Preparing for Italy

Several leading Grand Prix riders rode their national championships last weekend in preparation for the MXGP of Trentino at the magnificent Arco di Trento circuit. The major Championships run last weekend were in England, Germany, France and Belgium and it was no surprise that some of the Grand Prix regulars had their way against the National Championship riders.

In England it was HM Plant KTM UK team-mates Shaun Simpson and Mel Pocock who won their respective MX1 and MX2 overalls. Simpson who has struggled a little with results in the Grand Prix’s to date (despite looking fast) put together three solid motos for the MX1 victory. Simpson went 1-2-2 for victory, ahead of fellow MXGP rider Jake Nicholls and defending British MX1 Champion Kristian Whatley.

Simpson was however surprised by local rider Nathan Watson who scored a moto win in the final moto after Simpson made a mistake.

“I don’t like Lyng normally, so I knew this weekend was a case of ‘get it out of the way’. I thought I could go 1-1-1 and I still believe I could’ve done that today. In the first race I was lucky with my win, I had a clutch problem with four laps to go, but Jake had a problem too. In the second one I just couldn’t find a place to pass Jake; he was riding well and I knew I had a little bit extra, but I couldn’t get past him to show it. In the last race got out of the start good and started to eke out some sort of gap, then I made a stupid mistake at the finish and got cross rutted, ended up spinning the bike around and Nathan Watson ended up stealing the win. Credit to him for getting up there and battling with us GP riders, because we’ve done three GPs now, and that brings your speed long, so fair play to him.”

In Belgium it was Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jeremy Van Horebeek who won the MX1 class, finishing with two moto wins and 50 points. For the in-form Van Horebeek it was perfect preparation for his challenge to Antonio Cairoli this weekend in Italy.

Van Horebeek led home two of the other Belgians in the FIM MXGP World Championship top ten, Joel Roelants and Kevin Strijbos. Both Roelants and Strijbos showed glimpse of form, but couldn’t stop Van Horebeek from dominating the day.

At the France Motocross Championships for MX1 and MX2 it was Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jordi Tixier who scored the MX2 victory, going 1-1-1 against a rather modest field. Second was Damon Graulus and third Arnaud Aubin. In the MX1 class in France GP veteran Sebastien Pourcel won ahead of Valentin Teillet and Miko Potisek.

2013 MXoN hero Marcus Schiffer won the latest round of the German MX1 Championships with 3-2 results, while Florent Richier was second with 2-4 and Dennis Baudrexl third with 1-6 scores.