A bumper 35,000 crowd witnessed MXGP legend Tony Cairoli taking a popular home victory at the spectacular Maggiora track. The tenth of the 17-round series was a difficult one for 24MX Honda Racing and wildcard rider Filip Thuresson. Thuresson, 22, is gradually regaining his fitness after some health problems but he managed to score one precious GP point in the second moto.
The mecca of Italian motocross, some 80km north west of Milan, was once again the stage for some memorable racing. Multiple Swedish champion Thuresson got his first experience of the magical hard-pack circuit this weekend. Characterized by big stepdown jumps and a tricky undulating course layout Maggiora is addmittedly one of the most diffuclt tracks of the series. Filip mainly used the first day to get used to the track and to familiarize him again with 24MX Honda’s CRF450R. While Saturday was supposed to be a joyous occasion for the red family -with the official unveiling of Honda’s exciting 2015 motocross bikes- the evening’s atmposhere was unfortunately overshadowed by Joël Roelants’ terrible crash in the qualifying moto.
Sunday’s first race proved to be a difficult one for Filip. After a bad start he found it hard to get into a good rhythm and he had to settle for 22nd in the end. The second moto saw a more relaxed and inspired Thuresson. From last place he made his way up to 19th, only to lose one position to Valentin Teillet near the end of the race. Filip thus scored one point, far from a career-best but definitely a step in the right direction after some difficult ADAC races for the friendly, likable rider from Uddevalla.
Filip Thuresson: “I struggled a bit in the qualifying race and the first moto. The Maggiora track is awesome but it’s not easy to learn! My second moto was better, I hit my lines better and my timing definitely improved. Still I’m not really satisfied. I know I can do better, I just need to keep on working and rebuild my confidence. If I hang in there I know the ‘old’ Filip will come back so I’m really looking forward to race the next two GP’s in Teutschenthal and Uddevalla.”
Steven Lettani, 24MX Honda Team owner: “The field was surely deeper than in Arco di Trento and for the moment Filip is not at his best level. This is of course not the best match! I’m happy that Filip put his head down and at least grabbed one point today. The feeling in the team was of course subdued. It’s hard to put it in words really. On one hand we enjoyed the atmosphere with all the tifosi, the amazing track and the Italian hospitality but on the other hand we witnessed the devastating news of our neighbours from J-Race Racing team from close by. We wish Joël, his family and friends strength and courage in these dark times. Never give up!”
MXGP Race 1
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 34:47.796; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:04.109; 3. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:10.121; 4. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:20.361; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:23.524; 6. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:41.674; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:45.162; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:45.566; 9. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:50.193; 10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), +1:10.566; 11. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), +1:13.343; 12. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Husqvarna), +1:17.125; 13. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:19.432; 14. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +1:23.780; 15. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), +1:27.290; 16. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:30.509; 17. Pier Filippo Bertuzzo (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 18. Kornel Nemeth (HUN, KTM), -1 lap(s); 19. Samuel Zeni (ITA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 20. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Honda), -1 lap(s); 21. Matteo Bonini (ITA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 22. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX Honda Racing), -1 lap(s); 23. Stefano Dami (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 24. Rui Goncalves (POR, Yamaha), -8 lap(s); 25. Angelo Pellegrini (ITA, Honda), -10 lap(s); 26. Milko Potisek (FRA, Yamaha), -12 lap(s); 27. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), -13 lap(s); 28. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), -18 lap(s
MXGP Race 2
