Last night we heard from the podium finishers of the Grand Prix of Great Britain, today its a bunch of riders who made the podium and also didn’t make the podium. Ray Archer image
Clement Desalle
“I’m really happy with my fourth win of the year. After the first moto I didn’t have a good feeling and was too tense on the bike. I had a good start in the second and Antonio made a mistake when he was leading and that made my job a bit easier. I enjoyed the track more today because the rain slowed it down. There were some crazy jumps but there were more lines and possibilities. I’m really happy to win in England and I think it has been three years without even a podium here; it’s good!”
Kevin Strijbos
“I felt really good. In the first race I had a fast start and then battled near the front. I had to slow down a little bit at one point but third place was OK. My bad start in the second race meant I had to push really hard for the whole distance but to reach third again was really positive. I’m happy with my riding but also for the team today that we could go 1-2 again. It was a good pass [on the Bobryshev move]! I think Bobby came too short and left a gap on the left and I was carrying a lot of speed; it was a bit scary but worked out well. I think that was one of my best rides of the year so far. We go to Lierop now and that is where I won my last GP in 2007 so it would be great to repeat that result. I feel really good in the sand.”
Evgeny Bobryshev
“It’s great to have three podiums in a row, as the last time it happened was in 2011. It wasn’t so easy today; I missed the qualifying race yesterday, then with the rain this morning the track was so muddy in warm-up, but when we raced the ground was different again. I managed to finish fourth both times, which meant I had my goal of being consistent. In the first race I had the last gate pick, but I went inside on the gate. I had a good jump and was fifth, but I managed to get to fourth. I had a good gap behind me, so I could control the gap, but I couldn’t go faster, as I lost the speed a bit with arm-pump. In the second race the start wasn’t so good, but I got through to third. Kevin passed me, as he was quicker in the last part of the race, and I didn’t want to do anything stupid to risk losing the podium. It’s a nice track here, but it has changed a lot over the weekend, and the ground was very dry in the end. The jumps ar e big, and I enjoyed it, although it was rough with some big bumps. My goal is for podiums, and we have Lierop now for the last race. It’s a nice track there and I will do my best to be on the box again.”
Dylan Ferrandis
“I had some good lap times on Saturday, and, even though I crashed with Charlier during the qualifying race and finished eleventh, I was confident for the GP. The track was rougher and better for the races, and, even though I was sick for a few days I did a good opening race; I had some arm pump but finished fourth, just behind Coldenhoff. My second start was again good and I was fighting for third position when I lost grip in a corner. The engine stalled and it took me some time to restart; after that it was difficult to find again the good rhythm. I have been battling for a top five result at the last few races, and I’m pleased with my progress.”
Arnaud Tonus
“I’m pretty happy with my comeback, even if I just did one race as I had some technical troubles just before the opening race. The feeling was not as great as during the training sessions, but that’s normal as we’re in a race and there’s always more stress. In the second race I had arm pump but still finished eighth. The track was pretty rough after the early showers and it was physically demanding. Everything went perfect for my first race with the team, and we’re all working already to prepare next season.”
Alessandro Lupino
“I had another difficult weekend, except for the free practice session and the warm up where I posted the fastest lap times. The track changed a lot through the weekend and we altered the settings of the bike several times before we found the right one for the second moto. I had a good rhythm and was racing for a top six result in this race, but we had a small problem and I had to stop. We learnt a lot this season, for sure it will help us for next year.”
Jason Clermont
“I got good results on Saturday, but Sunday was more difficult with a crash in the first race and a bad start in the second one. In the crash the bike was damaged and I had to retire, then in the second heat I crashed twice and finished fifteenth. For sure I was expecting better results; I had the speed to do well, but unfortunately it didn’t come together this weekend.”
Tommy Searle
“It was just a bad day and there is not much more I can say. Last year was good but this was a day to forget. I had a good start in the second race but Philippaerts crashed in front of me while I was fifth. I had to come from last again. I cannot even remember what happened in the first race but that wasn’t good either. My times were fast in both races but the way the year has gone it doesn’t surprise me the way things have gone today.”
Gautier Paulin
”The track was pretty rough with so many races and some rain in the morning, but I had fun. In the first race I was unlucky as my teammate collided with another rider and crashed; his bike hit mine and I ended up off the track. I was nearly last and came back to ninth, I just rode my own race and it was good training. The second race was better; I battled with Cairoli and finished fifth and, even if it’s not so great, I’m happy with the result. As I said last week I’m recovering and re-building my shape and my confidence; I feel I made some good progress this weekend and that’s the most important.”
