Tanel Leok Honda CRF450R -
Photo courtesy Honda Pro Racing
Race Report - MX1 World Championship, Round 13 Campo Grande, Brazil
Strong showing from Honda contingent in Brazil
Three Hondas in the top 10 overall classification in the Grand Prix of Campo Grande, Brazil but unfortunately CAS Monster Honda rider Evgeny Bobryshev was missing from proceedings.
In the first moto LS Motors Honda Rider Davide Guarneri showed his class to post a top 5 finish in the gruelling 30°C+ conditions. Having got away well, the Italian held 3rd position for the first 11 laps, behind David Philippaerts and Max Nagl, before he was eventually caught and passed by the battling Clement Desalle and Antonio Cairoli. Nonetheless, the LS Man held strong and took his Honda CRF450R home in a solid 5th position.
His team mate Tanel Leok had also got out of the gate well, at the end of the first lap he was in 6th. However, the Estonian failed to capitalise on the pace he showed in warm up, where he was fastest, and was shuffled back to 8th by mid-distance. It then became a lonely race for the LS man, posting similar times to the rider in front, Steve Ramon, but some 8secs back. 8th position is where he would finish.
Honda Racing MX Martin rider Jimmy Albertson had a gritty and determined ride to a well earned top 10 finish. After a bad start, the American was languishing in 18th place but he did not stay there for long as he made pass after pass to scythe his way into 10th position. In the closing laps he was catching Aprilia's Josh Coppins but the time ran out and he had to settle for 10th, only a second behind Coppins.
In the second moto, Guarneri once again made a strong start running in 6th, a position he held for much of the race. But the oppressive heat sapped the energy of the young Italian and he could not maintain the pace throughout. In the last 5 laps he dropped 2 positions and fell back into a lonely 8th. With nothing left in the tank he could not make in-roads on those in front and was forced to settle with that and an overall classification of 6th.
His LS Motors Honda team mate Tanel Leok, also struggled in the intense Brazilian heat. An early battle with his Honda counterpart Jimmy Albertson and Aprilia's Josh Coppins developed into an interesting fight but the Estonian made a small mistake whilst dicing and dropped away. He was forced to settle for 10th and an overall classification of 8th.
Honda Racing MX Martin rider, Jimmy Albertson once again impressed with another strong top 10 finish. His battle with Coppins and Leok was a highlight of the middle part of the race as the American showed he had got to grips with the flowing Campo Grande track. 9th in the second moto, combined with 10th in the first earned him an overall classification of 10th, a marked improvement for the likeable Missourian on recent outings.
CAS Monster Honda rider Evgeny Bobryshev did not ride in either of the motos due to a rib injury sustained in Saturday's practice. It is believed that he flexed some of his ribs in the incident and may have grazed his lung. Further tests are being carried out to determine whether or not he will be fit enough to ride in next weekend's British Championship round. His team mate Gareth Swanepoel did not travel to Brazil.
Honda Pro Racing would like to congratulate Antonio Cairoli, who was crowned 2010 MX1 World Champion as a result of his overall GP victory this weekend.
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Davide Guarneri Honda CRF450R - Photo by Ray Archer -
Photo courtesy Honda Pro Racing
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Tanel Leok, LS Motors Honda: