Press Release

Leatt Brace Grand Prix of South Africa-Latest Info

NELSPRUIT (SOUTH AFRICA), 18 July 2008 – A warm Alkmaar Raceway at Nelspruit gave its welcome to the Motocross World Championship collective touching the continent’s soil after a one year absence.

David Philippaerts and home rider Tyla Rattray lead the MX1 and MX2 points standings respectively but they are about to face the strong charge from the two runners up Steve Ramon and Antonio Cairoli.


As both came back to the podium in the latest round in Sweden, Yamaha Monster Motocross’ David Philippaerts and Teka Suzuki WMX1’ Steve Ramon are in a dice for the red plate which the Italian currently carries on his works Yamaha YZ450 F.

His team mate Josh Coppins experienced an unexpected setback after his first season’s win in Germany but the hard working Kiwi will be back on fire this weekend after the recently announced renewal of his contract with Yamaha.

Ken de Dycker and Sebastien Pourcel are rounding off the top five in the Championship and both look for a podium finish in South Africa, while the winner of the Swedish GP Jonathan Barragan will just try to keep up the good work, as he took three podiums in the latest four GP’s.

Someone who will surely miss this and the next Grand Prix in Lommel is Marc De Reuver, who injured his foot this week in a training session.






Sebastien Pourcel looks for a podium finish after his latest appearance on the rostrum in France.

A dream came true for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tyla Rattray when the South African secured the red plate in Sweden to display it in front of the many local fans in Nelspruit this weekend.

Though runner up Tony Cairoli of Yamaha Red Bull De Carli will be on a mission to snatch the red plate back from arch rival Rattray as both are likely to be fighting for the MX2 Championship until the very last GP at Faenza, on September 14.

Another rider in the Title chase is youngster Tommy Searle of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, while fourth and fifth in the Championship Shaun Simpson and Rui Goncalves have about 100 points to make up on the Brit before starting to aim at the top three.

After injuring in France, Stephen Sword will be back to action in Nelspruit to improve on his current 11th place in the Championship.






Tommy Searle in action.

ALKMAAR RACEWAY AND NELSPRUIT

The race track Alkmaar Raceway is a new improved rebuild from a previous track, which was actually voted the top track in the Northern Regions in South Africa. The 1600 metre course features all sorts of jumps and racing situations on a rich red loamy soil. Alkmaar Raceway is built on 30 hectares of ground on the banks of the Crocodile River as the renewal work begun in November 2007. Track watering and ripping started last week to make the course look perfect for the weekend’s GP.






The Alkmaar Raceway gets watered at the sunset.

Nelspruit is 330 kilometres East of Johannesburg and it is located in the fertile valley of the Crocodile River; Nelspruit is the capital of the Mpumalanga province and it is extremely close to the worldwide famous Kruger Park, whose Southern access is only 60 kilometres away. The city is the trading centre for the surrounding fruit growing area of Mpumalanga, as the production includes citrus and tropical fruits.


THE EVENT’S SCHEDULE-UPDATED

Saturday July 19: African Invitational Race (AIR) Free Practice 1 at 9:00 am; MX2 Free Practice at 10:00 am; MX1 Free Practice 1 at 11:00 am; MX2 Pre-Qualifying Practice at 12:00 am; AIR Free Practice 2 at 1:15 pm; MX1 Free Practice 2 at 2:00 pm; MX2 Qualifying Race 1 at 3:00 pm; MX2 Qualifying Race 2 at 3:45 pm; MX1 Time Practice at 4:30 pm; MX2 Last Chance Qualifying Practice at 5:10 pm (local time).


Sunday July 20: African Invitational Race (AIR) Warm-up at 9:00 am; MX2 Warm-up at 9:30 am; MX1 Warm-up at 10:00 am; AIR Race 1 at 11:10 am; MX2 Grand Prix Race 1 at 12:10 am; MX1 Grand Prix Race 1 at 1:10 pm; AIR Race 2 at 2:10 pm; MX2 Grand Prix Race 2 at 3:03 pm; MX1 Grand Prix Race 2 at 4:03 pm (local time).


The Grand Prix will be broadcast live on:

• EUROSPORT 2 (Pan Europe) : MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 CET

• MOTORS TV (Pan Europe): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET

• SPORT ITALIA (Italy): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET

• VRT (Belgium): MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET

• GALAXIE SPORT (Czech Republic): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET

• ART (Pan Middle East): MX1 Race 2 at 16:00 CET

• SPORT TV (Slovenia): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET

• EUROSPORT WORLD (PAN ASIA): MX1 Race 1 at 11:00 GMT

• RED BULL TV (Austria): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00; MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET

• MEDIAZONE (Worldwide): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00; MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET

• TRANS 7 (Indonesia): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00; MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET

• SPORT TV (Portugal): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET


The Grand Prix will be broadcast delayed on:

• EUROSPORT 2 (Pan Europe): Sunday July 20; MX1 Race 2 at 21:00 CET

• MOTORS TV (Pan Europe): Sunday July 20; MX2 Race 1 at 21:00 and Race 2 at 21:55 CET

• SPORT ITALIA (Italy): Sunday July 20; MX1 Race 1 at 23:30. Monday July 21; MX1 Race 2 at 00:30 CET

• EUROSPORT WORLD (Pan Asia): Sunday July 20; MX1 Race 2 at 21:00. Monday July 21; MX1 Race 2 at 10:00 and at 17:45; MX2 Class at 18:30 and at 00:00. Tuesday July 22; MX1 Race 2 at 03:45 and at 11:15 and at 21:45; MX2 Class at 04:30 and at 12:00 and at 22:30 GMT

• AMERICA ONE SPORTS (USA): Second Tuesday after the GP; MX2 Race 2 at 21:00; MX1 Race 2 at 22:00 USA Eastern Time

• GAORA (JAPAN): MX2 Race 1 and Race 2; MX1 Race 1 and Race 2; N/A CET

• SUPERSPORT (SOUTH AFRICA): Saturday July 19; MX1/MX2 Highlights at 17:25. Sunday July 20; MX1/MX2 Highlights at 17:00 CET



LINKS
Youthstream
FIM
Motorsport South Africa
Alkmaar Raceway-Leatt Brace GP of South Africa
Leatt Brace
Mpumalanga



Information, photos and results are online at www.motocrossMX1.com, the official website of the FIM Motocross World Championships.


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