CAS Honda rider Ken de Dycker came within three laps of taking his first checkered flag after a determined second moto at Mantova for the Grand Prix of Italy and the fourth round of the FIM World Championship. The MX1 class was won by Josh Coppins from Tanel Leok and Sebastien Pourcel.
The sandy course was compacted within the enclosed setting, allowing the large crowd an excellent view of the vast majority of the 1600m circuit. However, the terrain became so rough, that the second moto of each class was especially tough physically.
The tight winding track was punctuated with jumps and rhythm sections giving the impression of a ‘supercrossy’ race in prospect. The layout received a thumbs-up from the majority contesting the grands prix..
The opening sprint from the gate in Moto1 saw a crash between David Philippaerts and Marc de Reuver leaving De Dycker to lead for several laps and enjoy a fraught tussle with Josh Coppins. The Belgian was to struggled again with arm-pump and dropped back to fourth his participation was curtailed late in the race with a technical problem.
Coppins won the heat from Leok and Strijbos.
The determined 22 year old De Dyker pushed to the front in Moto2 and again fought briefly with Coppins. He seemed to have a distinct advantage entering the final stages of the 35 minutes and 2 laps but tensed up and faced a fresh charge from the New Zealander. He was able to hang on for second position, his highest result of the season so far.
Team-mate Mike Brown experienced similar ill-fortune to De Dycker. The American, as per usual, started well in the first moto, with the holeshot, but was powerless to stay with the leaders through the heavy bumps; he took 14th place. The second race saw the veteran display his best speed yet in only his fourth MX1 GP. He again was first out of the gate and spearheaded the pack for three laps. He ended the moto with ninth for 10th spot overall.
De Dycker may have taken some of the spotlight in each race but it was Multitek’s James Noble who was Honda’s best overall performer on the day. He rode a steady first moto, steering his CRF450R in an error-free outing to fifth; equalling a career best. He benefited from the DNF of De Dycker to gain an extra placing but it was still a resolute effort. In the second race he was pipped to sixth position by Tanel Leok on the last lap but still sealed a season-highest result of sixth, elevating him to eighth in the World Championship.
Martin Honda rider Antoine Meo was unable to finish Moto1. The Frenchman crashed on the first corner and then caught his painful knee in the ground while mounting a comeback and retired. He elected not to enter the second sprint and has now decided to undergo an operation this week. Depending on the extent of the repair needed to the knee joint Meo could be out for either two months or the rest of the season.
In the MX2 class Antonio Cairoli completely swept both motos and had each race in his pocket by the end of the first few laps. The unchallenged Sicilian ran away from Tyla Rattray and Tommy Searle and climbed onto the top step of the podium with a perfect score.
Pascal Leuret was once again Honda’s top finisher in the category two weeks after his maiden podium in Portugal. The French privateer gained seventh place in the first moto and was hunting for better in the second until he crashed while chasing fifth position. He would slip off again but then ride hard to recover from the lower end of the leader-board to reach 12th. Leuret has dropped back one place in the World Championship standings but is still fifth just seven points behind Searle.
The Martin team was left a little light for their home Grand Prix after the two year deal agreed with rider Ryan Mills was annulled this week. The American had struggled with a wrist injury (ironically sustained at Mantova during an International event in February) as well as a concussion. Mills also commented on his difficulty to adapt to the European lifestyle and World Championship racing.
