HONDA RACING INFORMATION 2014 FIM MXGP/MX2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 01, LOSAIL, QATAR SATURDAY MARCH 1, 2014 Weather: Night, warm Temperature: 16 degrees C Attendance: 7000 FIRST HONDA PODIUM FOR NAGL Team HRC commenced the 2014 FIM Motocross World Championship in great style with Max Nagl taking a moto victory and second place overall in the Grand Prix of Qatar at a floodlight Losail. The first event of eighteen in this year’s contest was won by Gautier Paulin (Kawasaki) in the fresh MXGP category (rebranded after ten years of MX1) while Nagl took the new HRC-fettled CRF450RW to results of first and fourth in front of 7000 spectators (weekend figure). It was Nagl’s first FIM world championship podium appearance since 2011, his first for Honda and the first win and rostrum celebration for the team since that same 2011 campaign. For the second time in a row the Losail circuit, located a short distance from the city of Doha and famed as the long established site of the MotoGP season opener, welcomed MXGP, MX2 and Women’s classes. A vastly improved layout in terms of the lighting provisions added to the evening spectacle. The track itself remained largely unchanged and offered a bumpy, hard-pack test that was also fast with plenty of jumps. What the Grand Prix lacked in attendance it made up for in drama with nerves and mistakes forming the usual part of a first major racing event of any calendar. At the heart of the MXGP action was Nagl. Max was in good shape and keen for a positive race to banish memories of his unhappy 2013 meeting when a stomach virus effectively scuppered his fitness and speed for the initial phases of what was his first season in ‘red’. A superb start in the first moto (now shortened to 30 minutes and 2 laps compared to 35 minutes of past years) let Nagl build a considerable lead at the front of the pack. The German coped admirably with setting the pace, even under late pressure from World Champion Tony Cairoli (KTM). He took the chequered flag by just under two seconds from Cairoli with Gautier Paulin (Kawasaki) third. In the second outing Nagl wasn’t able to gap the field as rampaging Frenchman Paulin and Steven Frossard (Kawasaki) made an early break. Nagl opted for caution and consistency and his fourth position, behind Cairoli, was good enough for the Grand Prix runner-up garland. Ninth overall was team-mate Evgeny Bobryshev. Bobby came to Doha nursing a twisted ankle and was hindered in his capabilities by the many rough right hand turns and some close action that saw his leg actually hit several times in the second race. He claimed an eighth and then bore the pain to finish the evening in ninth at the second time of asking. The Russian now faces a race against time to improve his fitness. In MX2 the Gariboldi team saw two new recruits – former European Champion Tim Gajser and Japanese Grand Prix rookie Kei Yamamoto – take their CRF250R to ninth and twenty-second overall respectively. World Champion Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) won the Grand Prix. After this first salvo in the FIM schedule HRC’s riders retain the same positions in the fledgling championship standings for each category. The teams head swiftly over to Thailand this week for round two where the Si Racha circuit outside of Bangkok will entertain the second ever GP visit to the country next Sunday. HONDA RIDER COMMENTS: Max Nagl: Race Result: 1st/4th Championship position: 2nd “It [the last moto win] was a long time ago, for myself, for Honda and for everyone and for that I’m very happy about the first race. I was actually a little nervous before the second Heat because I did not want to make it worse but I managed to have a good start again. I was happy all weekend with my riding and it went perfectly. Every session we made some small changes to the set-up with little improvements and that is the best way you can work. At this level everybody at the front is fast, we are all at the same speed so to make the pass you need the others to make a mistake or to find a spot where you have more momentum. It is difficult, therefore the start is so important. In the second moto my jump was good but I perhaps did not have the speed on the straight to have the holeshot. I was happy with the fourth position in that race because it is positive to start the season with good points.” Evgeny Bobryshev: Race Result: 8th/9th Championship position: 9th Positives from tonight? My starts maybe! I have the speed and everything but I could not handle the track and the slippy ground. There were many right handers