After a strong qualifying Team USA made of James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto and Team Ferry will pick the best gate spots for tomorrow’s 62nd edition of the Red Bull MXoN at a sunny Donington Park.
Australia (Chad Reed, Brett Metcalfe, Michael Byrne) qualified in second with France (Sebastien Pourcel, Anthony Boissiere, Nicolas Aubin) being third.
Home team Great Britain (Billy Mackenzie, Tommy Searle, Shaun Simpson) was seventh as James Stewart (MX1/USA), Ryan Villopoto (MX2/USA) and Cody Cooper (Open/New Zealand) won the qualifying heats.
QUALIFYING HEAT – MX1
Despite a couple of crashes USA’s James Stewart took a brilliant victory making it to the checkered flag with a 10-second advantage over runner-up Sebastien Pourcel of France. The latter worked his way up from the bottom of the top six and secured the second place through a move on Belgium’s Ken de Dycker ending third. MX1 World Champion David Philippaerts was fourth for Italy even though some netting tangled in his back wheel during his chase to the top three. Estonia’s Tanel Leok was fifth ahead of Germany’s Max Nagl and Great Britain’s Billy Mackenzie. The latter set the crowd on fire after chasing Stewart from second in the early stages. Australia’s Chad Reed crashed at lap one restarting from the bottom of the group and finishing 10th.
Top five: 1. James Stewart (USA, Kawasaki), 26:05.047; ; 2. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:10.184; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:12.131; 4. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:13.210; 5. Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), +0:16.623
QUALIFYING HEAT – MX2
France’s Anthony Boissiere took a great start leading the pack into the first corners until a solid Ryan Villopoto of USA took control of the race to win eventually. Australia’s Brett Metcalfe got in Boissiere’s way for second and moved past after three laps to cruise in second for the rest of the race. Boissiere remained in third place with MX2 World Champion Tyla Rattray of South Africa coming closer as the race was ending. Both Rattray and Great Britain’s Tommy Searle had to work their way up from the bottom of the top ten with the Brit finishing fifth. Rattray even ran off the track at the final lap but did not lose his fourth place.
Top five: 1. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), 24:16.201; ; 2. Brett Metcalfe (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:24.989; 3. Anthony Boissiere (FRA, KTM), +0:28.643; 4. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), +0:32.061; 5. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), +0:40.944
QUALIFYING HEAT – OPEN
With USA’s Tim Ferry recovering after a tough start to finish an eventual ninth, Cody Cooper rode a flawless moto to take victory for team New Zealand. Cooper ran away with the lead as Canada’s Dusty Klatt, Italy’s Alex Salvini and France’s Nicolas Aubin were fighting for second. Aubin crashed, damaged the bike and DNF’d, as Klatt dropped down to eighth. Salvini held on until the arrival of Australia’s Michael Byrne taking second. Puerto Rico’s Zach Osborne worked his way up to third and moved to an eventual second courtesy of a last-lap move on Byrne. Salvini was fourth ahead of Belgium’s Steve Ramon. Home rider Shaun Simpson was seventh onboard a 250cc machine.
Top five: 1. Cody Cooper (NZL, Suzuki), 24:50.028; 2. Zach Osborne (PUR, Yamaha), +0:01.900; 3. Michael Byrne (AUS, Suzuki), +0:02.101; 4. Alex Salvini (ITA, Suzuki), +0:09.713; 5. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:11.237
The teams which did not qualify today and will take part in the B-Final tomorrow are Ireland, Brazil, Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Venezuela, Lithuania, Norway, Iceland and newcomer Mongolia.
In last year’s edition of the Red Bull Motocross of Nations Brazil won the B-Final to take part in the event.
