The Grand Prix of Japan held at the Yamaha facility in Sugo, Japan, over the weekend turned into a Yamaha domination, as Stefan Everts won the MX1 overall, and young British sensation Billy Mackenzie won the MX2 class. Everts put together 2-1 results, leading home Mickael Pichon and Joel Smets. The Rinaldi Yamaha rider, Everts, enjoyed a very exciting race in the second moto, as he battled with Pichon, Smets and Ben Townley, who DNFed while holding down second place in the moto.
“I think I was relieved after the second race,” Everts said. “I tried to find some better speed in the first race, but I could not match him [Pichon]. In the first race I had good starts, I was trying to keep with him [Pichon], but it was not possible. Pichon had some good lines, and I was looking around. The second race I knew where I had to go, and at one point I could pass him. I have won my first World title in Japan, I won in Suzuka – at the Grand Prix – and I am so happy to win this GP.”
Mackenzie was very excited about his win. With a magnificent 2-1 performance the Scottish charger now moves into the next round of the MX2 class looking for another victory. Round seven of the series will be run at the Matchams Park circuit in England, a circuit that Mackenize would love to produce a win in front of his home crowd. The victory in Japan, though, was his first. Mackenzie led home Antonio Cairoli and Cedric Melotte in the overall.
“It’s always good to win in Japan, and it is also Sugo, which is owned by Yamaha,” Mackenze said. “A lot of Japanese mechanics here. I made a quick pass on Maschio early, managed to pull away and had a big lead in the early laps. I made a mistake and fell down in a corner, got up in front, but Cairoli had caught me. I came past and I could not do anything about it. I knew my speed was good from the first race. I got the holeshot, and I just tried to put in some mega fast lap times to pull a gap.”
Results:
mX1 moto one: 1. Mickael Pichon (Hon); 2. Stefan Everts (Yam); 3. Ben Townley (KTM); 4. Josh Coppins (Hon); 5. Steve Ramon (KTM); 6. Joel Smets (Suz); 7. Brian Jorgensen (Yam); 8. Danny Theybers (Suz); 9. Jasmes Nobles (Hon); 10. Ken De Dijcker (Hon); 11. Antti Pyrhonen (TM); 12. Paul Cooper (Hon); 13. Tanel Leok (Kaw); 14. Kornel Nemeth (Suz); 15. Pascal Leuret (Hon)
MX1 moto two: 1. Stefan Everts (Yam); 2. Joel Smets (Suz); 3. Mickael Pichon (Hon); 4. Josh Coppins (Hon); 5. James Noble (Hon); 6. Tanel Leok (Kaw); 7. Ken De Dijcker (Hon); 8. Steve Ramon (KTM); 9. Yoshi Atsuta (Suz); 10. Danny Theybers (Suz); 11. Pascal Leuret (Hon); 12. Marvin Van Daele (Hon); 13. Paul Cooper (Hon); 14. Kornel Nemeth (Suz); 15. Mark Hucklebridge (Hon)
MX2 moto one: 1. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 2. Billy Mackenzie (Yam); 3. Cedric Melotte (Yam); 4. Andrew McFarlane (Yam); 5. Stephen Sword (Kaw); 6. Mickael Maschio (Yam); 7. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 8. Davide Philippaerts (KTM); 9. David Guarneri (Yam); 10. Matteo Bonini (Hon); 11. Patrick Caps (Hon); 12. Manuel Monni (KTM); 13. Rui Goncalves (Yam); 14. Tom Church (Kaw); 15. Gareth Swanepoel (Kaw)
MX2 moto two: 1. Billy Mackenzie (Yam); 2. Stephen Sword (Kaw); 3. Cedric Melotte (Yam); 4. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 5. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 6. Rui Goncalves (Yam); 7. Erik Eggens (Hon); 8. Aigar Leok (KTM); 9. Andrew McFarlane (Yam); 10. Patrick Caps (Hon); 11. Davide Guarneri (Yam); 12. Manuel Monni (KTM); 13. Christophe Pourcel (Kaw); 14. Takeshi Katsuya (Suz); 15. Mickael Maschio (Yam)
World Motocross Championship MX1 Series Points: 1. Stefan Everts (251/4wins); 2. Mickael Pichon (240/1); 3. Joel Smets (204); 4. Josh Coppins (203); 5. Ben Townley (168/1); 6. Steve Ramon (149); 7. James Noble (149); 8. Brian Jorgensen (121); 9. Ken De Dijcker (112); 10. Paul Cooper (98); 11. Tanel Leok (94); 12. Danny Theybers (87); 13. Marvin Van Daele (83); 14. Antti Pyrhonen (83); 15. Pascal Leuret (80)
World Motocross Championship MX2 Series Points: 1. Antonio Cairoli (217/2); 2. Alessio Chiodi (203/1); 3. Stephen Sword (190); 4. Andrew McFarlane (185); 5. Cedric Melotte (183); 6. Billy Mackenzie (144); 7. Mickael Maschio (119); 8. Patrick Caps (111); 9. Davide Guarneri (109); 10. Rui Goncalves (108); 11. David Philippaerts (95); 12. Tyla Rattray (90); 13. Carl Nunn (85); 14. Anthony Boissiere (82); 15. Manuel Monni (80)
