Words by: Geoff Meyer – Photo: KTM Images
In what turned out to be a magnificent Belgian Grand Prix British rider Tommy Searle and Italian legend Antonio Cairoli have won the Grand Prix of Belgium in the MX2 and MX1 classes. Searle went 2-1 in the MX2 class while Cairoli scored a 1-1 result.
With the rain clouds gone and sunshine taking it’s place the circuit dried out well and produced some really exciting racing. Behind Searle on the podium were Jeffrey Herlings (1-3) and Jeremy Van Horebeek (3-2), while it was Clement Desalle (3-3) and Christophe Pourcel (5-2) who also made the podium in the MX1.
The opening moto of the day started in sunshine and was the first MX2 moto that saw Tommy Searle take the holeshot, followed by Jeffrey Herlings who quickly took the lead from Searle, also in the mix where Jeremy Van Horebeek, Jordi Tixier, Jake Nicholls, Mel Pocock and Ferrandis.
Herlings who wanted to send a message to Searle quickly dropped the second place rider as he put on a blistering pace in the lead. Joel Roelants moved up from 10th place to fifth in the first lap.
Tixier and Ferrandis got into a nice battle for sixth and seventh places, while Roelants looked for a way past Nicholls in fourth place. After getting away from Searle the leader Herlings slowed and Searle began to make a charge for the front spot.
The first four places and its Herlings, Searle, Van Horebeek and Roelants, so KTM, Kawasaki, KTM, Kawasaki, the battle for the constructors points continues.
Anstie exits the race on the ninth lap, but UK is well represented with Searle in 2nd, Nicholls in 5th and Pocock in 7th position. Ferrandis went down and lost several placed as Arnaud Tonus moved into the top ten.
The first MX1 moto of the day and Cairoli took the lead from Kevin Strijbos, Gautier Paulin, Clement Desalle, Anthony Boissiere, Seb Pourcel, Rui Goncalves, Herjan Brakke, and Xavier Boog.
Christophe Pourcel held 15th place and David Philippaerts 19th place. Ken De Dycker also made a mistake and was back in the pack in 25th place, and Desalle also crashed and dropped to seventh place. Philippaerts and Pourcel rode brilliantly with the Italian in ninth place and Frenchman 11th.
While Cairoli controlled the race up front all hell was breaking loose with the remained of the pack as Christophe Pourcel and David Philippaerts fought through the pack, at one stage . Paulin and Desalle did close up on Cairoli as the race ended, but it was all Cairoli from Paulin and Desalle. Then came Strijbos, C. Pourcel, Boog, Philippaerts, S. Pourcel, Leok, De Dycker and Karro in 11th place.
Van Horebeek took the holeshot in the second MX2 moto and right behind him came Searle, Butron, Nicholls, Herlings, Coldenhoff, Tixier, Pocock, and Roelants in 10th place.
Searle and Herlings both got into a nice battle, both trying to hold the top spot in the race. Herlings looked for a way past, but Searle closed the gate on him. Herlings passed Searle, but Searle came straight back and then Searle passed as Herlings got a little out of shape in a corner.
VanHorebeek was riding safe in third place and then came Butron, Tonus, Nicholls, Txier, Ferrandis, Roelants and Pocock. Tixier and Roelants collided, but neither went down. Nicholls moved into 5th place passing Butron. Roelants also passed Butron to drop the Spaniard back to seventh.
Roelants makes a pass on Nicholls to move into fifth place and continue his charge to a podium finish. After five laps it’s Searle, Herlings, Van Horebeek, Tonus, Roelants, Nicholls, Tixier, Ferrandis, Butron, and Coldenhoff in 10th place.
Searle controlled the race up front and walked away from Herlings, winning easily. Van Horebeek eventually passed Herlings with the Dutchman finishing in third place, then came Tonus, Roelants, Tixier, Ferranis, Nicholls, Butron and Lupino in 10th.
The last moto of the day and it was the MX1 boys and this race started brilliantly as first Christophe Pourcel and Evgeny Bobryshev battled, then Pourcel dropped Bobryshev and Desalle turned up and took the lead from Pourcel. The large Belgian crowd were now into the GP more than ever as their man led.
Bobryshev and Cairoli battled for third place, as the Italian looked for a way past. Really great racing around this beautifully prepared circuit. Cairoli passed the Russian and set out after Pourcel and Desalle.
Strijbos held fifth place and Paulin was back in 8th place. Cairoli started putting pressure on Pourcel as Desalle tried to break away. De Dycker is on the run again as he passes both Goncalves and Boog to move into the top ten after another terrible start.
Cairoli and Pourcel get into a nice battle for second place, the Italian finally getting past and setting out after the leader Desalle. Cairoli took the lead soon after and in his typical fashion started pulling away from Desalle, within no time having a seven second lead.
Paulin was struggling a little in ninth place, losing a lot of points on series leader Cairoli. A nice battle occured between Desalle, Pourcel and Strijbos as they fight for that second place. Pourcel is right on the back wheel of Desalle and pushing hard to pass, finally sliding under the Belgian and taking second place. Desalle tried to fight back, but Pourcel was too smart and held his place.
Cairoli cruised to his 47th GP win and is now just three GP wins away from Joel Roberts magic 50 GP wins. Pourcel ended in second, Desalle third.
