PHILIPPAERTS BACK IN TOP 6 IN THAILAND !

The second Grand Prix of the Motocross World Championship was run in the new venue of Si Racha in Thailand under testing conditions due to the hot temperature and high humidity. Another beautiful layout for the new track of Si Racha with many jumps sections and a perfect ground which could withstand with the heavy rain of friday night.

David PHILIPPAERTS after the positive start of the seaon in Qatar last weekend, was aiming to close the gap with the top five riders and, the mission was quite accomplished in the MX1 race where after starting around the eleven position, DP19 could fight through the field to finish a very good 6th behind Cairoli, Desalle, Paulin and Searle and in front of top riders Frossard, Roelants,  Strijbos and Gonçalves with laptimes matching the top four riders of the race. In the Superfinal DP19 took a good start in the top pack but a slower rider on the second turn, forced him to brake too aggressively causing the shutdown of his CRF engine. After restarting his bike and from the 40th position, DP19 fought back to the 14th place of the MX1 class for an 11th place overall which does not reflect his real potential in this GP.

Harri KULLAS had another difficult and unlucky GP for different reasons. In the MX2 race behind the starting gate after turning off his engine waiting for the line up of the other riders, Kullas could not restart his bike in time to take the start with the others and had to wait for his mechanic. Starting twenty seconds after the last rider, Kullas tried hardly to get into the top 18 qualified riders but had to stop his way through in 21st position but scoring the second best laptime of the race behind Herlings. Kullas had to go through the Last Chance race which he won for the MX2 class. In the Superfinal another poor start conditioned all his race and he could only finish 17th of the MX2. Kullas, still suffering with blisters on his hands, has shown he has the speed to battle for the top five positions taking good starts.

Giacomo Gariboldi: Gariboldi Honda Team Owner

“After this second GP of the season we have mixed feelings, I’m now convinced that DP19 is getting back to his top form looking at his first race and his laptimes and he just needs a bit of luck  in the next races to be up with the best and on the other side I’m disappointed for him because he could have scored  a top five this time, but we hope the best for Valkenswaard where DP19 will benefit of another evolution on his CRF450″. Disappointing for Kullas, but without a good start you can’t hope to play in front and we will work hard on that.”