Jonathan Barragan, Tommy Searle Shine In South Africa

Press Release | July 21, 2008

The Alkmaar Raceway at Nelspruit proved to be a great venue for the popular South African Motocross GP sponsored by Leatt Brace.

Under hot weather conditions, Jonathan Barragan took his second consecutive MX1 GP win after battling it out with KTM fellow rider Max Nagl, second overall. Defending Champion Ramon completed the podium right ahead of series leader David Philippaerts.

In the MX2 class Tommy Searle came back to victory from local star Tyla Rattray and Nicolas Aubin. On the other hand reigning Champion Antonio Cairoli injured his left knee and took no points, dropping down to third in the Championship with a 59 point gap from leader Rattray.

MX1

Despite taking two storming starts and leading the first part of each Grand Prix moto, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Max Nagl was second on today’s podium behind AXO KTM Silver Action’s Jonathan Barragan. The latter secured his second consecutive win and third of 2008 by winning the final moto. After winning the opening moto, Teka Suzuki WMX1’s Steve Ramon ended third on the podium just one point ahead of series leader David Philippaerts of Yamaha Monster Motocross. GPKR’s Sebastien Pourcel rounded off the top five from Josh Coppins as both were caught up in a first corner accident during heat one.

Top five overall: 1. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 45 points; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 38 p.; 4. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 37 p.; 5. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 33 p.

MX1 RACE 1

Nagl led the group into turn one and set the pace until lap 17, when Ramon took over the lead to win eventually. Nagl had some troubles in the final laps, dropping down to fourth as both Philippaerts and Barragan moved past him. Philippaerts took second from Barragan, with the Italian ending close to Ramon when the flag was waved. De Dycker rounded off the top five from Tanel Leok and Mackenzie, who made Philippaerts’ life difficult in a tough fight for third. Pourcel and Coppins were eighth and ninth after a first corner crash.

Top five: 1. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 40:20.469; ; 2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:02.441; 3. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), +0:05.874; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:09.979; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:18.428

MX1 RACE 2

Nagl took another holeshot and led until ten minutes to go. Barragan made a final move on the German to take the victory and the overall, while Nagl faced Pourcel’s attacks. The latter came so close to Nagl in a corner that he made a mistake to avoid a crash; Pourcel then lost ground and brought the bike home in third. Coppins was a solid fourth ahead of Mackenzie and Philippaerts, who did not find an open door to pass the Brit. De Dycker and Ramon completed the top eight.

Top five: 1. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 40:35.152; ; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:03.151; 3. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:06.255; 4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:07.594; 5. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), +0:12.794

MX2

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tommy Searle took his third GP win of 2008 snatching the home success from teammate Tyla Rattray. The two won one moto each, with the South African taking the final moto but missing the overall result due to a first moto crash. Ricci Racing Yamaha’s Nicolas Aubin took his first season podium from French countryman Steven Frossard of CLS. KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson rounded off the top five.

Reigning MX2 Champion Antonio Cairoli tangled up with another rider in the first heat, damaging his left knee and dropping out of both motos after a brave try to race.

Top five overall: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 47 points; 2. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 38 p.; 4. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 36 p.; 5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 36 p.

MX2 RACE 1

Aubin started strong to lead the first half of the heat from a hungry Searle. In the remaining ten laps Searle took the first place and opened up a gap from Aubin, who finished second. Rattray recovered to third after a crash and finished ahead of Simpson and Frossard. Cairoli put together just four laps before retiring.

Top five: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 41:04.235; ; 2. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:11.221; 3. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), +0:22.991; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:30.016; 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:35.741

MX2 RACE 2

Rattray made up for moto one and took a start to flag win of the final heat in front of Searle. The latter tried to catch Rattray unsuccessfully, ending second from Frossard who secured the top three by moving past Simpson. The Brit ended fourth from Aubin. After a great start, Cairoli tried to race with Rattray but at the end of the third lap he pulled out of the race.

Top five: 1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 41:04.739; ; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), +0:04.871; 3. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:32.461; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:37.751; 5. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:43.469

IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS

Ramon took one point off his gap from Philippaerts as the duo is still second and first in the Championship respectively. Barragan moved up to fifth in the Championship with Pourcel dropping to sixth.

Top ten: 1. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 339 points; 2. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 328 p.; 3. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 316 p.; 4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 296 p.; 5. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 284 p.; 6. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 274 p.; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 253 p.; 8. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), 235 p.; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), 234 p.; 10. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), 178 p.;

Rattray is still leading the MX2 Championship with Searle second. Cairoli dropped back to third and he currently has a 59 point gap from the South African. Simpson and Aubin round off the top five.

Top ten: 1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 416 points; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 395 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 357 p.; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 287 p.; 5. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 243 p.; 6. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 241 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), 211 p.; 8. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 197 p.; 9. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 196 p.; 10. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), 187 p.

By Press Release