Jeremy Van Horebeek
“My Saturday was nearly perfect, as I finished second in both practice sessions and then in the qualifying race, so I was confident for Sunday. I had a great start in the first moto but Strijbos pushed me in the first corner and I crashed; the front brake was damaged and later I had no more oil and had to retire. In the second race I had a great start in third position, then Cairoli made a mistake and I raced second for the entire race. I want to thank the team, which provided me a new engine this weekend; it was much better for the start.”
Joel Roelants
“I was happy with the start in the second moto but there is not much more I can say about today. I couldn’t get a good feeling with the track and overall it was just a hard day for me.”
Shaun Simpson
“If I’m brutally honest I hated the track yesterday, too fast and too many big jumps with the same pace for everybody. The rain this morning spiced it up and I’m quite happy with how today went. The British GP is always enjoyable but also stressful. It was nice to almost be battling to be top Brit in MX1. I’m super excited about Lierop now.”
Dean Ferris
“The first moto was good. I got my first holeshot and just controlled the race and rode smart. The track really suited me because it was so technical and rutty. In moto two Butron was just a roadblock; I’ve got nothing more to say. I was trying everything to pass and getting off the line a lot. I crashed because I had my head-down from getting filled-in and the next thing I knew I was cartwheeling. I broke the tank, the bike wouldn’t fire and there was fuel everywhere. That was that and at the moment I am very disappointed that the DNF cost me fourth in the championship also. I am so happy in one respect in that the bike is working so sweetly now and it is a shame we are close to the end of the season because I could have had more points on the table…but you live and learn.”
Christophe Charlier
“In the first race I started in eighth but was making my way back until I crashed with Ferrandis. I picked up the bike but fell again and after that it was hard to pass the riders because I had pain in my hand. I was eighteenth and kept going because I wanted whatever points I could get. In the second moto my start was good and the bike was so strong. I’m happy with the race but it is a bit of a shame about the Grand Prix overall.”
Mel Pocock
“I’m really happy with that. I think it was my two best rides all year. I have been waiting for a deep, rutty, technical track like this one for a long time. I had one really good start and one not so great but I made the best of it. I had to strap my knee because I’ve damaged the medial ligament so I’m happy with sixth overall and my best result this year. At one point yesterday I wasn’t sure if I’d race. Also a big thanks to the team because I think at the eleventh hour they found something suspect with the engine and had to quickly change everything before the second race. We only just made it.”
Maxime Desprey
“Hard weekend for me. During the week I had a contraction in my back so when I was on the bike I didn’t feel so good here. I took 12th in the first moto but had no strength or power in the second. I just tried to finish where I could and now I want to train in the sand for the last GP.”
Kiara Fontanesi
“It was not a bad meeting for the championship but I’m disappointed. I could not ride how I wanted in the second moto at all and was very frustrated. Natalie Kane was strong today but I know I could have done much better. My hands were almost locked into a position after that second race because of the arm-pump and I needed help to get my gloves off. I don’t think I have ever had a moto like that. Anyway, two more to go and I hope we can win the title in style.”
Natalie Kane
“The day was really good; I knew that the most important thing was to get a good start and I managed to take the holeshot and then I pushed hard during 3 or 4 laps. From that moment I tried to keep my speed and I couldn’t believe it when I got the gap. Although it was really hard to keep the advantage, I finally did it! I’m very happy with this victory and I would like to thank everybody who supports me.”
Jeremy Seewer
“I really liked the track and after the rain it felt completely different compared to our qualification Heat. I was able to find some good lines and make a good speed. When I was out front I was looking at the gap I had and just controlled it. There is still a 12-point gap in the championship and that is a lot to make in one race but the season is not over yet. We will see in Lierop!”
Max Anstie
“I struggled a bit out of the gate and made hard work for myself but I pushed and battled. The first race was difficult because it was so wet and went into one line and there was nowhere to pass; it was a tough one. They did a good job of prepping the track for the second one and it got a lot more technical and it was bumpy. That really helped me out. One more race to go and it is sand and at Lierop. I’ll be alright there and we’ll try to go out with a bang.”