Fantastic Philippaerts keeps series lead with one round to go

Yamaha Monster Motocross Team's David Philippaerts produced another stellar performance in a strong 2008 FIM MX1-GP season to-date to secure 4th position in the sand of Lierop for the Grand Prix of Benelux and extend his lead in the series from 5 to 14 points with just one round remaining. Team-mate Josh Coppins was extremely close to winning the second moto and ended up with 5th place.

Lierop, near the city of Eindhoven, represented the third time the riders encountered the physical and technical demands of sandy terrain. The surface became rougher and bumpier throughout practice and provided a stage on which the Benelux riders - groomed from an early age in the sand - could excel. Under occasional showers and through strong winds, watched by a crowd of 35,000 spectators the team worked diligently to enjoy a sturdy set of results and edge closer to the title.

Philippaerts surprised many after two reasonably decent starts to attack at the front and take part in a complicated pair of motos that saw many position changes and varying pace from the leaders. The team provided the 24 year old with a fettled YZ450FM on Saturday and the effort behind-the-scenes paid off. With main title rival Steve Ramon struggling, the Italian moved forwards and battled for first place in both sprints. He gained 3rd in Moto1 and obtained 5th in Moto2 to stretch his run as leader of the world championship to 11 Grand Prix (from 14) and importantly gain a bit more breathing space over Ramon and Ken De Dycker.

Josh Coppins had one of his better qualification sessions of the year to take 6th spot on Saturday. The Kiwi felt in good form and although he started quite slowly from the depths of the top ten in both races his speed in the final third of the motos was excellent. After a positive 4th place earlier in the day his rhythm was knocked in the second outing when he got a tear-off visor caught in his mouth. Once unhindered, he began setting a rapid pace that pulled him to second position with two laps to go. The 31 year old did not realise he was so high up the ranking because the field was so dispersed, and a small miscalculation proved costly when he ran wide and hit the fence causing a crash on the penultimate circulation. He remounted to take 6th and 5th place overall.


50 points are all that remain in the 2008 MX1-GP World Championship. Philippaerts holds a gap of 14 over Ramon and 25 over De Dycker. Coppins is 5th and needs more than 37 points to make the top three. Yamaha are tied on points at the top of the Manufacturer's standings.

The Grand Prix Citta di Faenza, at Faenza, will culminate a tense, exciting and very entertaining 2008 world championship for the team in just seven days time.

David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 4th:

"This was a big result today. I wanted to go out there and try to win the title, not the race. I finished third in the first moto and for an Italian at Lierop I did not think that was bad at all! In the second moto I looked for the victory but pushed a bit too hard because I felt tired at the finish. I had some close moments out there and I tried my best, aware that anything can happen. The team worked really hard all weekend and the bike was great for the races; I am really happy with this GP. We go to Faenza next and I think two top five positions will be good enough for the championship. I will go home and remain focussed this week. I just want to train and do my normal routine and see what next weekend brings."

Josh Coppins, Yamaha Monster Motocross Team, 5th:

"The same old story for me really, two crashes and something little and annoying like a tear-off in my mouth. In the first race I took it a bit easy at the start because I was mindful of my energy for the second moto. After crashing with Marc in the second I just put all my anger and frustration at this season in the rest of those laps and it brought me to the front. It was nice to race with the guys again after so many incidents at the starts of motos recently. I honestly did not know I was second. I did not see anything on the pit-board and I guess positions were changing quite fast. If I knew Ken was the leader then I would have backed off slightly in order to line him up. I can't seem to get a Grand Prix right, but I will give my best in Faenza to try and get something from this season."

Mino Raspanti, Racing Manager:

"Apart from the last two laps for Josh it was a really good weekend for us. A moto win would have been possible and it would have been positive for him because he has had bad luck recently. He was riding well after the first moments of the races and it would have been nice to see him on the podium.

I am really happy for David. He surprised many people with his speed and approach. He looked a bit tired in the last twenty minutes of the second moto and then decided to play it safe. 
The team worked really hard to get the bikes ready and I was surprised at how much progress we made in such a short time so a big thank you to everyone. There will be many people and many supporters for David in Faenza and for sure it will be a different Grand Prix compared to normal but we will try our best to treat it as another race and hope for the right result!"


