Mickael Pichon, of the Martin Honda team, captured the Grand Prix of Czech Republic win with a stunning 1-1 performance. It was Pichon’s third GP victory in a month.
“I’ve been riding a lot in the last month,” Pichon said. “My condition is good and I enjoyed racing today. I look forward to showing that without all the bad luck this year, I could have been closer to Stefan [Everts] in the championship points. I want to win more of the Grands Prix this year, for sure in Namur next week.”
Second-placed Stefan Everts was a little disappointed with his results, although he knows the championship is getting closer to reality. Everts, who is expecting to be a father this week, was quick to leave the circuit and make his way back to Monte Carlo where his girlfriend Kelly is awaiting the big moment.
“I felt okay today,” Everts said. “My mind was on the job and I didn’t worry about the baby. I just didn’t want to take any risks, and Pichon was riding hard. I know the championship is a long way off, although I am looking forward to going to Namur next week and showing some better results there.”
Finishing third was New Zealand’s Josh Coppins of the CAS Honda team. The 27-year-old went 3-3 and remains third overall in the championship points.
In the MX2 class it was New Zealand’s Ben Townley who took victory. The KTM rider managed 3-1 results after crashing hard in practice on Saturday and injuring his shoulder. Townley has extended his championship lead to 94 points over fellow CHAMP KTM rider Tyla Rattray, who had a terrible weekend. As for Townley, he is ready to wrap up the championship within the next month.
“I was hurting today, and to win in these conditions is very satisfactory,” he said. “I will now go to Namur next weekend and push hard for the win. I have extended my championship lead and look forward to getting more wins in the coming weeks.”
Second place in the MX2 class was Italian rider Alessio Chiodi, with another Italian Antonio Cairoli in third place. Both Italian riders finished with 40 points, although Chiodi’s second-place finish in the second moto gave him the runner-up honors. Chiodi went 4-2, while Cairoli went 1-6.
Results:
MX1 Moto 1: 1. Mickael Pichon (Hon); 2. Stefan Everts (Yam); 3. Josh Coppins (Hon); 4. Brian Jorgensen (Hon); 5. Tanel Leok (Suz); 6. Steve Ramon (KTM); 7. Kevin Strijbos (Suz); 8. Luigi Seguy (Yam); 9. Sven Breugelmans (KTM); 10. Chris Burnham (KTM); 11. Julian Bill (KTM); 12. Marnicq Bervoets (Yam); 13. Ken De Dijcker (Hon); 14. Martin Zerava (KTM); 15. Danny Theybers (Yam).
MX1 Moto 2: 1. Mickael Pichon (Hon); 2. Stefan Everts (Yam); 3. Josh Coppins (Hon); 4. Kevin Strijbos (Suz); 5. Luigi Seguy (Yam); 6. Tanel Leok (Suz); 7. Brian Jorgensen (Hon); 8. Ken De Dijcker (Hon); 9. Yoshi Atsuta (Hon); 10. Chris Burnham (KTM); 11. Mark Jones (KTM); 12. Steve Ramon (KTM); 13. James Noble (Hon); 14. Lauris Freibergs (Hon); 15. Julian Bill (KTM).
O/A: 1. Mickael Pichon (50pts); 2. Stefan Everts (44); 3. Josh Coppins (40); 4. Kevin Strijbos (32); 5. Brian Jorgensen (32); 6. Tanel Leok (31); 7. Luigi Seguy (29); 8. Steve Ramon (24); 9. Chris Burnham (22); 10. Ken De Dijcker (21); 11. Julian Bill (16); 12. Yoshi Atsuta (12); 13. Sven Breugelmans (12); 14. Mark Jones (10); 15. Lauris Freibergs (10).
MX1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1. Stefan Everts (527/5wins); 2. Mickael Pichon (436/4wins); 3. Josh Coppins (397/1); 4. Steve Ramon (374); 5. Kevin Strijbos (327); 6. Cedric Melotte (291/1); 7. Brian Jorgensen (278/1); 8. Tanel Leok (273); 9. Ken De Dijcker (195); 10. Joel Smets (175); 11. Chris Burnham (167); 12. Luigi Seguy (166); 13. Yoshi Atsuta (157); 14. Lauris Freibergs (145); 15. Kenneth Gundersen (133).
MX2 Moto 1: 1. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 2. Marc De Reuver (KTM); 3. Ben Townley (KTM); 4. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 5. Patrick Caps (Yam); 6. Andrea Bartolini (Yam); 7. Claudio Federici (Yam); 8. Stephen Sword (Kaw); 9. Anthony Boissiere (Yam); 10. Jussi Vehvilainen (Hon); 11. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 12. Chris Pourcel (Kaw); 13. Mickael Maschio (Kaw); 14. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 15. Gareth Swanepoel (KTM).
MX2 Moto 2: 1. Ben Townley (KTM); 2. Alessio Chiodi (Yam); 3. Sebastien Pourcel (Kaw); 4. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 5. Carl Nunn (Hon); 6. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 7. Mickael Maschio (Kaw); 8. Andrea Bartolini (Yam); 9. Marc De Reuver (KTM); 10. Rui Goncalves (Yam); 11. Anthony Boissiere (Yam); 12. Claudio Federici (Yam); 13. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 14. Garath Swanepoel (KTM); 15. Stephen Sword (Kaw) O/A: 1. Ben Townley (45); 2. Alessio Chiodi (40); 3. Antonio Cairoli (40); 4. Marc De Reuver (34); 5. Tyla Rattray (28); 6. Andrea Bartolini (28); 7. Claudio Federici (23); 8. Mickael Maschio (22); 9. Anthony Boissiere (22); 10. Sebastien Pourcel (20); 11. Carl Nunn (20); 12. Stephen Sword (19); 13. Patrick Caps (16); 14. Jonathan Barragan (KTM); 15. Jussi Vehvilainen (15).
MX2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: 1. Ben Townley (472/7wins); 2. Tyla Rattray (378/3); 3. Stephen Sword (361/1); 4. Andrew McFarlane (300/1); 5. Antonio Cairoli (297); 6. Alessio Chiodi (293); 7. Mickael Maschio (283); 8. Patrick Caps (230); 9. Carl Nunn (228); 10. Claudio Federici (199); 11. Aigar Leok (176); 12. Anthony Boissiere (170); 13. Sebastien Pourcel (166); 14. Marc De Reuver (155); 15. James Dobb (154).
