moto) and the smaller 350 machine probably had an advantage, something he hadn’t had in recent years on the fast, hard-pack track.

With 222 points to his name Cairoli is now 28 points ahead of Paulin and Van Horebeek who are both equal second with 194 points.

Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Gautier Paulin showed his love for the circuit where he has won the last two Bulgarian GPs by winning the opening moto of the MXGP class, but couldn’t back it up in moto two. Under beautiful sunshine the Frenchman scored an easy moto win from Antonio Cairoli and Kevin Strijbos.

MXGP moto one

Cairoli takes the holeshot, but is quickly passed by Paulin for the lead. After a lap it’s Paulin, Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Desalle, Simpson, Strijbos, Bobryshev, Philippaerts, Boog, Rattray, Brakke, Goncalves, Karro, Gercar, Leok, Waters, Ullrich, Justs and Frossard in 20th place.

Strijbos goes past Simpson for fourth spot and Desalle drops back to seventh spot. Paulin is pulling well away from everyone as Cairoli also makes a break on third placed man Van Horebeek. This doesn’t look like it is going to have the same excitement of the MX2 moto.

Simpson drops back to seventh as Desalle, and Bobryshev pass him. Rattray passes Boog for ninth and Brakke loses a place to Guarneri. Rattray makes his way past Philippaerts to move into 8th and sets his sights on Simpson. Waters is up to 11th and riding really well, if only he could get a good start.

Rattray gets Simpson and soon after Boog also goes past the Scotsman. Running order after six laps is Paulin with a five second lead over Cairoli, then comes Van Horebeek, Strijbos, Desalle, Bobryshev, Rattray, Boog, Simpson, Goncalves, Waters, Philippaerts, Karro, Nagl and Frossard in 15th.

A nice battle between Philippaerts, Waters, Nagl, Frossard  and Karro, as the young Aussie finds himself in deep trouble as the GP veterans put the pressure on. Having just been passed by Philippaerts, then Nagl goes past and finally Frossard. This group are making ground on Goncalves, Simpson and Boog up ahead.

Goncalves is the next to feel the wrath of the veterans as Nagl and Frossard pass him and set out after Simpson in ninth position. The top four of Paulin, Cairoli, Van Horebeek and Strijbos are all riding lonely races as they keep around a four second gap between eachother. Desalle is way back in fifth, followed by Bobryshev, Rattray, Boog, Simpson and Nagl in 10th.

Nagl and Frossard go past Simpson and Frossard gets Nagl for ninth place and Waters is now getting pushed by the two TM factory riders Guarneri and Leok. Up front Paulin now has a lead of nearly seven seconds over Cairoli who is six seconds ahead of Van Horebeek.

Strijbos passes Van Horebeek for third place as Cairoli starts to close in on Paulin. Maybe affrer 14 laps something interesting might happen up front. Boog passes Rattray for seventh spot, but it’s not the most exciting race I have ever seen.

The final positions are Paulin by 8 seconds, Cairoli, Strijbos, Van Horebeek, Desalle, Boog, Bobryshev, Rattray, Frossard, Nagl, Philippaerts, Simpson, Goncalves, Karro and Guarneri in 15th place.

MXGP moto two

Cairoli gets the holeshot ahead of Desalle, Van Horebeek, Simpson, Nagl, Paulin, Strijbos, Ullrich, Rattray, Karro, Guarneri, Frossard, Leok, Philippaerts and Waters in 15th.

Frossard crashed on the first lap, while Waters went from 15th to 12th in one swoop. Jakes Nicolls was back in 20th after one lap and Bobryshev was 21st.

With heavy rain the 350 machine seemed to have a slight advantage as the bigger more powerful 450s struggled with the conditions. Cairoli was now more than three seconds ahead of Desalle, who was three seconds ahead of Van Horebeek in third.

Waters moved up to 10th place, passing Karro and Philippaerts and Van Horebeek passed Desalle for second place as the Suzuki rider made a mistake. Nagl and Simpson had a coming together and both went down both dropping back many places as they struggled in the mud to get going.

After four laps Cairoli had extended his lead to eight seconds and the top 10 was Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Desalle, Paulin, Strijbos, Rattray, Waters, Nagl, Krro and Ullrich.

