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Red Bull KTM’s Tony Cairoli takes
MX1 GP of Sweden in style
Red Bull KTM factory rider Tony Cairoli on Sunday took victory in style in the MX1 GP of Sweden at Uddevalla, winning both motos to secure his fourth outright MX1 GP win for the season on the new generation KTM 350 SX-F machine.
Cairoli retains the red plate as championship leader with 434 points, a handsome 67 points ahead of second placed Belgian rider Clement Desalle and can now enjoy his mid season break before racing resumes on August 1.
Tony on the charge
Cairoli rode like a man possessed in the opening MX1 moto. He charged out of the gates, snatched the holeshot and was never threatened right up until he raised his fist in triumph going across the finish line. He was challenged in the first half of the second moto and rival Clement Desalle took the lead for some laps mid race. Tony said after he had some arm pump discomfort before he was able to go on the attack again but once he hit the front on the second moto he looked secure and was able to control the race. He went through the checkered flag 2.6 seconds ahead of the tight battle for second between the two Suzuki riders Desalle and Steve Ramon.
Tony Cairoli:
“This is not really my favorite track but I’ve had some good races in all my years here so I wanted to win because now we’ll have a long break. It was good for me to take victory in the GP and that’s what I wanted to do. I was a bit nervous because I had some problems with my knee during the week and I felt something was wrong. But it felt better yesterday and today it was perfect.”
Stefan Everts Red Bull KTM team boss:
“I am very satisfied. Tony made the double today. He controlled the race and he made two good starts so he did what he had to do for the championship.
Max Nagl, who won here last year but who is still riding with a cracked left collarbone finished sixth and Rui Goncalves, the third member of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team and MX2 winner here in Sweden last year was tenth overall.
Max Nagl:
Yesterday was going quite well with my lap times in the qualifying race but today I was a second too slow every lap and I couldn’t keep up with the top five. It was not what I expected but the last five weeks have been very tough for me and I’m happy to have a longer break so I can build it up again for the next GP.”
Rui Goncalves finished tenth and fifteenth and said after the race he had struggled with consistency. “I can’t say it was a bad GP but it could have better. Now we have a break and I will work hard to try to take the next step for the races left in the season,” he said.
MX1 GP of Sweden
1 Tony Cairoli, Italy, KTM 25-25—50 (4th GP win this season on 350 SX-F)
2. Clement Desalle, Belgium, Suzuki, 22-22—44
3. Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki, 18-20—38
4. Evgeny Bobryshev, Russia, Honda, 16-18—34
5. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha, 20-13—33
6. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM, 15-15—30
10. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM 9-11—20
MX1 World Championship Standings
1 Tony Cairoli, Italy, KTM, 434
2. Clement Desalle, Belgium, Suzuki, 367
3. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha, 331
4. Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki, 315
5. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM, 306
15. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM, 124
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