FIM World Motocross: Tommy Searle fires a warning shot

The MX2 class in Bulgaria on Sunday was a showcase for great racing as Tommy Searle led the opener from the start, ahead of reigning champion Antonio Cairoli.

Cairoli took three laps to find a way past, but Tommy wasn’t going to give in and let him have it on a plate, tagging on to Tony’s tail and keeping him honest. When the Sicilian made a mistake, Searle was there to grab the lead, but Cairoli fought back, taking the lead when Tommy made an error and holding it to the flag, ahead of Searle, Rattray, Sword and Paulin.

Race two was a different matter – Tony holeshot only to crash and take Rattray, Paulin and Guarneri with him, and Sword dropped out early after a mistake broke his handlebar mounts. Up front, Shaun Simpson made the break but Tommy ran him down – the pair battled hard only for Tommy to drop it, but the Red Bull KTM man was soon back up on Simpson’s back wheel. It took until the very last moment of the race but Searle slipped by for the win at the death, robbing Shaun of the win at the very last minute. Simpson had done enough to take his first GP podium, however, finishing third behind Searle and Rattray.

In MX1, David Philippaerts extended his championship lead with an excellent ride for the overall. Billy Mackenzie led the opener, but chronic arm pump destroyed the Scot’s race, dropping him to fifteenth at the finish – Philippaerts made short work of him early on and just ran off and hid for the rest of the race. Jonathan Barragan battled with Marc De Reuver for second, as Josh Coppins held off Steve Ramon and put on a late charge to try and catch De Reuver for third. Barragan stepped it up a notch for moto two, passing Philippaerts for the lead and holding first all the way up until the last two laps – the Spaniard then crashed and dropped to fourth, whilst Philippearts would also make a mistake, handing the win to Sebastian Pourcel but remounting second ahead of Ramon to clinch his second overall.

FIM World Motocross Championship

MX1 round 4 – Sevlievo, Bulgaria

Race one results:

1 David Philippaerts Yamaha ITA
2 Jonathan Barragan KTM ESP
3 Marc De Reuver Honda NED
4 Joshua Coppins Yamaha NZL
5 Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL
6 Julien Bill Honda CHE
7 Tanel Leok Kawasaki EST
8 Sébastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA
9 Clement Desalle Suzuki BEL
10 Ken De Dycker Suzuki BEL

Race two results:

1 Sébastien Pourcel Kawasaki FRA
2 David Philippaerts Yamaha ITA
3 Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL
4 Jonathan Barragan KTM ESP
5 Marc De Reuver Honda NED
6 Billy MacKenzie Honda GBR
7 Joshua Coppins Yamaha NZL
8 Julien Bill Honda CHE
9 Maximilian Nagl KTM GER
10 Mike Brown Honda USA

MX1 standings

1 David Philippaerts Yamaha ITA 149
2 Steve Ramon Suzuki BEL 132
3 Joshua Coppins Yamaha NZL 115
4 Billy MacKenzie Honda GBR 100
5 Ken De Dycker Suzuki BEL 98
6 Jonathan Barragan KTM ESP 94

 

MX2 round 4 – Sevlievo, Bulgaria

Race one:

1 Antonio Cairoli Yamaha ITA
2 Tommy Searle KTM GBR
3 Tyla Rattray KTM RSA
4 Stephen Sword Kawasaki GBR
5 Gautier Paulin Kawasaki FRA
6 Marvin Musquin Honda FRA
7 Xavier Boog Suzuki FRA
8 Anthony Boissiere KTM FRA
9 Jeremy Van Horebeek KTM BEL
10 Rui Goncalves KTM POR

Race two:

1 Tommy Searle KTM GBR
2 Shaun Simpson KTM GBR
3 Nicolas Aubin Yamaha FRA
4 Xavier Boog Suzuki
5 Tyla Rattray KTM RSA
6 Anthony Boissiere KTM FRA
7 Rui Goncalves KTM POR
8 Jeremy Van Horebeek KTM BEL
9 Gregory Aranda Kawasaki FRA
10 Davide Guarneri Yamaha ITA

MX2 stndings

1 Tyla Rattray KTM RSA 157
2 Antonio Cairoli Yamaha ITA 153
3 Tommy Searle KTM GBR 149
4 Rui Goncalves KTM POR 106
5 Nicolas Aubin Yamaha FRA 106
6 Stephen Sword Kawasaki GBR 98