Words by: Geoff Meyer – Photo by: Ray Archer
Sevlievo, known for many years as the best Motocross facility in the World returns this weekend and as is the case every year it could be a wet one at this great circuit. Ray Archer image
Just outside the city of Sevlievo this weekends fifth round of the 2014 FIM World Motocross Championships should bring more surprises as the hard-pack riders come into their own.
Names like Clement Desalle, Gautier Paulin, Arnaud Tonus and Dylan Ferrandis might enjoy this circuit more than others, while it has often not been a happy hunting ground for the big two, Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings.
As for Frenchman Gautier Paulin, he goes for his third straight victory at the circuit on the hill.
Both have won just once at Sevlievo, Cairoli in the MX2 class 2007 and Herlings in last year’s MX2 class. Cairoli has been to this circuit on seven occasions and Herlings four occasions.
It all started though long before these two great riders were on the scene. Way back in 2002three Motocross legends, Joel Smets (500cc), Mickael Pichon (250cc) and Alex Puzar (125cc) won the first time the Grand Prix of Bulgaria was played out.
It would begin a relationship with this magnificent facility that would carry right though until this weekend, when the fifth round of the FIM World Motocross Championships will be played out.
Since that 2002 debut in Sevlievo there have been many magic moments at the circuit on the hillside.
The 2003 Everts (MotocrossGP), Smets (650cc) and Mickael Maschio (125cc) won their respective classes, but the 03 event will always be remembered for the terrible injury to German rider Pit Beirer.
2004 there was no Bulgarian Grand Prix, and in 2005 also missed out, however in 2006 it was Dutchman Marc De Reuver who won a wet and wild MX2 class in Bulgaria, while the King Stefan Everts won the MX1 class.
In 2007 Yamaha dominated as Josh Coppins and Antonio Cairoli won their classes, both with 1-1 scores. A Year later in 2008 Italian David Philippaerts (Yamaha) won the MX1 class with 1-2 and British rider Tommy Searle (KTM) won the MX2 class with 2-1.
In 2009 Josh Coppins was back in form, going 2-2 for victory in the MX1 class and Marvin Musquin went 1-2 for the win in MX2. 2010 was special for KTM as Max Nagl scored the MX1 victory and Marvin Musquin beat home a long list of future champions as he won the MX2 class ahead of two youngsters called Ken Roczen and Jeffrey Herlings (Herlings making his GP debut). The qualification race this year was one of the best races I have ever seen as the big three went at it.
2011 and Belgian hardman Clement Desalle (Suzuki) scored victory in the MX1 class with 2-1 scores and KTM’s new signing Ken Roczen went 1-1 for the win in MX2. Gautier Paulin showed he was more than ready for the MX1 boys with victory in 2012, and England’s Tommy Searle got another win in Bulgaria with 3-1 in the MX2 class, beating Herlings who went 2-2.
In 2013 and like Searle the Frenchman Paulin scored his second win at the hard-packed circuit, taking 1-2 results to the top of the podium and in MX2 it was Jeffrey Herlings who went 1-1 and finally won at the Bulgarian facility.
As far as countries go, Belgians with a lot of help from legends Stefan Everts and Joel Smets (three and two wins, Desalle a single win) have won six times in Bulgaria, Frenchmen (Maschio, Musquin (2) and Paulin (2)) five times, Italians (Puzar, Philippaerts and Cairoli) three times, and German (Nagl and Roczen), British (Searle twice), New Zealand (Coppins twice) and Dutchmen (De Reuver and Herlings) have two wins each.
GP of Bulgaria winners
2002 Everts, Smets, Puzar
2003 Everts, Smets, Maschio
2006 Everts, De Reuver
2007 Coppins, Cairoli
2008 Philippaerts, Searle
2009 Coppins, Musquin
2010 Nagl, Musquin
2011 Desalle, Roczen
2012 Paulin, Searle
2013 Paulin, Herlings
