Yamaha Wraps up Bellpuig’s Poles Courtesy of Cairoli and Guarneri

BELLPUIG (SPAIN), 16 May 2009 – Day one of the Catalan GP, starting off under hot and sunny conditions after last year’s wet edition, saw Italian countrymen and Yamaha fellow riders Cairoli (MX1) and Guarneri (MX2) dominate their respective qualifying heats.

Second and third in MX1 were Desalle and Coppins while the MX2 top three was completed by Goncalves and Van Horebeek – the latter moving past a surprising Verbruggen in the final stages of the heat.

MX1

Championship leader Cairoli absolutely dominated the opening day of the Catalan GP wrapping up the qualifying heat win after a strong performance. Taking first in both the free practice and in a dramatic pre qualifying –when he finished right ahead of Yamaha Red Bull De Carli team mate Leok by just 0.005 seconds- Cairoli led the whole moto to take his second Lovemytime MX1 Pole Position Award of the season.

LS Motors Honda’s Desalle constantly followed the two time MX2 World Champion making it to the chequered flag with a small 2.7 second gap. Desalle, who just took his second season podium in Portugal, looks ahead to another rostrum finish tomorrow.

Coppins rounded off the top three after a steady moto as Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross team mate Philippaerts struggled with his broken left index from Agueda’s contact with Italian countryman Cairoli –the reigning MX1 World Champion finished 14th.

Ken de Dycker and Jonathan Barragan rounded off the top five. The latter enjoyed a couple of days of rest following the Portuguese GP which the Spaniard faced with a shoulder injury.

After a solid start Aprilia Off Road’s Bill dropped down to an eventual tenth.

MX1 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 25:09.679; ; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), +0:02.773; 3. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:05.898; 4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:16.937; 5. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), +0:24.360; 6. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), +0:27.104; 7. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), +0:27.847; 8. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:31.442; 9. Aigar Leok (EST, TM), +0:37.247; 10. Julien Bill (SUI, Aprilia), +0:39.073;

Complete results available at www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx

From left to right: Barragan, Cairoli, Guarneri, Roczen

More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx.

MX2

Today Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci Motocross’ Davide Guarneri increased the number of the MX2 pole sitters to six courtesy of a brilliant performance in the qualifying heat. Guarneri led from the start to the flag and opened up a gap of almost five seconds from runner up Goncalves.

The Portuguese of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing settled for a solid second which puts him in the list of potential winners for tomorrow’s GP. Goncalves is actually on a high as he showed by winning the latest two GP’s in Valkenswaard and Agueda.

Third place was another story with Verbruggen and Van Horebeek battling it out until the KTM Factory Junior MX2 racer moved past and sealed the position. Though LS Motors Honda’s Verbruggen showed good speed and looks forward to tomorrow.

KTM HDI MX’s Boissiere headed a group of three Frenchmen which was completed by Musquin and Aubin.

Again a difficult start saw young gun Roczen move up through the pack as the 15 year old who just debuted in the series last weekend wrapped up a 19th place eventually.

Championship leader Paulin crashed at the beginning of the heat as the fall involved also latest GP’s poleman and Kawasaki fellow rider Frossard.

A first corner crash made it a difficult heat for Sword, Vongsana, Monni and Larrieu. The latter was taken to the hospital with a damaged left shoulder.

MX2 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), 25:19.860; ; 2. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +0:04.988; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:07.282; 4. Dennis Verbruggen (BEL, Honda), +0:09.541; 5. Anthony Boissiere (FRA, KTM), +0:10.150; 6. Marvin Musquin (FRA, Honda), +0:20.289; 7. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:32.203; 8. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), +0:34.058; 9. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), +0:35.045; 10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Yamaha), +0:43.097;

Complete results available at www.motocrossmx1.com/reslists.aspx

Guarneri holeshotting turn one

More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx.

THE GP OF CATALUNYA-QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1571 mt

Type of ground: hard pack

Temperature: 26° C

Weather conditions: sunny

Sunday: WMX Warm Up 8:45-9:05; MX2 Warm Up 9:15-9:35; MX1 Warm Up 9:45-10:05; WMX Race 2 11:15; MX2 Grand Prix Race 1 12:10; MX1 Grand Prix Race 1 13:10; MX2 Grand Prix Race 2 15:03; MX1 Grand Prix Race 2 16:03.

As the whole FIM Motocross World Championship, this Grand Prix and the FIM Women’s World Championship Race 2 will be broadcast live and delayed. Click here to see schedule and coverage online.

LINKS

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