Race 1 - 17 Laps 

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Marc De Reuver, Honda, NED, 40'3.592
2, Jonathan Barragan, KTM, ESP, 0'8.025
3, David Philippaerts, Yamaha, ITA, 0'11.507
4, Joshua Coppins, Yamaha, NZL, 0'20.570
5, Maximilian Nagl, KTM, GER, 0'22.773
6, Tanel Leok, Kawasaki, EST, 0'25.932
7, Steve Ramon, Suzuki, BEL, 0'50.755
8, Ken De Dycker, Suzuki, BEL, 1'15.921
9, Sébastien Pourcel, Kawasaki, FRA, 1'23.049
10, Marcus Schiffer, KTM, GER, 1'25.376
11, Clement Desalle, Suzuki, BEL, 1'33.239
12, Manuel Priem, Kawasaki, BEL, 1'35.665
13, Aigar Leok, Yamaha, EST, 1'45.231
14, Patrick Roos, KTM, NED, 2'0.638
15, Scott Columb, Suzuki, NZL, 2'36.250
16, William Saris, Yamaha, NED, -1 Laps
17, Cedric Melotte, Aprilia, BEL, -1 Laps
18, Luis Correira, Yamaha, POR, -1 Laps
19, Tom Church, Kawasaki, GBR, -1 Laps
20, Loic Leonce, Yamaha, FRA, -1 Laps

Race 2 - 17 Laps 

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Ken De Dycker, Suzuki, BEL, 40'14.189
2, Maximilian Nagl, KTM, GER, 0'4.653
3, Marc De Reuver, Honda, NED, 0'13.630
4, Clement Desalle, Suzuki, BEL, 0'14.733
5, David Philippaerts, Yamaha, ITA, 0'16.478
6, Joshua Coppins, Yamaha, NZL, 0'21.415
7, Marcus Schiffer, KTM, GER, 0'28.700
8, Steve Ramon, Suzuki, BEL, 0'36.755
9, Manuel Priem, Kawasaki, BEL, 0'42.159
10, Aigar Leok, Yamaha, EST, 1'24.811
11, William Saris, Yamaha, NED, 1'32.143
12, Sébastien Pourcel, Kawasaki, FRA, 1'39.869
13, Jonathan Barragan, KTM, ESP, 1'46.678
14, Cedric Melotte, Aprilia, BEL, 1'57.496
15, Carlos Campano, Yamaha, ESP, 1'59.821
16, Tom Church, Kawasaki, GBR, 2'6.014
17, Loic Leonce, Yamaha, FRA, -1 Laps
18, Luis Correira, Yamaha, POR, -1 Laps
19, Scott Columb, Suzuki, NZL, -1 Laps
20, Gregory Aranda, Kawasaki, FRA, -1 Laps


Rider Standings 07/09/2008

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Points
1, David Philippaerts, Yamaha, ITA, 477
2, Steve Ramon, Suzuki, BEL, 463
3, Ken De Dycker, Suzuki, BEL, 452
4, Jonathan Barragan, KTM, ESP, 419
5, Joshua Coppins, Yamaha, NZL, 415
6, Maximilian Nagl, KTM, GER, 394
7, Sébastien Pourcel, Kawasaki, FRA, 392
8, Tanel Leok, Kawasaki, EST, 337
9, Billy MacKenzie, Honda, GBR, 293
10, Marc De Reuver, Honda, NED, 277
11, Clement Desalle, Suzuki, BEL, 263
12, Manuel Priem, Kawasaki, BEL, 245
13, Aigar Leok, Yamaha, EST, 164
14, Julien Bill, Honda, CHE, 159
15, Kornel Nemeth, KTM, HUN, 159
16, Marcus Schiffer, KTM, GER, 135
17, Mike Brown, Honda, USA, 107
18, James Noble, KTM, GBR, 94
19, Tom Church, Kawasaki, GBR, 93
20, Steve Boniface, Honda, FRA, 75
21, Carlos Campano, Yamaha, ESP, 58



Manufacturer Standings 07/09/2008

Pos., Manufacturer, Points

1, Suzuki, 543
2, Yamaha, 543
3, KTM, 525
4, Kawasaki, 494
5, Honda, 443
6, TM, 33
7, Aprilia, 23
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RACE REPORT - 07/09/2008

Aubin back on the podium at Lierop

Yamaha Ricci Racing's Nico Aubin celebrated his second podium result of the 2008 MX2-GP World Championship and also moved up to third in the series standings courtesy of his third position in the damp sand of Lierop for the Grand Prix of Benelux and the fourteenth and penultimate round of the competition.

