KTM MX Riders Shine at Valance

KTM celebrates excellent results at the pre-season international event at Valance, France.

There is no better indication that KTM is truly “Ready to Race” MX in 2007 than the excellent results at Valance by factory riders Tyla Rattray and David Philippaerts and by KTM-supported rider, Germany’s Max Nagl. The event, which mixed MX1 and MX2, indicates that the bikes are performing to high expectations and work with KTM’s new Motocross Race Director and multi MX champion Stefan Everts is bearing early fruit. Philippaerts was second overall at Valance and Tyla Rattray finished top of the MX2 classification.

KTM Sarholz's Max Nagl won the first heat, confirming he can be a serious title contender since he jumped on the MX1 machine. KTM Red Bull's Philippaerts had to settle for fourth and wait till the second heat to challenge the leadership.

As the bikes roared into action for the second heat, Philippaerts grabbed the holeshot and lead for the entire race to finish ahead of Kevin Strijbos and Joshua Coppins. Max Nagl was a solid fifth at the chequered flag.

While Coppins stole the final heat, Philippaerts was close behind in second, a result that also reflected the final overall standings. MX1 bikes were first to cross the line in all three heats.

It was an excellent weekend for Nagl, who finished third in the overall standings. The German rider also finished top of the standings in Mantova, Italy recently in the first of three internationals before the Grand Prix season gets underway in Valkenswaard, Netherlands on April 1. Riders contest the final pre-season event in Hawkstone on March 4.

KTM factory rider Spaniard Jonathan Barragan was out of contention at Valence after he sustained a slight heel injury in a crash and Britain’s Tommy Searle did not start.

Moto one results
1 101 NAGL Max
2 211 MACKENZIE Billy
3 6 COPPINS Joshua
4 19 PHILIPPERTS David
5 77 VERHOEVEN Bas
11 16 RATTRAY Tyla

Moto two results
1 19 PHILIPPERTS David
2 2 STRIJBOS Kevin
3 6 COPPINS Joshua
4 24 RENET Pierre-Alexandre
5 101 NAGL Max
6 16 RATTRAY Tyla

Moto three results
1 6 COPPINS Joshua
2 19 PHILIPPERTS David
3 2 STRIJBOS Kevin
4 101 NAGL Max
5 16 RATTRAY Tyla

Overall results Valence International
1 6 COPPINS Joshua 65
2 19 PHILIPPERTS David 65
3 101 NAGL Max 59
4 2 STRIJBOS Kevin 57
5 16 RATTRAY Tyla 41