KTM factor rider Rui Goncalves put in a solid day on the Gorna Rositza Circuit in Sevlievo, north-central Bulgaria on Saturday to finish third in qualifying for Sunday's MX2 GP.
The Portuguese rider for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team said he was satisfied with his day's efforts and hopes to put in two good results on Sunday. "Today was quite okay for me and my bike was going very well," Rui said. "The track is very good and it's been well prepared. I had a very good start in the qualifying race so I took the holeshot and was putting down some solid lap times. Then two guys passed me and I ended up third."
Small crash drops Simpson out of top four
KTM's Shaun Simpson, also from the Red Bull KTM Racing Team came in at eighth, saying he struggled to find his rhythm on the fast Bulgarian circuit. "I had quite a difficult day. I was very fast at the start and I think I was third but I just couldn't find my rhythm. Then I had a small crash and dropped out of the top four - but tomorrow's another day and I hope to do well in the races." The Scottish rider said he prefers sandy, more technical surfaces than the hard packed and very fast track in Sevlievo. "I like it best when it is very technical," he said.
Steffi Laier takes first blood in Women's opening race
Meanwhile Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Steffi Laier exacted early revenge for not being able to race in Bulgaria last season due to injury when she snatched victory in the first WMX race on Saturday evening. The second race to decide the winner of the first women's MX GP in this, the second edition of the championships, is scheduled for Sunday morning. Laier, now a full factory rider with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team finished second in last season's championship.
"It was a good day for me. I was third of fourth at the start and I sat in that position for much of the race because I didn't want to push. It was also quite difficult to see because our race started at 6.00 p.m. and sun was very low on the horizon. I am hoping for another good race tomorrow morning," the young German rider said.
MX2 Qualifying
1. Marvin Musquin, France, Honda
2. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki
3. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM
4. Nicolas Aubin, France, Yamaha
5. Xavier Boog, France, Suzuki
Other KTM
8. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM
11. Marcus Schiffer, Germany, KTM
12. Valentin Teillet, France, KTM
14. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM
Results WMX Race One (Second WMX race set for Sunday morning in Bulgaria)
1. Stephanie Laier, Germany, KTM, 25:05.680
2. Livia Lancelot, France, Kawasaki, 25:10.706
3. Ashley Fiolek, USA, Honda, 25:23.823
4. Maria Franke, Germany, Kawasaki, 25:55.653
5. Elin Mann, Sweden, KTM, 25:59.630
The Portuguese rider for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team said he was satisfied with his day's efforts and hopes to put in two good results on Sunday. "Today was quite okay for me and my bike was going very well," Rui said. "The track is very good and it's been well prepared. I had a very good start in the qualifying race so I took the holeshot and was putting down some solid lap times. Then two guys passed me and I ended up third."
Small crash drops Simpson out of top four
KTM's Shaun Simpson, also from the Red Bull KTM Racing Team came in at eighth, saying he struggled to find his rhythm on the fast Bulgarian circuit. "I had quite a difficult day. I was very fast at the start and I think I was third but I just couldn't find my rhythm. Then I had a small crash and dropped out of the top four - but tomorrow's another day and I hope to do well in the races." The Scottish rider said he prefers sandy, more technical surfaces than the hard packed and very fast track in Sevlievo. "I like it best when it is very technical," he said.
Steffi Laier takes first blood in Women's opening race
Meanwhile Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Steffi Laier exacted early revenge for not being able to race in Bulgaria last season due to injury when she snatched victory in the first WMX race on Saturday evening. The second race to decide the winner of the first women's MX GP in this, the second edition of the championships, is scheduled for Sunday morning. Laier, now a full factory rider with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team finished second in last season's championship.
"It was a good day for me. I was third of fourth at the start and I sat in that position for much of the race because I didn't want to push. It was also quite difficult to see because our race started at 6.00 p.m. and sun was very low on the horizon. I am hoping for another good race tomorrow morning," the young German rider said.
MX2 Qualifying
1. Marvin Musquin, France, Honda
2. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki
3. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM
4. Nicolas Aubin, France, Yamaha
5. Xavier Boog, France, Suzuki
Other KTM
8. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM
11. Marcus Schiffer, Germany, KTM
12. Valentin Teillet, France, KTM
14. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM
Results WMX Race One (Second WMX race set for Sunday morning in Bulgaria)
1. Stephanie Laier, Germany, KTM, 25:05.680
2. Livia Lancelot, France, Kawasaki, 25:10.706
3. Ashley Fiolek, USA, Honda, 25:23.823
4. Maria Franke, Germany, Kawasaki, 25:55.653
5. Elin Mann, Sweden, KTM, 25:59.630
4/6/2009 11:13am
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