CAS Honda rider Ken de Dycker was a protagonist at the Grand Prix of
Benelux that took place at a warm and sunny Eurocircuit in
Valkenswaard today. The weather encouraged 25,000 fans to watch the
opening event of the15 round FIM World Championship.
The venue located less than ten kilometres from the city of Eindhoven
presented the riders of the MX1 (450cc four-strokes) and MX2 (250cc
four-strokes) series' with a fresh test as the course had been
significantly altered since the last World Championship visit in
2004. Several new corner sections, a repositioned start-straight and
a reversal of the track direction itself meant a novel opening Grand
Prix test for the title aspirants.
De Dycker was on form through Saturday's initial sessions and then
grabbed his first ever pole position by more than half a second after
Timed Practice. He positively leapt out of the gate for the opening
moto of the year and led Josh Coppins for six laps until the New
Zealander's slightly superior speed relegated the Belgian to second
whereby he was then caught by Steve Ramon before the flag.
The second race saw the CAS Honda man slightly more subdued, and he
weathered further problems with arm-pump to take 7th and be the first
Honda rider home again. De Dyker's sixth place overall gives the
British Champion the same status in the series ranking.
Team-mate Mike Brown had a tough introduction to the MX1 class. The
veteran held a top five position on the first lap of his debut in the
category but swiftly dropped back through the pack, struggling with
stiff arms. He eventually rescued seven points for 14th. A steadier
approach in Moto2 saw a finish five positions higher and his ninth
place slotted Brown into 10th overall.
Martin Honda's Antoine Meo was not fully fit after recovering
recently from a knee injury but nevertheless managed to obtain 10
points with 15th and 17th place finishes and 16th spot overall at the
end of the day for the same early ranking in the World Championship table.
Credit must go to Multitek Honda's James Noble. The Briton collected
8th by the close of play with two solid top ten finishes. Noble
grabbed 10th and then 8th after an entertaining scrap with Mike Brown
in the second outing and despite a slow speed tumble.
Coppins claimed the top step of the MX1 rostrum from Jonathan
Barragan and Ramon.
The MX2 category suffered for the loss of Ryan Mills. The rated
American and new Martin Honda representative felt the affects from a
practice crash last week and had to withdraw from the Grand Prix
after feeling groggy during Saturday's free session.
He will return to the USA for medical consultation this week but is
optimistic of competing at Bellpuig in a fortnight's time.
Former World Champion Antonio Cairoli owned overall honours by
running away with both motos while Tyla Rattray took second place and
Gareth Swanepoel secured his maiden podium result with third.
The World Championship now pauses over Easter weekend but proceedings
resume in two weeks time as the paddock heads to the Iberian
Peninsula. The Grand Prix of Spain at Bellpuig in Catalunya is
followed directly by the Portuguese round at the Agueda circuit south of Porto.
Ken de Dycker, CAS Honda:"I had a good start in the first one and I
am not really used to riding up front so my arms started to pump up.
In the second race my start was not as good but I came through
quickly and had the same problem; it was like I could not hold the
bike anymore and every bump I hit I almost lost it. The result
overall is OK, I took some points and picked up some confidence for
the next one.'
Mike Brown, CAS Honda: 'It wasn't bad for my first Grand Prix; I did
not really know where I was looking to be. The first moto was not the
best, I got arm-pump and was a bit nervous. Both of my starts were
really good but in the second race I decided to let the guys around
me go instead of struggle and get arm-pump again. Overall it was not
too bad. It's good to be back in the World Championship paddock and
it seems to have changed a lot.'
Antoine Meo, Martin Honda: 'I am happy because I have a painful knee.
I elected to ride this weekend and came away with some points. I am
pleased because I achieved what I wanted at this first race as I had
three weeks without any riding and my bike fitness had dropped. I
will go training now with Jacky Vimond and the next two tracks are
better for me so we will look for better.'
Ryan Mills, Martin Honda: 'After my Mantova injury we were working
hard and testing for this race but I had a pretty big crash last week
and gave myself a concussion. Yesterday in practice I wasn't feeling
that great and my vision kept getting blurry. I checked with three
different doctors and they said I was not fit so I could not get
cleared to ride. I will fly to America now for another check-up and
then be ready for Spain.'
James Noble, Multitek Honda: 'I was pretty happy with today. The bike
is set-up differently; it handles that bit better and there is more
power so I could just lift it over the bumps, overall it is easier to
ride. I had two good starts which was another positive. I was only
frustrated with that small crash in the second moto because I could
have been a few positions higher. I also had a bit of a flat patch in
the middle of the first race that was frustrating. Mike never gives
up! He made me push and I nearly caught Ken towards the end. However
eighth overall was good though.'