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 34:39.495; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:04.774; 3. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:05.986; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:24.914; 5. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:31.560; 6. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:34.934; 7. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:48.210; 8. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), +0:49.759; 9. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:51.107; 10. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:51.136; 11. Rui Goncalves (POR, Yamaha), +0:56.173; 12. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), +1:07.510; 13. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +1:09.611; 14. Milko Potisek (FRA, Yamaha), +1:30.439; 15. Matteo Bonini (ITA, Kawasaki), +1:41.740; 16. Kornel Nemeth (HUN, KTM), -1 lap(s); 17. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 18. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Honda), -1 lap(s); 19. Angelo Pellegrini (ITA, Honda), -1 lap(s); 20. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX Honda Racing), -1 lap(s); 21. Samuel Zeni (ITA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 22. Stefano Dami (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 23. Pier Filippo Bertuzzo (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 24. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), -14 lap(s); 25. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), -15 lap(s); 26. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Husqvarna), -19 lap(s)
MXGP – Overall Classification
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 44 p.; 3. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 38 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 32 p.; 5. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 28 p.; 6. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 27 p.; 8. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), 24 p.; 9. Steven Frossard (FRA, KAW), 20 p.; 10. Gregory Aranda (FRA, KAW), 19 p.; 11. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), 19 p.; 12. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 16 p.; 13. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), 15 p.; 14. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 14 p.; 15. Rui Goncalves (POR, YAM), 10 p.; 16. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KAW), 9 p.; 17. Tyla Rattray (RSA, HUS), 9 p.; 18. Kornel Nemeth (HUN, KTM), 8 p.; 19. Milko Potisek (FRA, YAM), 7 p.; 20. Matteo Bonini (ITA, KAW), 6 p.; 21. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), 6 p.; 22. Klemen Gercar (SLO, HON), 4 p.; 23. Pier Filippo Bertuzzo (ITA, YAM), 4 p.; 24. Angelo Pellegrini (ITA, HON), 2 p.; 25. Samuel Zeni (ITA, KAW), 2 p.; 26. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX HONDA RACING), 1 p.; 27. Stefano Dami (ITA, YAM), 0 p.; 28. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 0 p.
MXGP Standings after 10 rounds
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 443 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 405 p.; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 402 p.; 4. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 314 p.; 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, KAW), 217 p.; 6. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 211 p.; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, KAW), 205 p.; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 184 p.; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HON), 166 p.; 10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), 163 p.; 11. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 160 p.; 12. Xavier Boog (FRA, 24MX HONDA RACING), 159 p.; 13. Joel Roelants (BEL, HON), 158 p.; 14. Rui Goncalves (POR, YAM), 152 p.; 15. Tyla Rattray (RSA, HUS), 125 p.; 16. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), 122 p.; 17. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 119 p.; 18. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), 108 p.; 19. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 107 p.; 20. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 106 p.; 21. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), 73 p.; 22. Milko Potisek (FRA, YAM), 38 p.; 23. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KAW), 30 p.; 24. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), 28 p.; 25. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 26 p.; 26. Klemen Gercar (SLO, HON), 26 p.; 27. Gregory Aranda (FRA, KAW), 19 p.; 28. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 17 p.; 29. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 15 p.; 30. Marc de Reuver (NED, HON), 13 p.; 31. Herjan Brakke (NED, KAW), 13 p.; 32. Jeremy Delince (BEL, 24MX HONDA RACING), 12 p.; 33. Jens Getteman (BEL, 24MX HONDA RACING), 11 p.; 34. Augusts Justs (LAT, HUS), 10 p.; 35. Cedric Soubeyras (FRA, HON), 8 p.; 36. Kornel Nemeth (HUN, KTM), 8 p.; 37. Graeme Irwin (IRL, SUZ), 7 p.; 38. Nathan Watson (GBR, HUS), 7 p.; 39. Matteo Bonini (ITA, KAW), 6 p.; 40. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX HONDA RACING), 6 p.; 41. Pier Filippo Bertuzzo (ITA, YAM), 4 p.; 42. Antonio Balbi (BRA, KAW), 4 p.; 43. Samuel Zeni (ITA, KAW), 2 p.; 44. Angelo Pellegrini (ITA, HON), 2 p.; 45. Fabien Izoird (FRA, SUZ), 2 p.; 46. Arnon Theplib (THA, HON), 2 p.; 47. Amirezza Sabetifar (IRI, YAM), 2 p.; 48. Raul Alvarez (ESP, YAM), 1 p.; 49. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, KTM), 1 p.; 50. Shane Carless (GBR, KAW), 1