16.02.2015
In Italy Red Bull KTM´s Jonny Walker took his first win at the notorious Hell´s Gate Hard Enduro held at Il Ciocco, while Tony Cairoli won the MX1 and Elite Class at the last round of the Italian International MX Championship at Ottobiano. Overseas, the US Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team celebrated a double win when both Ryan Dungey andMarvin Musquin swept their respective 450-class and 250-class races at Round 7 of the Supercross series.
JONNY WALKER WINS HELL´S GATE 2015
Red Bull KTM’s Jonny Walker won one of the toughest of Hell’s Gate Hard Enduros in recent memory on Saturday. On his KTM 300 EXC machine he was not only battling the usual hellish course conditions but also very bad weather. Riders had to battle against heavy rain and ultimately snow at the event in the Tuscan Mountains above Lucca in Italy. Strong Spaniard Mario Roman and Austrian racer Lars Enöckl made it an all-KTM podium in an event where the original field of just over one hundred was trimmed down to just 14 eligible for the final race up the dreaded Hell’s Peak.
“That’s the hardest race I’ve ever done,” Walker said in the finish area.
DOUBLE WIN FOR KTM AT ARLINGTON SUPERCROSS
Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin made it a great night out for the US Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team on Saturday in Arlington, Texas (USA) by picking up wins in both the 450- and 250-class Supercross races as the competition moved to the East Coast for the first time in 2015. Dungey was supreme in Round 7 race to consolidate his lead at the top of the championship points and Musquin opened his account with an impressive ride in the opening round of the 250-class East Coast series. Dungey, who led the 450 main event from gate to flag aboard his KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition, has increased his lead to 12 points in the championship standings heading to the next round in Atlanta next weekend.
Dungey: “I’m really excited to get another win. It feels great to see the hard work pay off and I’m excited to increase the point lead on the championship. I’d also like to congratulate my teammate on his win. It’s always a good night when the team can sweep both races. I think it speaks a lot for our team and the bikes that we ride.”
It was also a top night out in Texas for the factory team’s French rider Marvin Musquin who took an impressive win in his first race of the season in the opening round of the East 250SX class championship. On his KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition Musquin took the holeshot, led for the opening laps before a staggered re-start due to a red flag for an injured rider. Again he took the lead and put on a perfect performance to secure the win.
Musquin: “It feels so great to get a win tonight. Both the team and I have been working so hard in the off-season to get where we need to be to run up front. I have had a lot of injuries in the past few seasons, particularly in the Supercross season, and I am happy to finally be completely healthy at the start of the season. Normally, I have improved as the Supercross season went on but this year, I started strong. Both Ryan (Dungey) and I led every lap of our races and I’m proud to be a part of such a strong team. I am so happy tonight and very thankful to my team for their support and a great bike.”
CAIROLI WINS MX1 AND ELITE CLASS AT THE ITALIAN INTERNATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Tony Cairoli has gotten his 2015 season off to a good start after winning the pre-season Italian International Motocross Championship at the third and final round. On his KTM 350 SX-F Cairoli won the final MX1 race of the year to take the series win.
Speaking after the races Cairoli said he was happy with his pre-season preparation and winning the two titles at home in Italy where he has the support of a very enthusiastic fan base. “I had three good races on three different and very difficult tracks, which is very good preparation for the World Championship. It starts early this year so I am not one hundred percent in shape but that’s no problem. We will be ready.”
Results Hell´s Gate Hard Enduro 2015
1. Jonny Walker (GBR), KTM
2. Mario Roman (ESP), KTM
3. Lars Enöckl (AUT), KTM
Results 450SX Class Dallas
1. Ryan Dungey (USA), KTM, 17:23.429 min (20 laps)
2. Ken Roczen (GER), Suzuki, +3.708 sec
3. Trey Canard (USA), Honda, +12.993
4. Blake Baggett (USA), Suzuki, +17.409
5. Andrew Short (USA), KTM, +23.588
Standings 450SX Class after 7 of 17 rounds
1. Dungey, 152 points
2. Roczen, 140
3. Canard, 129
4. Eli Tomac (USA), Honda, 114
5. Jason Anderson (USA), Husqvarna, 100
Results East 250SX Class Dallas
1. Marvin Musquin (FRA), KTM, 14:00.235 min (15 laps)
2. Justin Bogle (USA), Honda, +4.079 sec
3. Joey Savatgy (USA), Kawasaki, +6.727
4. Jeremy Martin (USA), Yamaha, +7.610
5. Matthew Lemoine (USA), Kawasaki, +11.870
Standings East 250SX Class after 1 of 9 rounds
1. Musquin, 25 points
2. Bogle, 22
3. Savatgy, 20
4. Martin, 18
5. Lemoine, 16
Results Elite Class (MX1 + MX2) Ottobiano
1. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL), Yamaha, 30:24.588 min
2. Romain Febvre (FRA), Yamaha, +10.112 sec
3. Tony Cairoli (ITA), KTM, +19.277
4. Tommy Searle (GBR), KTM, +23.756
5. Max Nagl (GER), Husqvarna, +28.480
Final Standings Elite Class after 3 of 3 rounds
1. Cairoli, 200 points (Elite Champion)
2. Searle, 180
3. Nagl, 180
4. Febvre, 165
5. Van Horebeek, 152
Results MX1 Ottobiano
1. Cairoli, 30:09.890 min
2. Van Horebeek, +16.019 sec
3. Febvre, +1:05.393 min
4. Searle, +1:18.599
5. Rui Goncalves (POR), Husqvarna, +1:19.921
Final Standings MX1 after 3 of 3 rounds
1. Cairoli, 280 points (MX1 Champion)
2. Van Horebeek, 260
3. Febvre, 205
4. Searle, 170
5. Nagl, 165