Results Motocross
MX1 Race 1 ( )
Pos / Rider / Nat. / Bike / Time
1 / Coppins, Joshua / NZL / Yamaha / 41:01.884
2 / Ramon, Steve / BEL / Suzuki / 41:18.837
3 / de Dycker, Ken / BEL / Honda / 41:27.106
4 / Strijbos, Kevin / BEL / Suzuki / 41:37.589
5 / Barragan, Jonathan / ESP / KTM / 42:00.153
6 / de Reuver, Marc / NED / Yamaha / 42:04.953
7 / Nagl, Maximilian / GER / KTM / 42:06.563
8 / Nemeth, Kornel / HUN / Suzuki / 42:08.376
9 / Mackenzie, Billy / GBR / Kawasaki / 42:11.239
10 / Noble, James / GBR / Honda / 42:13.223
11 / Leok, Tanel / EST / Kawasaki / 42:36.301
12 / Leok, Aigar / EST / Yamaha / 42:45.199
13 / Pourcel, Sebastien / FRA / Kawasaki / 42:51.812
14 / Brown, Mike / USA / Honda / 42:54.503
15 / Meo, Antoine / FRA / Honda / 43:05.511
MX1 Race 2 ( )
Pos / Rider / Nat. / Bike / Time
1 / Barragan, Jonathan / ESP / KTM / 41:44.389
2 / Coppins, Joshua / NZL / Yamaha / 41:54.775
3 / de Reuver, Marc / NED / Yamaha / 42:05.831
4 / Strijbos, Kevin / BEL / Suzuki / 42:12.829
5 / Priem, Manuel / BEL / TM / 42:22.963
6 / Ramon, Steve / BEL / Suzuki / 42:36.973
7 / de Dycker, Ken / BEL / Honda / 42:41.739
8 / Noble, James / GBR / Honda / 42:45.845
9 / Brown, Mike / USA / Honda / 42:48.222
10 / Nagl, Maximilian / GER / KTM / 43:22.691
11 / Crockard, Gordon / IRL / Honda / 43:29.311
12 / van Daele, Marvin / BEL / Honda / 43:49.211
13 / Renet, Pierre A. / FRA / Honda / 44:10.530
14 / Leok, Tanel / EST / Kawasaki / 40:57.097
15 / Vanni, Julien / FRA / Honda / 42:00.860
MX1 World Motocross Championship Standings
Pos Rider Total
1 Coppins, J. 47, 2 Barragan, J. 41, 3 Ramon, Steve 37, 4 Strijbos,
K. 36, 5 de Reuver, M. 35,
6 de Dycker, Ken 34, 7 Nagl, M. 25, 8 Noble, James 24, 9 Priem,
Manuel 19, 10 Brown, Mike 19,
11 Leok, Tanel 17, 12 Renet, P. 13, 13 Nemeth, Kornel 13, 14
Mackenzie, B. 12, 15 Crockard, G. 10.
MX2 Race 1 ()
Pos / Rider / Nat. / Bike / Time
1 / Cairoli, Antonio / ITA / Yamaha / 41:41.618
2 / Rattray, Tyla / RSA / KTM / 41:49.155
3 / Swanepoel, Garreth / RSA / Kawasaki / 41:52.537
4 / Gundersen, Kenneth / NOR / Yamaha / 41:57.733
5 / Eggens, Erik / NED / Suzuki / 42:01.829
6 / Aubin, Nicolas / FRA / KTM / 42:13.054
7 / Pourcel, Christophe / FRA / Kawasaki / 42:28.062
8 / Schiffer, Marcus / GER / KTM / 42:40.387
9 / Leuret, Pascal / FRA / Honda / 42:47.511
10 / Searle, Tommy / GBR / KTM / 42:51.476
11 / Boissiere, Anthony / FRA / Kawasaki / 42:54.857
12 / Seistola, Matti / FIN / Honda / 42:59.678
13 / Boog, Xavier / FRA / Yamaha / 43:04.005
14 / Verbruggen, Dennis / BEL / Yamaha / 43:07.564
15 / Tarroux, Jeremy / FRA / Yamaha / 43:27.579
MX2 Race 2 ()
Pos / Rider / Nat. / Bike / Time
1 / Cairoli, Antonio / ITA / Yamaha / 39:58.304
2 / Rattray, Tyla / RSA / KTM / 40:06.658
3 / Pourcel, Christophe / FRA / Kawasaki / 40:26.176
4 / Eggens, Erik / NED / Suzuki / 40:32.780
5 / Gundersen, Kenneth / NOR / Yamaha / 40:37.657
6 / Swanepoel, Garreth / RSA / Kawasaki / 40:42.059
7 / Schiffer, Marcus / GER / KTM / 40:56.603
8 / Aubin, Nicolas / FRA / KTM / 41:07.944
9 / Boissiere, Anthony / FRA / Kawasaki / 41:11.808
10 / Verbruggen, Dennis / BEL / Yamaha / 41:28.976
11 / Leuret, Pascal / FRA / Honda / 41:33.459
12 / Hamblin, Sean / USA / Suzuki / 41:41.936
13 / Seistola, Matti / FIN / Honda / 41:42.982
14 / Monni, Manuel / ITA / Yamaha / 41:47.076
15 / Frossard, Steven / FRA / Kawasaki / 41:50.306
MX2 World Motocross Championship Standings
Pos Rider Total
1 Cairoli, A. 50, 2 Rattray, Tyla 44, 3 Swanepoel, G. 35, 4 Pourcel,
C. 34, 5 Eggens, Erik 34,
6 Gundersen, K. 34, 7 Aubin, Nicolas 28, 8 Schiffer, M. 27, 9
Boissiere, A. 22,
10 Leuret, Pascal 22, 11 Verbruggen, D. 18, 12 Seistola, M. 17, 13
Searle, Tommy 11, 14 Hamblin, Sean 9, 15 van ,Horebeek, J. 9
