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| 06.06.2010 |
| 12th career GP win for Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin on home turf |
| Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Marvin Musquin snapped his 12th career GP victory on Sunday in front of his home crowd to receive a massive reception from the fans at Saint Jean D’Angely many of whom joined in for a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise as the reigning world champion stood on the top step of the podium. |
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Marvin took both holeshots and then rode two exceptional motos in what was certainly difficult conditions after a big storm in the early hours of the morning turned the hard pack, 1590 m track into slippery mud. Although conditions improved as the day went on riders had to negotiate deep and difficult ruts on the course.
Marvin Musquin: “It was the best weekend for me. Like in Glenn Helen I took really good start twice. It was not easy to pass so the start it was important for me to take the holeshots. I felt very confident on my bike and it was perfect for me to win here with my fans and in front of the French people. My bike was really strong for my starts and everyone in the team worked hard for me so it’s very good for the championship,” Musquin said. Marvin will keep his track time up to scratch next weekend with a ride in the French championship before going to the next GP in Germany in two weeks time.
Good weekend for Simpson and Herlings
Musquin’s Factory teammate Jeffrey Herlings was second in the first moto and got a good start in the second before the front end of his bike came out of a rut, dug into the soft soil on the edge and spat him off in the opening laps. He fought his way back through the pack to finish in the points finishing fifth to teammate Shaun Simpson’s overall fourth. Both riders picked up 31 points for their efforts on the French track but Simpson was ranked in fourth and Herlings fifth by virtue of his stronger finish in the second moto.
Shaun Simpson: “Saturday was really hard and fast and dusty and I was already fifth in my qualifying heat race. That was good for today because it’s important here to have a good start. I was finding my rhythm and the track was really difficult after the rain last night and there was really only one line. I had a big crash with Ken Roczen and that cost me a lot of time and energy to get back in the race. It was difficult but I managed to get back to twelfth. My riding was good, so was my speed and my lap times were up with the leaders. I was in front after the first corner in the second heat then Marvin passed me and I followed him for a few laps. I rode an easy race in the second moto. I had one bad race and one good race today and a lot of people had that so I didn’t lose too much in the championship and I am still fifth.
Jeffrey Herlings: “My first heat was very good. I was second behind Marvin at the start and I held onto second place for most of the race before I got passed by Osborne. But I passed him back again in the last corner so I was second over the finish line. I didn’t have such a good start in the second moto. I was about tenth, but I got up to third in the first lap before I had a big crash. After that I was right back in the pack and had to fight my way back. In the end I was just one point short of a podium place. That was bad luck but it’s still good for the championship. I’m feeling good, I am strong and the bike’s working well. I’ve got the speed so I just have to keep up the hard work,” Herlings said after the race. The young Dutch rider, who only turned 15 in September of 2009, is in his first year with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team.
Commanding lead for Musquin
Marvin now has a commanding 71-point lead on second placed Ken Roczen in the championship standings and is well on his way to successfully defending his 2009 MX2 world championship title. The KTM factory riders have now won 13 of the 14 motos so far held this year, giving the Austrian sports motorcycle specialists a dominant 81 point lead in the Manufacturer’s Standings.
Jordi Tixier dominates EMX 125 class also in France
France also hosted a round of the newly inaugurated EMX 125 championship, an occasion for young French KTM rider Jordi Tixier to continue his charge towards the title and to show his lskills to local fans. With three of the seven rounds now completed Tixier has a perfect scorecard, having won every moto and this weekend was no exception. He is now 40 points clear of second placed young Austrian KTM rider Pascal Rauchenecker, who was third today.. This is a new competition that gives younger riders the chance to show their skills in an intermediate motor category before graduating up to the MX2 category.
MX2 Results
1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM 25-25—50
2. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM 16-20—36
3. Zach Osborne, USA, Yamaha, 20-12—32
4. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM; 9-22— 31
5. Jeffrey Herlings, Netherlands, KTM, 22-9—31
Other KTM
7. Dennis Verbruggen, Belgium, KTM 11-15—26
15. Jake Nichols, Britain, KTM, 6-8—14
16. Khounsith Vongsana, France, KTM, 14-0.—14
17. Axel Alletru, France, KTM, 2-5—7
Championship Standings after seven of 15 rounds
1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 318 points
2. Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki, 247
3. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki, 230
4. Jeffrey Herlings, Netherlands, KTM 228
5. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM 201
Other KTM
9. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM 170
10. Jake Nichols, Britain, KTM, 143
12. Dennis Verbruggen, Belgium, KTM 127
EMX 125 Results
1. Jordi Tixier, France, KTM 25-25—50
2. Sulivan Jaulin, France, Yamaha 22-18—40
3. Pascal Rauchenecker, Austria, KTM, 14-22—36
4. Jason Clermont, France, Husqvarna13-20—33
5. Yohan Lafont, France, Yamaha, 16-16—32
EMX 125 Championship Standings after three of seven rounds
Jordi Tixier, France, KTM, 150 points
2. Pascal Rauchenecker, Austria, KTM, 110
3. Yohan Lafont, France, Yamaha, 99
4. Sulivan Jaulin, France, Yamaha, 88
5. Dawid Ciucci,Italy, KTM, 85. |
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| Red Plate safe in Marvin's hands
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| Another champagne moment for KTM's Musquin
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| Solid weekend for Shaun Simpson
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| Herlings continues to ride with the best
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| Perfect scorecart ofr EMX 125 KTM rider Jordi Tixier |
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