Evgeny Bobryshev Honda CRF450R- Photo by Ray Archer -
Photo courtesy Honda Pro Racing
Race Report - MX1 World Championship, Round 10 Uddevalla Sweden
Evgeny Bobryshev so close to the overall podium once more in Sweden
Bobryshev showed his class once again this weekend with 2 top 5 finishes to leave him top Honda with an overall classification of 4th, narrowly missing out on the podium once again.
In the first moto, LS Motors Honda rider Davide Guarneri got away well behind Antonio Cairoli who grabbed the holeshot and at the end of the first lap the LS man was in a strong 2nd position. His team mate Tanel Leok’s unfortunate run of luck continued as a crash on lap 1 forced an early retirement.
CAS Honda riders Evgeny Bobryshev and Gareth Swanepeol had both gated well running in 8th and 9th to make it 3 Honda CRF450s in the top 10 as the race developed and the riders began to find their groove. The top three of Cairoli, Guarneri and Desalle were beginning to move away from the rest of the field but Philippaerts continued pursuit. Desalle upped his pressure on the LS Rider Guarneri, to steal through to 2nd place. Philippaerts had not given up on catching the front three and his persistence paid off when Davide was forced into an error that saw him run wide in a berm and lose control. Unfortunately the crash ripped off the clutch lever and spelt the end of the Italian’s promising challenge. Martin Honda rider Jimmy Albertson had also suffered a mechanical problem when a water hose split following a small off at around half distance.
CAS’s Bobryshev and Swanepoel had been solid throughout, making progress through the field and quick to capitalise on the mistakes of others as they pushed towards the top 5. As the chequered flag came out the duo crossed the line in 5th and 7th respectively.
In the second moto, Bobryshev got the start he was looking for and was running 3rd at the end of lap 1. His LS Motors Honda counterpart, Davide Guarneri was also quick out of the gate and swiftly established himself in 4th position. Leok, Swanepoel and Albertson were all running outside of the top 10 but began to make in-roads as the laps counted down. Cairoli took the lead from Suzuki’s Clement Desalle and Bobryshev closed the distance on the front two brining with him Desalle’s team mate Steve Ramon. As Bobryshev went for a pass on Desalle, he was hung out to dry and Ramon came from underneath to sandwich the Russian. Unfortunately Bobryshev’s foot became trapped as a result of the collision and he lost time freeing it, ending his challenge for 2nd. Had he overtaken Desalle it would have put him into an overall podium position. He was forced to settle for 4th but will once again leave the Grand Prix confident that top 3 results are around the corner.
A crash late on for Davide Guarneri capped off a disappointing weekend for the Italian rider who set the fastest lap of the first moto. A finish of 14th left the LS Motors man frustrated going into the three week break. Elswhere, his team mate Tanel Leok had made a valiant charge from an outside gate to finish in 9th but the poor result in the Qualifying Race meant that it was always and uphill struggle throughout the weekend. Martin rider Jimmy Albertson had an equally hard second moto with another retirement and CAS rider Gareth Swanepoel enjoyed an improved weekend; an overall of 9th is a step in the right direction.
It is now a 3 week break before the next Grand Prix so riders will be training hard in the sand ready for Lommel, Belgium.
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Davide Guarneri Honda CRF450R - Photo by Ray Archer - Photo courtesy Honda Pro Racing
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 Evegeny Bobryshev
CAS Monster Honda:
“In the first moto I had a bad start and had many people to pass but I just kept at it. I chased down Nagl, he was very quick but eventually he made a mistake and I was able to pass for 5th position. In the second moto I got away well and was 3rd at the start. I was following Cairoli’s line and just learning a bit but I was comfortable.
When I caught Desalle, I went to pass and was sandwiched by the two Suzukis, it was like I was the sausage in the bread. My right leg was trapped between the swing arm and the wheel and that was that. Overall I am feeling awesome though and really pleased with my performance.”
Davide Guarneri, LS Motors Honda:
"It was a disappointing weekend as I was keen to be top Honda and this type of track was suiting me very well. I was feeling good and fast and set the fastest lap of the race in the first moto but I made a stupid crash in the corner when I lost the front end and broke off the clutch lever.
In the second moto I was fast again running in 5th but had another front wheel crash and had the same problem with the clutch lever. It was just one of those weekends."
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For all media enquiries, please contact
Tom Hobbs in the Honda Motor Europe Press Office www.hondaproracing.com |
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