Solid points for Yamaha at exciting Belgian Grand Prix

A weather reversal from torrential rain to bright sunshine over the two days of the Grand Prix of Belgium at Bastogne helped create a rough and opportunistic racing surface and Monster Energy Yamahas David Philippaerts and Shaun Simpson battled to record tenth and thirteenth positions overall.

18,000 spectators visited the new site that hosted round eight of sixteen in the 2012 FIM Motocross World Championships. The black dirt was considerably softened by rain on Saturday (the deluge actually caused the qualification heats to be cancelled) but the improved climate and a terrain that drained well created a surface that was bumpy with varying line choices.

As usual the action was hot in the premier MX1-GP category. Philippaerts was at the centre of attention for most of the first moto due to his intense tussle for fifth position with Christophe Pourcel. A touch of fatigue meant the Italian was sixth by the flag. A bad start and early crash in the second moto forced DP to come back through the pack and he reached thirteenth. In the slimy conditions on Saturday Shaun Simpson took his YZ450FM to a career-best-equalling fourth position in the gate. The Scot was unfortunate not to be able to capitalise on his slot after getting caught in the first corner melee that also saw three other riders on ground. His goggles were also smashed by a stone shortly afterwards and he had to pit for a replacement pair. By the end of a dramatic 35 minutes and 2 laps Simpson was sixteenth. A better getaway in the second moto and resolute performance saw the former British Champion cross the line two seconds ahead of his team-mate.

Philippaerts is still sixth in the championship standings with Simpson in twelfth. Monster Energy Yamaha will next be in action at Uddevalla for the Grand Prix of Sweden in two weeks time.

David Philippaerts:

I dont really know what happened today. In the first moto I didnt start well again and in the middle of the race I didnt feel so great a bit tired and I finished sixth. The battle with Pourcel was fun and overall it wasnt too bad. In the second race I was right at the back again and had a crash. I pushed to get in the top ten but I was too slow. The track was difficult and we couldnt get it working today.

Shaun Simpson:

The weekend was about contrasts really and not just with the weather. My speed was good in difficult conditions on Saturday and I excel in those types of circumstances. I was happy with the fourth gate-pick because I thought it would be important to get up the inside of that first turn. I tried that in the first moto and De Dycker crashed taking me with him. It was pretty bad. I got up and starting fighting my way back through and - had I kept on going - then it might have been OK but my goggle lens popped out when a stone hit it and I had to waste time going through the pitlane to get some more. That was a freak thing and I was annoyed about it. 16th is not where I want to be. On the second start I was next to Desalle and wheelied out of the gate, not really getting any traction. I came around the first lap in eighteenth or so and set some good lap-times. I battled the whole moto and caught Boog, Paulin and those guys. Although there were a lot of different lines it was hard to pass. There are positives to take from the weekend. I am riding strongly and I feel good but we have an issue with starts and it has to be worked on.