|
|
|
|
|
|
| 28.09.2009 |
| Red Bull KTM UK motocross team wraps up successful season |
| It’s another successful day at the races for the Red Bull KTM UK team as Stephen Sword takes a fine overall win on the KTM 450 SX-F in the MX1 division while younger team-mate Jake Nicholls shows true heart and determination to secure second overall in the final MX2 series standings to make it a KTM UK 1-2 in that championship chase. |
|
Great weather and a perfectly prepared circuit make the long trip to Landrake well worthwhile and with Sword scoring a 3-1 result in his MX1 debut, Nicholls securing second – behind Sword – in the final MX2 standings as well as team rookie Graeme Irwin ending the year inside the top 10 there’s plenty for Roger Magee and the Red Bull KTM UK team to celebrate.
After a steady first moto ride to third behind Red Bull KTM’s Shaun Simpson who took second place in the opening moto, Sword’s second race ride is a true master class of motocross as the 29-year-old Scotsman picks his way through and then powers away from the pack to end the 30-minute plus two lap moto well clear of the second placed rider. Sword’s 3-1 score is good enough for overall victory while Simpson suffers a coming together with another rider and a couple of crashes on his way to 10th spot – his 2-10 scorecard gives him fifth overall just one point shy of a podium position.
Super-tough Suffolk teenager Jake Nicholls’ day was far from easy as the Reverend tangled with the leader Mattis Karro in race one and had to fight back through to fourth at the finish after both riders went down. Then after taking an early lead on his 250 SX-F in race two Jake made a major mistake and crashed out of the lead, damaging his front brake in the process. After pitting to repair the damage Jake continued with no front brake and charged from last – half a lap down – to 10th to snatch second in the series by a single point. It was a real close call too because if Nicholls hadn’t made up the two positions he did on the final lap the story would have been very different.
It was also a tough day in the office for team rookie Graeme Irwin. After a stellar seventh place finish in moto which elevated the Carrickfergus youngster to seventh in the series standings a clutch problem and a couple of crashes in the second race saw Irwin only finish 14th and slip to ninth in the series standings.
Still suffering from injury the team’s full-time MX1 pilot Alex Snow misses his local race of the year and also slips out of the top 10 in the series standings. After missing the final four motos of the season Snowy slides from 10th to 12th – which is still a very creditable result – in the championship chase.
Quotes
Stephen Sword – MX1 3-1
“Today was mega. The first race was going good and I was riding well then I had a few problems and had to ease up a little bit and settle for third. I took my spare bike out for the second one and I felt really strong, my riding was easy and I felt like I had plenty in reserve. I took the moto win and the overall and that was the perfect way in which to end the year and my relationship – for the time being at least – with the KTM UK team. I really enjoyed it.”
Jake Nicholls – MX2 4-10
“In the first race I didn’t get such a good start but I was able to pull through the pack and sit comfortably behind the race leader Mattis Karro. I felt really comfortable there and I knew I was much quicker because I’d caught him so easily so I was just waiting for the right moment to make a move. Then he made a mistake and slid out a bit in a corner and our bikes made contact – his footpeg got caught in my front wheel and as he accelerated away it dragged the bike out of my hands. It was nobody’s fault – just one of those things. I got up in around sixth or seventh and then just pushed hard and got back to fourth place.
“In the second race I got a great start and moved into the lead in the third corner then pulled about a five second lead straight away. Then I made a massive mistake and had a big crash. I got up very fast and got going again but my front brake was sticking and I had to pull into the pits at the end of the lap to get it fixed. The problem couldn’t be fixed quickly so my mechanic cut the brake line and I carried on without a front brake. From there I rode my heart out – it was so dangerous - and I managed to get back to 10th which was good enough to secure second in the championship. I’m really happy with that result and I only wish that today could have gone better and I’d taken the overall win.”
Graeme Irwin – MX2 7- 14
“I qualified 10th and that wasn’t too bad. In the first race I had a nice steady ride for seventh which was good then in the second moto we put a new clutch in beforehand and it was dragging a little on the start line and I ended up getting stuck in the gate. I crashed on the first lap as well and after a hard ride I ended up finishing 14th which I’m not too happy with but I’m glad to be safe. It’s disappointing that I lost a place in the championship on the day but I feel that ninth in my rookie year is still very good.”
Shaun Simpson – MX1 2-10
“The first race went pretty good. I got a good start and didn’t do anything stupid, I just held my pace and when Billy came past me I just rode my own pace because I knew there was another moto to come. The track was really gnarly for the second race and I got a bad start and then MacKenzie took my front wheel. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional but I went down and then I had to come through from the back. The contact had left me a damaged front brake and I had to pull the lever right in to make anything happen. This caused me to crash again and I thought I’d hurt something in my shoulder. It took a few laps to find my rhythm again but I kept going to the finish and ended up 10th.
Roger Magee – Team Manager
“Hats off to Jake today. In the last race we knew he only had to finish within 11 points of Bradshaw and when he took the holeshot we thought it was all over. But as well know in motocross things are never that simple and he unfortunately crashed and wrecked the front brake too. He had to race the whole moto with no front brake and after a lot of effort he made it up to 10th place after making up two spots in the last half lap. That really shows the determination he has.
“Graham lost a couple of spots in the championship in that last moto but still to finish ninth in his rookie year is very good. He’s learnt a lot this year and what most people don’t know is that he’s had a tonsillitis problem all year and he’ll be getting those removed in October so they’ll cause him no more problems.
“Swordy did what he had to do today in MX1 and we wish him all the best for the future with his new team. As British MX2 champion and the overall winner today I think that proves he really should have taken a spot on the British Motocross des Nations team. Various excuses have been made as to why he wasn’t picked and I think the ACU should really come up with a team selection criteria so everyone know where they stand at the beginning of the year and the team can pick itself. I wish Team GB every luck next weekend in Italy.
“We have some good news to announce and that’s that Natalie Kane will be joining the team for 2010. She’s already easily the best British girl and also finished third in the world and I believe that with a better bike and better preparation we’ll be able to push her career forwards and by giving her a great overall package we feel that she’ll be able to bring the world championship home.
Series Standings
MX2
1 Stephen Sword (Red Bull KTM UK) 274 points, 2 Jake Nicholls (Red Bull KTM UK) 244, 3 Neville Bradshaw (Honda) 243, 4 Martin Barr (Suzuki) 213, 5 Scott Elderfield (Honda) 205, 6 Mattis Karro (Suzuki) 195, 7 Mel Pocock (Yamaha) 177, 8 Pascal Leuret (Honda) 171, 9 Graeme Irwin (Red Bull KTM UK) 168, 10 Wayne Smith (Yamaha) 156… 13 Shaun Simpson (Red Bull KTM) 115
MX1
1 Brad Anderson (Honda) 289, 2 Gareth Swanepoel (Kawasaki) 250, 3 James Noble (Honda) 231, 4 Tom Church (CCM) 212, 5 Carl Nunn (Suzuki) 203, 6 Billy MacKenzie (Honda) 192, 7 Jason Dougan (CCM) 184, 8 Scott Columb (Suzuki) 174, 9 Bryan MacKenzie (Honda) 174, 10 Jordan Rose (Honda) 123… 12 Alex Snow (Red Bull KTM UK) 97 |
|
|
 |  |
|
|
|
|