The Frenchman defied a small crash in the first of two motos across the bumpy and technical Dutch sand to take 4th and 3rd places and lift his second set of silverware in 2008. Thanks to his efforts ahead of rival Shaun Simpson, Aubin is third in the championship and 14 points in front of the Scot with just 50 to play for at the final race in Italy.

35,000 spectators flocked to the shower-hit and windy venue and saw Aubin enact one of his best performances of the season on a difficult terrain and register his first top three finish in the sand. The next highest placed YZ250F rider was Yamaha Van Beers' Evgeny Bobryshev, who set career-best results with 8th overall and a 7th position finish in Moto2.

Aubin's team-mate, Davide Guarneri, scored 17th (minus a rear brake in Moto1) and 11th for 13th overall, on a surface that is not one of the Italian's strongest. Despite his weakened knee, Guarneri - the Spanish Grand Prix winner - is 13th in the championship.

3C Racing's Manuel Monni was 13th in the final GP ranking while Yamaha Red Bull De Carli's Matteo Bonini continued his comeback to race fitness after injury to place 18th overall and score points in the second moto.

Utag Yamaha.com's Zach Osborne struggled on the sand in Moto1 and hit the terrain on three separate occasions, finally crossing the line outside of the points. He was doing better in Moto2 and gaining ground on the top five until a mechanical problem halted his race.

In other news Mike Vanderstraeten, winner of first MX Rookie trophy held prior to the GP of Belgium for amateur youngsters, was presented with his prize (a YZ250F) by series instigator Eric Geboers and Yamaha Monster Motocross Team owner Michele Rinaldi. "I am really happy to have won the trophy," the sixteen year old Belgian said. "My goal now is to keep on improving as a rider and maybe one day I can race in the world championship."

"I want to congratulate Mike for his victory and I am proud on behalf of Yamaha that he has won the first trophy," said Michele Rinaldi. "I hope he can repeat his win with us in the future and who knows? Maybe he could become one of our factory riders one day."

2007 World Champion Tony Cairoli will be present at his home Grand Prix - the fifteenth and final round of the '08 series - next weekend to hand over his number one plate. The Grand Prix Citta di Faenza will take place at the Faenza circuit a short distance from Bologna and around 40 km from the city of Ravenna.

Nicolas Aubin, Yamaha Ricci Racing, 3rd:

"Top three in the championship was my aim at the beginning of the season so I was watching Simpson and Goncalves carefully today. I had some low moments in the middle of the year but I have been building it back up and getting better step-by-step. I liked the track but my starts were not great and I made some small mistakes, apart from that moment my rhythm was strong and my lines were good. I am happy with the podium today and can take some more confidence to Faenza."

Davide Guarneri, Yamaha Ricci Racing, 13th:

"I am struggling a little for motivation at the moment. I would just like to finish the season and start preparing myself for 2009. This GP was like hell! So many bumps and jumps. I had a bad start in the first race and then my back brake faded in the middle of the moto so I had to lower my pace and could not push. In the second I made my rhythm, which was not so bad, and I made 11th. Nobody passed me and I was so tired by the end. We will see now how I can finish the year in Faenza. I have a lot of problems with my knee but it is the last race so we have to go for it!"

Matteo Bonini, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli, 18th:

"In the first moto I had a bad start and I did not want to go too crazy and waste energy because I knew it would be difficult for me to finish 40 minutes here. I found it difficult to find a rhythm but by the midpoint I was riding better, around four seconds faster, but it was too late to get any points. My start was great in the second moto. I knew I could not stay in the top five but my speed was good immediately. I thought it would be possible to stay in the top ten but then I crashed before the pit-lane and it took me a long time to restart the bike. I built up my speed again but had some more trouble and just wanted to finish. I am a bit sad because I think I could have taken a good position without the crash."

Zach Osborne, Utag Yamaha.com, 26th:

"In the first moto I just struggled with the rhythm of the track. It wasn't a good race for me and I fell three times. In the second moto I started OK and was around eighth before we had another small problem with the bike. Overall it was not a good day but I learned a lot from the weekend. The sand was a lot different to Lommel. It was heavier and required a different technique. The Grand Prix was a good experience."


