Philippaerts unlucky to take 8th at home GP

The MX2-GP category at the Grand Prix of Lombardia, the second round of fifteen in the FIM Motocross World Championship, saw Bike it Cosworth Yamaha's Zach Osborne defy a ruthless set of ruts, waves and loose bumps at the Mantova circuit in Italy to finish 4th overall. 19,000 spectators (weekend total) travelled to the second race meeting in the space of a week after the season-opener at Sevlievo, Bulgaria seven days ago. Sadly the sunshine and warm temperatures from Saturday could not extend to race day as wind, clouds and cooler climes altered, but did not lessen, the demands on the MX2-GP athletes. Osborne, on the new 2010 agile and manoeuvrable YZ250F, fought in the higher echelons of top ten during both motos and profited from a mistake by Jeffrey Herlings to register a decent 5th place. He fought with Shaun Simpson and British Championship rival Jake Nicholls to again mark 16 points in the second race. It was only the American's second GP of points in both sprints since he broke his wrist almost one year ago.

Yamaha Gariboldi Monster Energy's Harri Kullas and Christophe Charlier were the next highest-ranked Yamaha representatives in the first ever home GP for the team. The teenagers were 10th and 12th overall. Kullas was consistent and competitive to 9th in Moto1 but suffered some stomach cramps in Moto2 to 13th. Charlier was impressive in Qualification but his overall score was blighted barely seconds into the first race when he was hit from behind out of timing section and damaged his front brake as a result. Needing to visit the pits he was out of contention for points by the time the problem could be repaired. The European Champion's speed was evident in Moto2 as he arrived to 7th place by the chequered flag. Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci MX Team's Alessandro Lupino was 12th and 17th for 14th. Osborne is 6th in the world championship standings and only 3 points from the top five. Kullas is 10th and Charlier 11th. Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team's Gautier Paulin has seen some excellent progress on his recovery from a broken left fibula two weeks ago. After continual treatment the 20 year old was able to walk without crutches and was contemplating a return in Italy until wisely deciding to allow another two weeks for the bone to heal before looking at the Grand Prix of the Netherlands as a possible date for his Yamaha world championship debut. The sand of Valkenswaard is next up for Yamaha's MX2-GP world championship collective in two weeks time. Zach Osborne, Bike it Cosworth Yamaha, 4th: "I got two really good starts today but spun slightly coming out of the first turn in both motos. I worked as hard as I could in the first moto and got up to fifth after Herlings made a mistake on the last two laps. I felt really good after that race and with plenty of energy. We had a rougher track in the second moto and maybe I was not as strong as I should have been but to secure two fifth positions and go fourth overall is positive this early in the season. We are not far from the top five in the championship and have to keep building up. Mantova was a more physical track than Sevlievo. In Bulgaria you have to set the layout in your mind, mentally it is technical because you have to be flowing the whole time. Mantova is good; I hated it in practice but once it got rougher I enjoyed it more and more." Harri Kullas, Yamaha Gariboldi Monster Energy, 10th: "The first race was good; I had a decent start and was in 7th. I just tried to keep the same speed and was pretty happy to take 9th. I had contact with another rider in the next start and tensed up at the beginning. I managed to recover but I can be better than that. I felt a bit of a stomach ache and this meant I could not push so much. So, one good moto and one not so good, but I will train now and hope for better in Valkenswaard." Christophe Charlier, Yamaha Gariboldi Monster Energy, 12th: "A rider hit me from behind through the waves and I had to finish the first lap with a broken brake that was stuck. I came into the pits to get it fixed but in the end I was so far behind when I went back out that it was not worth continuing. My start was better in the second moto but I lost too much time stuck behind Simpson. The track was mainly one line and difficult. Once I had overtaken, my lap-times were near those of the leaders. I think I can get near the top five. I just need a bit of luck at the start." Gautier Paulin, Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team: "It was hard to watch the race in Bulgaria because I had worked all winter for this championship but now I am only looking forward to getting back on the bike. I knew that if I wanted to fight for the title then I would have needed to race here but that was crazy because I am still struggling to walk normally. Looking at all the ruts and bumps I am glad I did not take the risk! I want to be near 100% before I can come back to the track so I can do something good. I hope that will be at Valkenswaard in two weeks."