Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team’s David Philippaerts claimed his first win of the season and his third on the YZ450FM at a sun-kissed and busy Mallory Park circuit for the British Grand Prix and the seventh round of fifteen in the MX1-GP World Championship. 35,000 spectators witnessed the reigning champion score results of 1-2 in the motos to scale the top step of the podium, giving Yamaha their fifth victory of 2009.
The circuit, the venue for the British stop on the calendar for the second year in succession, boasted some spectacular jump sections as well as more ‘old-school’ elements with long off-cambered corners mixed in with the leaps. The track was demanding and technical and the winding layout meant overtaking was difficult. The heat and unrelenting sunshine also took its toll on the competitors.
Philippaerts secured his second pole position of the season with a comfortable victory in the qualification heat on Saturday and signalled his intent with good speed and an effective start. The Italian ran second behind Max Nagl in the first moto and seized upon a mistake by the German to take his first chequered flag of the season. Nagl rode error-free in the second race but Philippaerts was able to set a relaxed pace in second to secure his triumph; the fourth Yamaha rider in the MX1-GP this year to wear the winner’s garland.
World Championship leader Tony Cairoli only saw 2 points shaved off his gap at the front of the standings despite finishing 8th and 10th for 8th overall. The Sicilian was a victim of a first corner incident on Saturday that left him with a sore back and wrist, as well as a slot almost last in the start gate. After a night of little sleep Cairoli fought through from the rear of the pack in both races to feel satisfied with his efforts by the end of the day.
Josh Coppins was 4th overall. The New Zealander had to deal with a flying rock that hurt his left collarbone as well as damaged spokes on his front wheel in Moto1 as he took 5th; his overtaking move on Mickael Pichon and Brad Anderson on the same corner was the best move of the day. In the second race he circulated mostly alone in 4th.
Cairoli’s Yamaha Red Bull De Carli team-mate Tanel Leok was also a casualty of misfortune on Saturday and his spot of 19th in the gate also meant a difficult afternoon of work for the motos. Some mistakes in the second sprint delivered a 6th place to go with his 8th of earlier in the day and he took a top five overall position with 5th.
The 47 points totalled by Philippaerts has pushed him up to second in the world championship standings and he sits 34 behind Cairoli. Coppins is fourth and 12 from his team-mate while Leok is eighth. Yamaha front the manufacturer’s table by 50 points.
The British Grand Prix has started a busy period of five races in six weeks. The next meeting will take place in just seven days with the Grand Prix of France being held at the Ernee circuit, not far from Le Mans, for round eight of the series.
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