Race 1 - 18 Laps 

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Tyla Rattray, KTM, RSA, 41'4.866
2, Tommy Searle, KTM, GBR, 0'0.614
3, Rui Goncalves, KTM, POR, 0'15.176
4, Nicolas Aubin, Yamaha, FRA, 1'6.469
5, Joel Roelants, KTM, BEL, 1'7.909
6, Shaun Simpson, KTM, GBR, 1'24.725
7, Xavier Boog, Suzuki, FRA, 1'45.299
8, Jeremy Van Horebeek, KTM, BEL, 1'45.508
9, Matiss Karro, Suzuki, LVA, 1'59.826
10, Gareth Swanepoel, Kawasaki, RSA, 2'7.013
11, Evgeny Bobryshev, Yamaha, RUS, 2'24.108
12, Gert Krestinov, KTM, EST, -1 Laps
13, Manuel Monni, Yamaha, ITA, -1 Laps
14, Matti Seistola, Honda, FIN, -1 Laps
15, Stephen Sword, Kawasaki, GBR, -1 Laps
16, Steven Frossard, Kawasaki, FRA, -1 Laps
17, Davide Guarneri, Yamaha, ITA, -1 Laps
18, Anthony Boissière, KTM, FRA, -1 Laps
19, Harri Kullas, KTM, FIN, -1 Laps
20, Jan Van Hastenburg, Honda, NED, -1 Laps

Race 2 - 18 Laps 

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Tyla Rattray, KTM, RSA, 41'13.223
2, Tommy Searle, KTM, GBR, 0'13.301
3, Nicolas Aubin, Yamaha, FRA, 0'53.892
4, Rui Goncalves, KTM, POR, 1'2.155
5, Gert Krestinov, KTM, EST, 1'8.807
6, Shaun Simpson, KTM, GBR, 1'38.206
7, Evgeny Bobryshev, Yamaha, RUS, 1'45.014
8, Matiss Karro, Suzuki, LVA, 1'47.620
9, Gareth Swanepoel, Kawasaki, RSA, 1'53.340
10, Jeremy Van Horebeek, KTM, BEL, 1'59.094
11, Davide Guarneri, Yamaha, ITA, 2'1.720
12, Matti Seistola, Honda, FIN, 2'3.148
13, Stephen Sword, Kawasaki, GBR, 2'7.777
14, Rob van Vijfeijken, Yamaha, NED, 2'38.207
15, Manuel Monni, Yamaha, ITA, -1 Laps
16, Matteo Bonini, Yamaha, ITA, -1 Laps
17, Rinus Van de Ven, KTM, NED, -1 Laps
18, Carl Nunn, Suzuki, GBR, -1 Laps
19, Jan Van Hastenburg, Honda, NED, -1 Laps
20, Harri Kullas, KTM, FIN, -1 Laps


Rider Standings 07/09/2008

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Points
1, Tyla Rattray, KTM, RSA, 596
2, Tommy Searle, KTM, GBR, 563
3, Nicolas Aubin, Yamaha, FRA, 381
4, Shaun Simpson, KTM, GBR, 367
5, Rui Goncalves, KTM, POR, 365
6, Antonio Cairoli, Yamaha, ITA, 357
7, Steven Frossard, Kawasaki, FRA, 289
8, Xavier Boog, Suzuki, FRA, 283
9, Jeremy Van Horebeek, KTM, BEL, 277
10, Manuel Monni, Yamaha, ITA, 259
11, Stephen Sword, Kawasaki, GBR, 257
12, Anthony Boissière, KTM, FRA, 243
13, Davide Guarneri, Yamaha, ITA, 181
14, Joel Roelants, KTM, BEL, 181
15, Marvin Musquin, Honda, FRA, 180
16, Jeremy Tarroux, KTM, FRA, 161
17, Gert Krestinov, KTM, EST, 117
18, Carl Nunn, Suzuki, GBR, 102
19, Gregory Aranda, Kawasaki, FRA, 101
20, Gautier Paulin, Kawasaki, FRA, 95
22, Evgeny Bobryshev, Yamaha, RUS, 66
24, Alessandro Lupino, Yamaha, ITA, 55
27, Matteo Bonini, Yamaha, ITA, 46
45, Deny Philippaerts, Yamaha, ITA, 8
48, Martin Barr, Yamaha, GBR, 6