and I couldnt use my injured leg properly. I have a bad sensation, like something is cutting, a sharp pain. I was racing with the injury but also fighting to match the pace of the guys. I managed to finish eighth in the first and that was the best I could do. In the next one I twisted it twice again. I had a big battle at the start of the race and two of the guys hit me in the leg with the block-passing. I finished the race with my teeth gritted. The season is long but at the moment it is very tough. It has already been two weeks since I twisted it, so I think it will take more time. Kei Yamamoto: MX2 Race Result: 22nd/20th Championship position: 22nd “I feel very tired but it was such a good experience. The track was difficult but also a lot of fun. There were many fast guys in MX2 and I know I need more and more training to improve. Thailand will be hot next week and I know other riders will get tired although I think this will be in my advantage.” RESULTS MXGP RACE 1 (18 laps = 28.710Km) POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / TIME 1 / NAGL, Maximilian / GER / Team HRC / Honda / 34:57.925 2 / CAIROLI, Antonio / ITA / Red Bull KTM Factory Racing / KTM / 34:59.867 3 / PAULIN, Gautier / FRA / Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki / 35:05.752 4 / FROSSARD, Steven / FRA / Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki / 35:13.568 5 / VAN HOREBEEK, Jeremy / BEL / Yamaha Factory Racing / Yamaha / 35:24.537 6 / SEARLE, Tommy / GBR / Team CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy MXGP / Kawasaki / 35:29.121 7 / STRIJBOS, Kevin / BEL / Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP / Suzuki / 35:31.510 8 / BOBRYSHEV, Evgeny / RUS / Team HRC / Honda / 35:32.311 9 / DESALLE, Clement / BEL / Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP / Suzuki / 35:32.522 10 / ROELANTS, Joel / BEL / J-Race Racing Team / Honda / 35:48.002 11 / SIMPSON, Shaun / GBR / HMPlant KTM UK / KTM / 35:49.067 12 / GUARNERI, Davide / ITA / TM Ricci Racing / TM / 35:49.788 13 / PHILIPPAERTS, David / ITA / DP19 Racing Yamaha / Yamaha / 36:05.473 14 / WATERS, Todd / AUS / Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing / Husqvarna / 36:07.451 15 / LEOK, Tanel / EST / TM Ricci Racing / TM / 36:26.561 16 / NICHOLLS, Jake / GBR / Wilvo Forkrent KTM / KTM / 36:28.722 17 / GONCALVES, Rui / POR / Bike It Yamaha Cosworth / Yamaha / 37:03.507 18 / GETTEMAN, Jens / BEL / 24MX Honda Racing / Honda / 35:26.501 19 / GERCAR, Klemen / SLO / Honda Jtech / Honda / 35:42.108 20 / SABETIFAR, Amirezza / IRI / / Yamaha / 36:00.621 Fastest Lap: CAIROLI, Antonio; 1:49.975 in lap 16 with 52.212 Km/h MXGP RACE 2 (18 laps = 28.710Km) POS / CLASS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / TIME 1 / PAULIN, Gautier / FRA / Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki / 35:04.471 2 / FROSSARD, Steven / FRA / Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki / 35:07.244 3 / CAIROLI, Antonio / ITA / Red Bull KTM Factory Racing / KTM / 35:14.412 4 / NAGL, Maximilian / GER / Team HRC / Honda / 35:17.595 5 / VAN HOREBEEK, Jeremy / BEL / Yamaha Factory Racing / Yamaha / 35:24.564 6 / DESALLE, Clement / BEL / Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP / Suzuki / 35:28.403 7 / SEARLE, Tommy / GBR / Team CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy MXGP / Kawasaki / 35:30.122 8 / STRIJBOS, Kevin / BEL / Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP / Suzuki / 35:42.857 9 / BOBRYSHEV, Evgeny / RUS / Team HRC / Honda / 36:06.684 10 / ROELANTS, Joel / BEL / J-Race Racing Team / Honda / 36:09.788 11 / WATERS, Todd / AUS / Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing / Husqvarna / 36:21.738 12 / PHILIPPAERTS, David / ITA / DP19 Racing Yamaha / Yamaha / 36:23.010 13 / BOOG, Xavier / FRA / 24MX Honda Racing / Honda / 36:24.066 14 / LEOK, Tanel / EST / TM Ricci Racing / TM / 36:28.713 15 / KARRO, Matiss / LAT / Wilvo Forkrent KTM / KTM / 36:31.204 16 / NICHOLLS, Jake / GBR / Wilvo Forkrent KTM / KTM / 36:44.142 17 / GONCALVES, Rui / POR / Bike It Yamaha Cosworth / Yamaha / 36:48.968 18 / GETTEMAN, Jens / BEL / 24MX Honda Racing / Honda / 35:26.856 19 / GERCAR, Klemen / SLO / Honda Jtech / Honda / 36:18.649 20 / SABETIFAR, Amirezza / IRI / / Yamaha / 35:59.618 Fastest Lap: PAULIN, Gautier; 1:49.833 in lap 1 with 52.279 Km/h WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: Pos Rider Total 1 PAULIN, Gautier 45, 2 NAGL, Maximilian 43, 3 CAIROLI, Antonio 42, 4 FROSSARD, Steven 40, 5 VAN HOREBEEK, Jeremy 32, 6 SEARLE, Tommy 29, 7 DESALLE, Clement 27, 8 STRIJBOS, Kevin 