Frossard Wins, Osborne Podiums
Cycle News Staff | June 6, 2011
The fifth round of the FIM Motocross Word Championship opened a busy stint of racing as the first of six events in seven weeks. The Grand Prix of France was hot, difficult – thanks to the shallow mud and rough hard-pack – and busy but threw out some surprising results with Monster Energy Yamaha’s Steven Frossard celebrating his maiden MX1 victory in his rookie campaign and CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit’s Tommy Searle ending KTM’s domination of MX2.St. Jean D’Angely felt some pressure. The crowd was plentiful, but perhaps not at usual levels on account of the 65th Motocross of Nations slated for September 18 at the same venue. With said-event in mind, the proactive Motoclub Angerien grasped the chance of a ‘dry-run’ by implementing changes to the infrastructure and with one eye on the practical implications of a full capacity 40-50,000 attendance in four months.While St. Jean is a capable circuit, the track itself is tired and there were many mistakes from experienced pros and the majority commented on the treacherous nature of the varying grip. Frossard gave Yamaha it second win in a row by going 1-2 in the motos to the fanfare of the watching 32,000. Red Bull Teka KTM’s Tony Cairoli was second and third belonged to Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Clement Desalle, who recovered from two first-race crashes to post a 11-1 for his fourth podium from five rounds.After four KTM victories split between Ken Roczen and Jeffrey Herlings, the Austrians missed the podium for only the third time since the start of 2009 as Roczen hit the dirt twice in the second race (going 1-11 with his machine ailing) and Herlings in fourth overall with 6-2. Tommy Searle (4-1) emerged from a four-rider tussle in the second race to formally announce his GP return.The runner-up in front of Monster Energy Yamaha’s Gautier Paulin was Virginian Zach Osborne, with his first trophy of the season and first since the German round last summer. The Bike it Cosworth Wild Wolf Yamaha rider went 3-3 with a fractured right radius, led the second race and notched the fastest lap.