Manufacturer Standings 07/09/2008

Pos., Manufacturer, Points

1, KTM, 666
2, Yamaha, 597
3, Kawasaki, 430
4, Suzuki, 347
5, Honda, 250
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RACE REPORT - 07/09/2008

Prumm ends 2008 with 9th

Yamaha Van Beers racer Katherine Prumm has taken 9th position in the first ever FIM Women's World Championship after the fifth and final round took place at a showery and windy Lierop circuit in the Netherland for the Grand Prix of Benelux.

Prumm, absent through injury, took podiums in two rounds of the series before breaking her collarbone in a practice accident.

Livia Lancelot was crowned as champion after winning the Grand Prix ahead of Steffy Laier and American Ashley Fiolek in third place.

The second edition of the series will take place in 2009 and will be extended from five to eight rounds.


Race 1 - 10 Laps 

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Stephanie Laier, KTM, GER, 27'16.891
2, Livia Lancelot, Kawasaki, FRA, 0'23.729
3, Elin Mann, KTM, SWE, 0'31.809
4, Ashley Fiolek, Honda, USA, 0'54.545
5, Marielle De Mol, Yamaha, NED, 1'5.134
6, Brenda Wagemans, KTM, BEL, 1'6.603
7, Larissa Papenmeier, Suzuki, GER, 1'7.838
8, Marianne Veenstra, Suzuki, NED, 1'15.402
9, Elien De Winter, KTM, BEL, 1'17.817
10, Nicky Van Wordragen, KTM, NED, 1'40.513
11, Aubriana Dunn, Honda, USA, 2'5.405
12, Maria Franke, Kawasaki, GER, -1 Laps
13, Shirley Verkade, KTM, NED, -1 Laps
14, Sofia Sjöberg, Honda, SWE, -1 Laps
15, Sara Petterson, KTM, SWE, -1 Laps

Race 2 - 10 Laps 

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Total Time

1, Livia Lancelot, Kawasaki, FRA, 27'5.013
2, Larissa Papenmeier, Suzuki, GER, 0'17.770
3, Ashley Fiolek, Honda, USA, 0'24.030
4, Marielle De Mol, Yamaha, NED, 0'30.985
5, Nicky Van Wordragen, KTM, NED, 0'37.546
6, Stephanie Laier, KTM, GER, 0'47.365
7, Marianne Veenstra, Suzuki, NED, 0'51.091
8, Brenda Wagemans, KTM, BEL, 0'52.125
9, Maria Franke, Kawasaki, GER, 0'58.276
10, Elien De Winter, KTM, BEL, 1'52.318
11, Sofia Sjöberg, Honda, SWE, 1'52.795
12, Britt Van der Wekken, Honda, NED, 1'55.413
13, Elin Mann, KTM, SWE, 2'7.199
14, Sara Petterson, KTM, SWE, 2'9.341
15, Sandra Adriansson, Suzuki, SWE, 2'23.877


Rider Standings 07/09/2008

Pos., Rider, Manu., Nat., Points
1, Livia Lancelot, Kawasaki, FRA, 212
2, Stephanie Laier, KTM, GER, 185
3, Maria Franke, Kawasaki, GER, 166
4, Larissa Papenmeier, Suzuki, GER, 160
5, Elin Mann, KTM, SWE, 144
6, Ashley Fiolek, Honda, USA, 140
7, Marianne Veenstra, Suzuki, NED, 135
8, Elien De Winter, KTM, BEL, 133
9, Katherine Prumm, Yamaha, NZL, 122
10, Marielle De Mol, Yamaha, NED, 101
11, Nicky Van Wordragen, KTM, NED, 90
12, Brenda Wagemans, KTM, BEL, 83
13, Anne Borchers, Suzuki, GER, 67
14, Sandra Adriansson, Suzuki, SWE, 64
15, Sofia Sjöberg, Honda, SWE, 51



Manufacturer Standings 07/09/2008

Pos., Manufacturer, Points

1, Kawasaki, 219
2, KTM, 217
3, Yamaha, 182
4, Suzuki, 177
5, Honda, 162
6, TM, 28