Cairoli, Musquin Start It Off

Jean Turner | May 30, 2010

Red plate holder Marvin Musquin took a convincing win in the first moto of the MX2 division. The factory KTM rider was all but untouchable as he led the way from start to finish in the 35 minute plus two lap race. Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Steven Frossard ran a strong second and managed to fend off the advances of youngster Ken Roczen of the Red Bull Teka Suzuki squad.Antonio Cairoli (right) took a dominant win in the first MX1 moto at Glen Helen’s USGP.

Frossard couldn’t quite close in on Musquin, who was riding his KTM 250 SX-F like he was mad at it – the only thing that might have thwarted his dominant performance was a mechanical failure from bouncing off the rev-limiter for 40 minutes, but the orange machine held on for Musquin to take the victory.

American rider Zach Osborne of the Bike-it Cosworth team got around Jeremy Van Horebeek riding out of the Pro Circuit Kawasaki tent. Horebeek finished fifth and sixth place went to Motoconcepts Yamaha’s Travis Baker. The American rider had a phenomenal ride and aside from Osborne was the top American in the opening MX2 race.

In the MX1 division it was factory KTM out front once again, but not the #800 of Mike Alessi. Antonio Cairoli, who spent a lot of time riding and training with Alessi in the week preceding the USGP, came out swinging and led the charge from start to finish ahead of Alessi. The track, which is becoming increasingly treacherous, has already claimed some victims.

Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Ben Townley got off to a strong third place start and ran close to Alessi, but when he was ready to make a move, Townley hit the dirt at the bottom of one of the downhills. Townley wasn’t hurt and got up, desperately trying to make up ground, only to pull off several laps later with mechanical problems.Marvin Musquin (right) digs into the sandy ruts of Glen Helen on his way to the MX2 win.

Hard luck also went to Josh Coppins. The Aprilia factory rider crashed heading into the first lap, and was making good progress through the pack, but also retired from the moto early due to mechanical problems.

Max Nagl completed the all KTM podium in MX1, taking third in the moto ahead of Ken de Dycker and Clement Desalle who rounded out the top-five.

Grant Langston, riding his lone AM/PM Yamaha, had an impressive ride, starting the race in the top-five. He was able to hang on for a top-ten finish, ultimately taking the checkers in ninth.

American rider Kyle Chisholm of the Motoconcepts Yamaha team rounded out the top-ten. The only other American inside the top-20 was Ryan Hughes, who persevered in the mid-pack battle to finish 17th.

Zip-Ty Husqvarna’s Bobby Garrison finished 21st but would have possibly been in the top-20 had it not been for a get-off in the whoops. American rider Jimmy Albertson was unfortunately unable to ride today’s races after his nasty spill yesterday.

MX1 Moto 1

1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM)

2. Mike Alessi (KTM) (right)

3. Max Nagl (KTM)

4. Ken DeDycker (Yam)

5. Clement Desalle (Suz)

6. Xavier Boog (Kaw)

7. Steve Ramon (Suz)

8. Davide Guarneri (Hon)

9. Grant Langston (Yam)

10. Kyle Chisholm (Yam)

 

MX2 Moto 2

1. Marvin Musquin (KTM)

2. Steven Frossard (Kaw)

3. Ken Roczen (Suz)

4. Zach Osborne (Yam)

5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Kaw)

6. Travis Baker (Yam)

7. Arnaud Tonus (Suz)

8. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)

9. Shaun Simpson (KTM)

10. Jake Nicholls (KTM)

Jean Turner | Contributor

A former staffer at Cycle News, Turner continues to contribute to the website and magazine as a columnist and someone we can count on to whip up a few thousand words on an off-road race when needed.