A YZ450F has been placed on top of the podium at the first round of fifteen in the MX1-GP World Championship thanks to new Yamaha Red Bull De Carli recruit Tanel Leok. The Estonian - 2009 MX1 Italian champion and now Italian Grand Prix winner - mastered ludicrous conditions at Faenza, close to Imola, to register his second MX1-GP victory in a race programme that saw the second moto cancelled due to the overly-muddy and impassable terrain.
Team-mate Antonio Cairoli performed well in front of his home fans for 5th place while the Yamaha Monster Energy MX team pairing of Josh Coppins and world champion David Philippaerts were 6th and 9th respectively; four Yamahas in the top ten were more than any other manufacturer as eleven hours of rain made the circuit a supreme test for both man and machine with a dose of good fortune also needed.
On a dry day Philippaerts rode an excellent race in the first ever MX1 Qualification Heat (replacing the 30 minute Time Practice for 2009) to take his maiden pole position in the class. It was also the first pole for Yamaha since Josh Coppins placed the YZ450FM on top of the timing sheets at the Grand Prix of Japan at Sugo in 2007. In truth it should have been a 1-2 for the team as Coppins held an easy lead in the Heat while Philippaerts worked his way to the front from mid-top ten. The New Zealander however came unstuck on a steep downhill section and crashed heavily, winding himself in the process, but later claimed to be fine. 2nd place in the Heat (and therefore the gate) for Sunday belonged to Cairoli. The Sicilian enjoyed his return to world championship action for the first time since sustaining a knee injury at the South African Grand Prix last summer. His speed on the YZ450F was impressive in what is his first outing as a full-time competitor of the MX1-GP series. Leok was 5th.
A short and fast circuit on Saturday, that was not popular with the riders due to its ease and emphasis on horsepower rather than technical demands, was a different prospect on Sunday. The swampy setting was reminiscent of the sodden Spanish Grand Prix of 2008 and many riders had problems with the heavy, sticky mud. The three main uphill sections saw frequent falls and stationery machines, and the lap chart changed order with alarming frequency. The pit-lane was a busy place with many riders entering to change goggles and gloves.
Leok was the third and last leader of the race and held on for a remarkable win for half of the 15 laps. Cairoli had a tough start and also crashed at one stage but was spurred on by the crowd to take a top five result. Philippaerts was holding 5th for at least three laps until a rock hit him in the eye and he slipped off trying to climb a hill. The Italian was able to recover from 14th to 9th and was pleased with his salvage operation. Coppins was a little sore but after finding a way to negotiate the climbs the Kiwi ploughed on to 6th, although he too could not benefit from decent vision with his goggles long discarded.
The FIM called a halt to proceedings before the start of the second moto after a track inspection and deciding that the safety of the riders was paramount. The classification of the first outing represented the final result and also forms the world championship standings.
The second and third rounds now follow hard upon with the Grand Prix of Bulgaria occurring at the notable Sevlievo circuit next week. The Grand Prix of Turkey at a new facility in Istanbul takes place seven days later.
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