TMW - 9-22-2007 at 10:56 AM
From Cycle News:
MOTOCROSS - Practice Concludes At MX Of Nations
By Kit Palmer
Photo By Shan Moore (Photo © Cycle News, Inc. 2007)
Fast Times At Budds Creek 9/22/2007
Open practice at the 61st Red Bull Motocross of Nations has just concluded and Team USA riders topped all of the charts.
(Photo: Ricky Carmichael fastest so far at Budds Creek.)
Ricky Carmichael posted the quickest lap overall during his 40-minute MX1 (450cc)-class session. Carmichael’s time was a full five seconds quicker
than his nearest rival’s time (in class), that of Team Australia’s Chad Reed. Carmichael clocked at 2:05.817 and Reed a 2:10.850.
Third-fastest in class was France’s Sebastien Pourcel (2:10.924), followed by South Africa’s Grant Langston (2:11.375) and Italy’s David Philippaerts
(2:12.598). MX1 World Champion Steve Ramon posted the eighth-quickest time with a 2:13.442.
In the MX2 (250cc four-stroke) division, Team USA’s Ryan Villopoto recorded the quickest time with a 2:06.554, which was over a second quicker than
New Zealand’s Ben Townley. Next quickest, nearly three seconds behind Townley was MX1 World Champion Antonio Cairoli, though the Italian was riding a
borrowed bike. (He’ll have his race bike later in the day.)
Townely did suffer a hard get-off during the MX2 practice session, tumbling down one of the track’s large downhills. He walked back to the pits but
came back out on the track a little later.
France’s Nicolas Aubin and Australia’s Andrew McFarlane were fourth and fifth quickest, respectively.
(Photo: Ryan Villopoto was quickest in the MX2-class practice.)
In the Open division, it was again an American rider topping the leaderboard with Tim Ferry heading the list. Ferry’s best time during his 40-minute
session was a 2:08.781, which was a little over a second quicker than that of Belgian Ken de Dycker’s time. Australia Michael Byrne was third
quickest, followed by Japan’s Yochitaka Atsuta and Swiss rider Julien Bill.
Australia'a Daryl Hurley suffered a hard crash early in the Open-class practice session and did not get back on the bike. The status on his condition
is not yet known.
All of the riders will return to the track later this afternoon to compete in the qualifying heat races, which will ultimately narrow the 33-team
field down to 20 and determine starting picks for tomorrow’s race. Keep in mind that practice lap times do not figure into any kind of scoring.
(Photo: Tim Ferry looks strong and fast in the Open class.)
First Moto
TMW - 9-23-2007 at 04:01 PM
From Cycle News:
MOTOCROSS - Team USA On Top After Moto One At MXoN
By Shan Moore
Photo By Shan Moore (Photo © Cycle News, Inc. 2007)
RV wins while RC comes from the rear to take third. 9/23/2007
Despite tangling with a lapper and going down, Team USA’s Ryan Villopoto (pictured) claimed an easy win in moto one, the MX1/MX2 moto, at today’s MXoN
at Budds Creek, Maryland.
The big story of the race, however, was Ricky Carmichael’s charge from last place after the start to third place at the finish, almost catching
Australia’s Chad Reed for second.
At the start, Villopoto quickly worked his way into the lead, ahead of Germany’s Max Nagl, Great Britain’s Tommy Searle, Italy’s David Philippaerts
and Reed. Meanwhile, Carmichael exited the first turn in dead last after getting squeezed out at the start.
Villopoto immediately pulled to a big lead over the pack but on about the fifth lap he got tangled up with a lapper and went down. The Monster Energy
Kawasaki rider was far enough out front, however, that he was able to remount and continue without surrendering the lead.
Carmichael set about working his way through the pack and the crowd cheered wildly when RC passed current MX1 World Champion Steve Ramon to move into
fifth at the halfway mark.
Carmichael’s charge would come up a little short as the Makita Suzuki rider finished less than a second behind Reed after 30 minutes plus two laps.
After one race, the United States leads the race for the Chamberlain Trophy ahead of France, Spain and Great Britain.
Results:
1. Ryan Villopoto USA (Kaw)
2. Chad Reed AUS (Yam)
3. Ricky Carmichael USA (Suz)
4. Sebastien Pourcel FRA (Kaw)
5. Jonathan Barragan ESP (KTM)
6. David Philippaerts ITA (KTM)
7. Tanel Leok EST (Kaw)
8. Steve Ramon BEL (Suz)
9. Tommy Searle GBR (KTM)
10. Nicolas Aubin FRA (Yam).
Second Moto
TMW - 9-23-2007 at 04:02 PM
MOTOCROSS - Team USA Still Top After Two Motos At MXoN
By Shan Moore
Photo By Shan Moore (Photo © Cycle News, Inc. 2007)
Moto two almost a remake of moto one. 9/23/2007
The second MXoN moto at Budds Creek, Maryland, was almost a carbon copy of the first as Team USA’s Ryan Villopoto grabbed the early lead and pulled
away to an easy win, while Team USA Open-class competitor Tim Ferry (pictured) rounded the first turn in last place.
Villopoto extended his lead to more than a minute over Belgium’s Ken de Dycker, while Ferry meticulously worked his way through traffic.
Italy’s MX2 World Champion Antonio Cairoli also had trouble and fell on the opening lap while running in second behind Villopoto. Cairoli eventually
finished a lap down from Villopoto.
At the finish, Villopoto took the win ahead of de Dycker, with Great Britain’s Tommy Searle in third and Ferry in fourth.
Results:
1. Ryan Villopoto USA (Kaw)
2. Ken de Dycker BEL (Hon)
3. Tommy Searle GBR (KTM)
4. Tim Ferry USA (Kaw)
5. Pierre Renet FRA (Hon)
6. Nicolas Aubin FRA (Yam)
7. Carlos Campano ESP (Yam)
8. Yochita Atsuta JPN (Hon)
9. Martin Barr IRL (Yam)
10. Jeremy Van Horebeek BEL (KTM)
Third and Final Moto
TMW - 9-23-2007 at 04:03 PM
MOTOCROSS - Team USA Sweeps MXoN
By Shan Moore
Photo By Shan Moore (Photo © Cycle News, Inc. 2007)
RC and Tim Ferry go 1-2 in final moto. 9/23/2007
Ricky Carmichael and Tim Ferry finished first and second in the final MXoN moto for MX1/Open bikes giving Team USA a sweep of all three classes and
easily winning the Chamberlain Trophy for being the top-placing team.
Carmichael grabbed the holeshot at the start of the final race with Ferry in third behind current MX1 World Champ Steve Ramon.
Ferry pushed Ramon until the halfway mark where he made the pass and went on to finish second behind Carmichael.
On the final lap, current U.S. National Motocross Champion Grant Langston also passed Ramon, giving him third.
Team USA claimed the overall win with a total of eight points, while Team France finished second with 34 and Team Belgium third with 35.
As far as individual awards go, Team USA swept the event with Carmichael winning the MX1 overall award, Ferry the Open award and Villopoto the MX2.
Final Moto Results:
1. Ricky Carmichael USA (Suz)
2. Tim Ferry USA (Kaw)
3. Grant Langston RSA (Yam)
4. Steve Ramon BEL (Suz)
5. Tanel Leok EST (Kaw)
6. David Philippaerts ITA (KTM)
7. Yochita Atsuta JPN (Hon)
8. Billy MacKenzie GBR (Kaw)
9. Sebastien Pourcel FRA (Kaw)
10. Julien Bill SUI (Hon)