Waters, Nagl and Karro were catching Rattray in sixth place and sure enough on lap seven all three went past the South African, pushing him back to ninth. Philippaerts passed Ullrich who was losing places fast, and the top 15 after 8 laps was Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Desalle, Paulin, Strijbos, Waters, Nagl, Karro, Rattray, Goncalves, Simpson, Boog, Philippaerts, Ullrich, and Gercar.

Strijbos was putting some pressure on Paulin, although couldn’t get close enough to make a pass and a mistake on lap eight saw him lose maybe two seconds to the Frenchman.

Fifth placed Strijbos pitted (my guess for goggles of new gloves) on lap 11 and gave Waters, Nagl and Karro the chance to catch him as they were now just a few seconds behind.

Karro and Waters were in a tight battle with Karro making the pass, then as Waters dived back under Karro the two collided and went down, being passed by Nagl, Rattray and Simpson. Karro went down again dropping back a few more places.

After 12 laps Van Horebeek and Desalle started making ground on Cairol, with just three seconds the lead now. Nagl made a mistake and both Rattray and Simpson went past, and Karro was now back in 12th position.

Cairoli got the win, followed by Van Horebeek, Desalle, Paulin, Strijbos, Rattray, Simpson, Waters, Goncalves, Nagl, Boog, Philippaerts, Leok, Roelants, and Gercar in 15th

Herlings wins in Bulgaria

Herlings tonus
Red Bull KTM factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has won the Grand Prix of Bulgaria in the MX2 class. The Dutchman went 1-1 and while his victory was not an easy one, it does show he is slowly coming back to his best. Ray Archer image

Second place overall was Monster Energy CLS Kawasaki rider Arnaud Tonus who went 2-2 and made things difficult for Herlings. Third was Jordi Tixier with 3-3 scores. Herlings is now just four points behind Tonus in the series points, 198 to 194 with the next round at Herlings home track Valkenswaard.

In the opening moto, that saw changing fortunes for both Herlings and Tonus, and close, tough battles between the top five this was why we go to Grand Prix Motocross.

At one stage it looked unlikely that Herlings would catch Tonus as the Swizz rider was riding so beautifully, and Herlings looked to be struggling, however as the race moved into it’s second stage the Dutchman turned it on and closed on Tonus before passing him.

The second moto Tonus again looked likely to battle Herlings for the moto win, although Herlings was able to control the race from the front and won, giving him the GP overall.

MX2 moto one

The opening MX2 moto and Febvre took the early lead as Herlings enters the first corner nearly last, managing to exit the corner mid-pack. After the early part of the first lap its Febvre, Tixier, Butron, Ferrandis, Tonus and Herlings who has passed nearly half the field after just half a lap.

Guillod is seventh, then Gajser, Coldenhoff, Anstie, Tonkov, Pocock, Seewer, Lieber and Styke in 15th. Herlings passes Tonus and moves into fourth place as Butron drops back to sixth.

Ferrandis also passes Febvre for second place as Herlings and Tonus also put pressure on the Husqvarna rider. A massive battle for second place as Febvre, Ferrandis, Tonus and Herlings go at it, positions changing as the lap progresses.

Tonus nearly knocks off his team-mate Ferrandis as he moves into second place and Herlings passes Febvre, knowing he needs to keep with Tonus pushes past Ferrandis, only to make a small mistake and the Frenchman passes him right back. Amazing action.

Tonus looks so smooth as he sweeps past Tixier for the lead and Herlings re-passes Ferrandis for third place. Further back its Febvre fifth, Gajser sixth, Coldenhoff in seventh, Guillod in 8th, then Anstie, Tonkov, Seewer, Lieber, Monticelli, Pocock and Styke in 15th.

Tonus and Tixier have gapped Herlings, as Herlings has made a little gap on Ferrandis. Guillod drops out as everyone behind him moves up a place and Petrov is making a charge after being last on lap one, he is up to 13th position. His team-mate Styke passes Pocock for 14th position.

Petrov is on fire as he passes Anstie for 10th place and Herlings starts closing in on Tonus for the lead. Tonus makes a mistake as Herlings starts closing, and the Dutchman takes the lead, Tixier is also on the back wheel of Tonus. Petrov passes Tonkov for ninth position and sets out after Seewer for 8th.

Tonus makes a mistake, and Herlings gets further ahead, while Anstie starts cruising and loses places fast, ending the lap in 12th place. Petrov is up to 8th place and closing in on Coldenhoff for seventh spot.

