In front of 30,000 specators and in very hot conditions Yamaha’s Stefan Everts won his 76th GP overall with a complete domination at the Grand Prix of France. Everts put together 1-1 results and led home New Zealand’s Josh Coppins and 2003 World 125cc Champion Steve Ramon.
Coppins was happy to follow up his victory at the British Grand Prix last weekend with a consistent result. The New Zealander is now just two points off second place in the series, and will go to the next round in Italy with high hopes.
Many riders suffered bike problems in the French heat, including Mickael Pichon, who was the clear crowd favorite. Pichon had finished second in the first moto and was holding down second place in the second moto when a stone broke his front brake. Also to pull out with bike problems was Cedric Melotte who crashed in the second moto, damaging his brake lever.
In the MX2 class it was South African Tyla Rattray on the factory KTM who finished on the top level of the podium. Rattray was quite lucky as his KTM teammate Ben Townley crashed in a turn and could not restart his machine. Townley won the opening MX2 moto and was looking a sure winner until his fall. Rattray went 9-1 for the win. Second place was Alessio Chiodi and third place Mickael Maschio.
MX1 MOTO 1: 1. Stefan Everts (Yam); 2. Mickael Pichon (Hon); 3. Josh Coppins (Hon); 4. Cedric Melotte (Yam); 5. Mickael Pichon (Hon); 6. Luigi Seguy (Yam); 7. Antoine Meo (Kaw); 8. Brian Jorgensen (Hon); 9. James Noble (Hon); 10. Chris Burnham (KTM); 11. Tanel Leok (Suz); 12. Julian Bill (KTM); 13. Thierry Bethys (Hon); 14. Yoshi Atsuta (Hon); 15. Lauris Freibergs (Hon).
MX1 MOTO 2: 1. Stefan Everts (Yam); 2. Josh Coppins (Hon); 3. Yves Demaria (KTM); 4. Steve Ramon (KTM); 5. Tanel Leok (Suz); 6. Yoshi Atsuta (Hon); 7. Luigi Seguy (Yam); 8. Lauris Freibergs (Hon); 9. Brian Jorgensen (Hon); 10. Chris Burnham (KTM); 11. Theirry Bethys (Hon); 12. Marko Kovalainen (Hon); 13. Kevin Strijbos (Suz); 14. Chris Nambotin (Yam); 15. Enrico Oddenino (TM).
WORLD MX1 CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS: 1. Stefan Everts (356/4wins); 2. Cedric Melotte (268/1); 3. Josh Coppins (266/1); 4. Mickael Pichon (252/1); 5. Steve Ramon (247); 6. Tanel Leok (179); 7. Kevin Strijbos (176); 8. Joel Smets (175); 9. Brian Jorgensen (148/1); 10. Kenneth Gundersen (133); 11. Ken De Dijcker (126); 12. Yoshi Atsuta (112); 13. Javier Vico Garcia (111); 14. Chris Burnham (105); 15. Marnicq Bervoets (97).
MX2 MOTO 1: 1. Ben Townley (KTM); 2. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 3. Stephen Sword (Kaw); 4. Claudio Federici (Yam); 5. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 6. Sebastien Pourcel (Kaw); 7. Mickael Maschio (Kaw); 8. Anthony Boissiere (Yam); 9. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 10. Patrick Caps (Yam); 11. David Philippaerts (KTM); 12. Pascal Leuret (KTM); 13. Aigar Leok (KTM); 14. Christian Stevanini (Hon); 15. Max Nagl (KTM).
MX2 MOTO 2: 1. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 2. Mickael Maschio (Kaw); 3. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 4. Claudio Federici (Yam); 5. Carl Nunn (Hon); 6. Anthony Boissiere (Yam); 7. Manuel Priem (Suz); 8. Aigar Leok (KTM); 9. Patrick Caps (Yam); 10. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 11. Max Nagl (KTM); 12. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 13. David Philippaerts (KTM); 14. Davide Guarneri (KTM); 15. Rui Goncalves (Yam).
WORLD MX2 CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS: 1. Ben Townley (319/5wins); 2. Stephen Sword (288/1); 3. Tyla Rattray (277/2); 4. Andrew McFarlane (210); 5. Mickael Maschio (191); 6. Antonio Cairoli (187); 7. Carl Nunn (161); 8. Alessio Chiodi (157); 9. Aigar Leok (148); 10. James Dobb (142); 11. Claudio Federici (126); 12. Marc de Reuver (121); 13. Patrick Caps (119); 14. Davide Phillipaerts (101); 15. Anthony Boissiere (100)