27, 9 BOBRYSHEV, Evgeny 25, 10 ROELANTS, Joel 22, 11 WATERS, Todd 17, 12 PHILIPPAERTS, David 17, 13 LEOK, Tanel 13, 14 SIMPSON, Shaun 10, 15 NICHOLLS, Jake 10, 16 GUARNERI, Davide 9, 17 BOOG, Xavier 8, 18 GONCALVES, Rui 8, 19 KARRO, Matiss 6, 20 GETTEMAN, Jens 6. MX2 RACE 1 (17 laps = 27.115 Km) POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / TIME 1 / FERRANDIS, Dylan / FRA / Team CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy MX2 / Kawasaki / 33:53.328 2 / HERLINGS, Jeffrey / NED / Red Bull KTM Factory Racing / KTM / 33:53.657 3 / COLDENHOFF, Glenn / NED / Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe / Suzuki / 33:55.537 4 / BUTRON, Jose / ESP / KTM Silver Action / KTM / 34:06.897 5 / FEBVRE, Romain / FRA / Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing / Husqvarna / 34:07.210 6 / TONKOV, Aleksandr / RUS / Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing / Husqvarna / 34:14.419 7 / TIXIER, Jordi / FRA / Red Bull KTM Factory Racing / KTM / 34:20.233 8 / GAJSER, Tim / SLO / Honda Gariboldi / Honda / 34:23.521 9 / GUILLOD, Valentin / SUI / Standing Construct KTM / KTM / 34:25.557 10 / TONUS, Arnaud / SUI / Team CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy MX2 / Kawasaki / 34:30.155 11 / LUPINO, Alessandro / ITA / Team CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy MX2 / Kawasaki / 34:33.017 12 / CHARLIER, Christophe / FRA / Yamaha Factory Racing / Yamaha / 34:34.268 13 / POCOCK, Mel / GBR / HMPlant KTM UK / KTM / 34:46.701 14 / SEEWER, Jeremy / SUI / Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe / Suzuki / 34:47.130 15 / DESPREY, Maxime / FRA / Honda Jtech / Honda / 34:56.128 16 / PETROV, Petar / BUL / Kemea Yamaha Racing Team / Yamaha / 35:10.358 17 / JUSTS, Roberts / LAT / Latvia - Husqvarna Racing / Husqvarna / 35:16.702 18 / LIEBER, Julien / BEL / Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe / Suzuki / 35:17.953 19 / KLINGSHEIM, Magne / NOR / Bike It Yamaha Cosworth / Yamaha / 35:22.310 20 / LUNDGREN, Anton / SWE / Bike It Yamaha Cosworth / Yamaha / 35:36.042 Fastest Lap: HERLINGS, Jeffrey; 1:51.285 in lap 15 with 51.597 Km/h MX2 RACE 2 (17 laps = 27.115 Km) POS / RIDER / NAT. / TEAM / MOTORCYCLE / TIME 1 / HERLINGS, Jeffrey / NED / Red Bull KTM Factory Racing / KTM / 33:49.169 2 / TONUS, Arnaud / SUI / Team CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy MX2 / Kawasaki / 33:50.373 3 / COVINGTON, Thomas / USA / Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team / Kawasaki / 33:56.815 4 / FEBVRE, Romain / FRA / Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing / Husqvarna / 33:58.852 5 / TONKOV, Aleksandr / RUS / Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing / Husqvarna / 33:59.606 6 / FERRANDIS, Dylan / FRA / Team CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy MX2 / Kawasaki / 34:01.440 7 / TIXIER, Jordi / FRA / Red Bull KTM Factory Racing / KTM / 34:01.622 8 / BUTRON, Jose / ESP / KTM Silver Action / KTM / 34:02.909 9 / CHARLIER, Christophe / FRA / Yamaha Factory Racing / Yamaha / 34:03.908 10 / GAJSER, Tim / SLO / Honda Gariboldi / Honda / 34:04.695 11 / PETROV, Petar / BUL / Kemea Yamaha Racing Team / Yamaha / 34:05.295 12 / COLDENHOFF, Glenn / NED / Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe / Suzuki / 34:07.583 13 / LIEBER, Julien / BEL / Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe / Suzuki / 34:19.782 14 / GUILLOD, Valentin / SUI / Standing Construct KTM / KTM / 34:21.070 15 / DESPREY, Maxime / FRA / Honda Jtech / Honda / 34:23.903 16 / LUPINO, Alessandro / ITA / Team CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy MX2 / Kawasaki / 34:38.283 17 / ANSTIE, Max / GBR / Bike It Yamaha Cosworth / Yamaha / 34:41.509 18 / SEEWER, Jeremy / SUI / Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe / Suzuki / 34:42.306 19 / POCOCK, Mel / GBR / HMPlant KTM UK / KTM / 35:05.288 20 / YAMAMOTO, Kei / JPN / Honda Gariboldi / Honda / 35:05.836 Fastest Lap: HERLINGS, Jeffrey; 1:51.712 in lap 12 with 51.400 Km/h WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: Pos Rider Total 1 HERLINGS, Jeffrey 47, 2 FERRANDIS, Dylan 40, 3 FEBVRE, Romain 34, 4 TONUS, Arnaud 33, 5 BUTRON, Jose 31, 6 TONKOV, Aleksandr 31, 7 COLDENHOFF, Glenn 29, 8 TIXIER, Jordi 28, 9 GAJSER, Tim 24, 10 CHARLIER, Christophe 21, 11 COVINGTON, Thomas 20, 12 GUILLOD, Valentin 19, 13 PETROV, Petar 15, 14 LUPINO, Alessandro 15, 15 DESPREY, Maxime 12, 16 LIEBER, Julien 11, 17 POCOCK, Mel 10, 18 SEEWER, Jeremy 10, 19 JUSTS, Roberts 4, 20 ANSTIE, Max 4.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Mar 2014 07:07:33 +0000