Herlings wins by four seconds, then comes Tonus, Tixier, Ferrandis, Febve, Gajser, Coldenhoff, Petrov, Seewer, Tonkov, Lieber, Monticelli, Anstie, Kullas, Styke in 15th.

MX2 moto two

Pouring rain greeted the riders for the start of the second MX2 moto. Febvre took another holeshot ahead of Butron, with Tonus third and Herlings. After half a lap it was Tonus, Herlings, Butron, Febvre, Gajser, Coldenhoff, Ferrandis, Tixier, Petrov and Monticelli.

Herlings passed Tonus on lap two on the downhill to take the lead and made a quick break. Ferrandis passed Coldenhoff, and Anstie passed Covington for 10th place.

Butron went back after making a mistake and Gajser moved into fourth spot. On lap six both Tixier and Coldenhoff passed Gajser.

Tonus wasn’t letting Herlings get away, although when he would close up on Herlings the leader would seem to turn it up a notch and again make a break. Petrov passed Gajser for seventh and Seewer passed Anstie for 11th.

On lap 10 Tonus pulled right up to the back wheel of Herlings and was looking awesome on the bike. The complete lap 10 Tonus hounded the Dutchman, without being able to get close enough to actually pass. On lap 14 Coldenhoff went down and Petrov made the pass for sixth position.

Herlings gets the win from Tonus, Tixier, Ferrandis, Febvre, Petrov, Coldenhoff, Gajser, Tonkov and Seewer in 10th.

MXGP – Overall Classification

1 222 Cairoli, Antonio ITA FMI KTM 22 25 47
2 21 Paulin, Gautier FRA MCM KAW 25 18 43
3 89 Van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL FMB YAM 18 22 40
4 25 Desalle, Clement BEL FMB SUZ 16 20 36
5 22 Strijbos, Kevin BEL FMB SUZ 20 16 36
6 28 Rattray, Tyla RSA MSA HUS 13 15 28
7 121 Boog, Xavier FRA FFM HON 15 10 25
8 24 Simpson, Shaun GBR ACU KTM 9 14 23
9 12 Nagl, Maximilian GER DMSB HON 11 11 22
10 999 Goncalves, Rui POR FMP YAM 8 12 20
11 19 Philippaerts, David ITA FMI YAM 10 9 19
12 47 Waters, Todd AUS MA HUS 5 13 18
 

MXGP – Championship Classification

1 222 Cairoli, A. ITA KTM 222
2 25 Desalle, C. BEL SUZ 194
3 89 Van Horebeek, J. BEL YAM 194
4 21 Paulin, G. FRA KAW 180
5 12 Nagl, M. GER HON 166
6 22 Strijbos, K. BEL SUZ 145
7 47 Waters, Todd AUS HUS 107
8 121 Boog, Xavier FRA HON 96
9 777 Bobryshev, E. RUS HON 95
10 24 Simpson, Shaun GBR KTM 95
 

MX2 – GP Classification

1 84 Herlings, Jeffrey NED KNMV KTM 25 25 50
2 200 Tonus, Arnaud SUI FMS KAW 22 22 44
3 911 Tixier, Jordi FRA FFM KTM 20 20 40
4 122 Ferrandis, Dylan FRA FFM KAW 18 18 36
5 461 Febvre, Romain FRA FFM HUS 16 16 32
6 152 Petrov, Petar BUL BMF YAM 13 15 28
7 259 Coldenhoff, Glenn NED KNMV SUZ 14 14 28
8 243 Gajser, Tim SLO AMZS HON 15 13 28
9 59 Tonkov, Aleksandr RUS MFR HUS 11 12 23
10 91 Seewer, Jeremy SUI FMS SUZ 12 11 23
 

MX2 – World Championship Classification

1 200 Tonus, Arnaud SUI KAW 198
2 84 Herlings, J. NED KTM 194
3 259 Coldenhoff, G. NED SUZ 176
4 461 Febvre, Romain FRA HUS 158
5 122 Ferrandis, D. FRA KAW 154
6 911 Tixier, Jordi FRA KTM 147
7 59 Tonkov, A. RUS HUS 130
8 243 Gajser, Tim SLO HON 121
9 92 Guillod, V. SUI KTM 107
10 17 Butron, Jose ESP KTM 105

 

 
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