Antonio Cairoli comments:
I felt good at the track,and also I was riding safe, no risk. First moto I pushed early and then pushed a little harder near the end. Clement was pushing and they came close, but my riding was good. I got a good start in the second moto and was able to win. I dropped back to seventh, but made some passes and it worked and I am really happy. The track was not easy to pass, but from yesterday they changed it well and good job to the organizers, it was a great track. For me it’s always difficult to make a quick lap, I ride a lot and I didn’t find the good lap, only my last lap in qualification. I know from this track you can get a holeshot from the outside. I didn’t care about the pole position. I think I go to the beach, I miss it a lot, and the whole month in Belgium has been rain. I will just relax and I have some appointments with some sponsors that are near the beach. I really liked this track, and france I didn’t feel comfortable, but I won, but today I really enjoyed it, I felt great with the track. It’s a track I can express myself and have fun on the bike. When I feel good I push and when I don’t feel good I don’t push. I am not looking to win, just get enough points, that is the key to winning the Championship. Today the track was really good, and thanks to the rain because the track was really grippy and soft in some places, which was good.
Clement Desalle comments:
I am very disappointed, I want to win every Grand Prix, but I gave my best and the level of the top four is very high. I keep working to try and win next time. It was a lot of fun and it’s a good feeling here and the track was really good and the organization should be congratulated, because it was one of the best tracks this year with many chances to pass. I was third in the first moto, but the second lap I made a mistake and come in too fast and I lost time on the others and made a small crash. I could have done a better result. Then I was 7th or 8th and came back to third, which was good, but I was disappointed. The top four the level is really high, and with Christophe and Antonio, or Gautier we all give our best and we try and win our races. I took some good points, which is good.
Christophe Pourcel comments:
The first moto I didn’t get a good start, and I came back, then I crashed and finished fifth, which was bad. They did a good job with the track and thanks to the organization, and also all the people liked the racing because we could pass and it was good racing. The bike was a bit stiff in the first moto and we made some changes and it was good for the second moto. I felt comfortable, and I was a little faster than Clement and got second. When you have a lot of guys working all night working on the track, and all the lines were good, inside or outside, but if we can have more tracks like this we could have way better racing.
Tommy Searle comments:
Its good to win here, I got a good start, but Jeffrey made a pass and I was too careful, then I rode tight and he won the race. I was happy and figured I could win the second moto and overall. Second moto I had a good start and Jeffrey was pushing hard and I knew there would be lappers and we can lose a lot of time and gain time and I pushed through them and got away to win the second moto. I was surprised this morning, I thought it would be muddy, but it was in good condition and run to ride. I just do my best every weekend and do my best. I am just doing my thing and racing. I come into the next one and try and win that, because that is my goal. I am confident as good as I can be. This is the first time for a while we have actually raced.
Jeffrey Herlings comments:
First moto went good, I took a so, so start, fourth or fifth, but I moved into second and passed Tommy straight away and I tried to pull away but made some mistakes, but then I made a gap. The second moto I tried to pass Tommy, but he passed me back and I made a small mistake and he pulled away and had the better of me. I want to go to Sweden and get another GP win. I think it’s going to be hard to make a big points difference and I know some tracks are a little sandy and I can do well on those tracks. I just want to get some wins and stay out of trouble.
Jeremy Van Horebeek comments:
I am really happy, I wish I could do better than third, because I am always third. I take it step by step and sometimes I can finish second, but I make too many mistakes and you lost the contact with the guys and then it’s done. I am happy about the starts and felt good all day long. They did a great preparation, it was awesome, but for me it was still too fast and I like it technical, at the end of the day it was rough and I liked that. I like this more than Lommel, I like this better than sand. I feel good, we worked hard this winter and Stefan taught me to ride under the limit and that is why I don’t make mistakes and I still need to work on some points. Tommy and Jeffrey are just too fast, I am not scared to say that.
Grand Prix of Belgium – Results – Full GP of Belgium Results & updated points here>>>
MX2 Moto one:
1. Herlings
2. Searle
3. Van Horebeek
4. Roelants
5. Nicholls
6. Tixier
7. Tonus
8. Butron
9. Pocock
10. Lupino
11. Febvre
12. Larsen
13. Guillod
14. Seewer
15. Coldenhoff
MX2 Moto two:
1. Searle
2. Van Horebeek
3. Herlings
4. Tonus
5. Roelants
6. Tixier
7. Ferrandis
8. Nicholls
9. Lupino
10. Butron
11. Coldencoff
12. Pocock
13, Larsen
14, Petrov
15. Lieber.
MX2 Championship points: 1. Herlings 364, 2. Searle 340, 3. Van Horebeek 308, 4. Roelants 238, 5. Tixier 217, 6. Nicholls 204, 7. Anstie 191, 8. Lupino 152, 12. Petrov 118, 13. Charlier 106, 14. Coldenhoff 103, 15. Larsen 92
MX1 Moto one:
1. Cairoli
2. Paulin
3. Desalle
4. Strijbos
5. Pourcel
6. Boog
7. Philippaerts
8. S. Pourcel
9. Leok
10. De Dycker
11. Karro
12. Boissiere
13. Barragan
14. Soubeyras
15. Goncalves
MX1 Moto two:
1. Cairoli
2. Pourcel
3. Desalle
4. Strijbos
5. Bobryshev
6. De Dycker
7. Leok
8. Guarneri
9. Paulin
10. Boog
11. Pourcel
12. Simpson
13. Philippaerts
14. Goncalves
15. Bossiere
MX1 Championship points: 1. Cairoli 345, 2. Desalle 298, 3. Pourcel 292, 4. Paulin 289, 5. De Dycker 237, 6. Philippaerts 212, 7. Boog 211, 8. Strijbos 207, 9. Goncalves 169, 10. Leok 168, 11. Bobryshev, 12. Simpson, 13. Barragon, 14. Karro, 15. Pourcel
