The new Si Racha circuit hosted the very first Grand Prix of Thailand in FIM Motocross World Championship history and with 17,000 spectators in attendance Monster Energy Yamaha’s Christophe Charlier came to within two points of scoring his first podium finish of the season. The Frenchman was fourth overall in the second round of eighteen, while team-mate Dean Ferris again shone on the Superfinal stage and placed sixth in the final MX2 listing.
The new Si Racha layout was open, quick and undulating with the uphill sections and several hefty jumps proving difficult for the 250s against the bigger bikes in the second Superfinal event of 2013 (the mixed category moto being used for the non-European meetings on the calendar). Under the hot sun and temperatures of thirty five degrees Charlier took fourth and exercised a degree of damage limitation for what should have been a genuine podium opportunity. The former European Champion was jostling for a top three slot in the opening race when he was forced to ditch his dirty goggles and then received a stone to the eye that dropped from fourth to ninth. A great start on the YZ250FM in the Superfinal and some decent speed on an increasingly rougher terrain saw him capture fourteenth (and third spot in MX2).
Dean Ferris was the fastest starter in the Superfinal against the bigger bikes and was haunting the top five. The Australian had ridden to fifth earlier in the day for the opening moto but lost feeling in his hand during the second outing and couldn’t maintain a regular pace. The GP of Qatar podiumee had his hands on another trophy at one stage but by finishing 6th best in his class he had to accept the same ranking in the overall listing for the Grand Prix.
European Champion Mel Pocock had the unbelievably bad luck of his goggles snapping on the start line mere seconds before the gate dropped for the first moto. The twenty year old had to enter the pitlane and then tipped off while trying to attack the rear of the pack. Pocock soon found an effective rhythm, and some nice overtaking moves got him to fifteenth. The Englishman worked to 26th in the Superfinal (11th in his class) for 14th overall. Maxime Desprey posted a best finish of 17th in the first moto.
Yamahas hold 3rd and 4th in the world championship standings with Ferris in the top three and Charlier just four points away. The paddock heads back to Europe after an opening to the campaign that involved trips to the Middle East and Asia. A pause of three weeks precedes round three in the sand of Valkenswaard for the Grand Prix of the Netherlands on Easter Monday.
Christophe Charlier
“I’m happy. I didn’t start well in the first race and this meant I had to throw away my goggles. I was OK for most of the moto but then a stone hit my eye and I had to slow. I lost quite a few positions. I tried to come back but I could only see out of one eye! The start was better in the Superfinal and I did my best to stay with the 450s. I reached the back of Ferris and passed him and then ate four seconds to Febvre but could get him by the finish. Anyway, I’m happy to be fourth in the championship at the moment because it’s going to be a long year.”
Dean Ferris
“It’s frustrating. Another position and I would have had the podium but I couldn’t do anything about it. My hand was numb after the first five minutes. I was thinking more about the championship and the wider picture than trying to go faster and definitely crashing. I got a good start! The first 250 in the Superfinal so that Yamaha and Cosworth engine has really shown again what it can do. It’s been a good first two rounds with the team and I love working with the guys. It has been positive just getting to know them and hang out in Pattaya for the week. Overall it’s been a bright start to the championship.”
Mel Pocock
“I was pumped to take sixth place in the heat race yesterday, that’s the best I’ve done on Saturday so far. I was sat on the line for the first moto and the goggle strap just pinged off. I was trying to wave and get the team’s attention. I did the first three corners without any goggles and pulled into the pitlane. I charged through the pack but went too hard at the beginning and crashed. I settled into a pace and made fifteenth I think that was only OK. Next race, it was manic and I don’t really know what happened. I just rode it out in the heat. I couldn’t believe how hot it was. I took eleventh and that’s not really where I want to be. I want top tens and I know I can be there. I can’t wait to get back to Europe to put a coat on!”
Maxime Desprey
“In the first moto I made a good start but made a mistake. It was very difficult after that with the weather hard to handle. I tried to relax and concentrate on my riding and it led to seventeenth position. The Superfinal was such hard work and it got to a point where physically I couldn’t do any more. I know now where I need to work further.”