THOR RACE REPORT: MX GP - ROUND 4 - SEVLIEVO, BULGARIA

MX GP - Round 4 - Sevlievo, Bulgaria

THOR's MX1 red plate holder, David Philippaerts, has claimed his first
overall GP victory of the season at the fourth round of the FIM GP Motocross
championship in Sevlievo, Bulgaria. The Factory Yamaha Monster racer,
posted a 1-2 result for overall honors and extended his lead in the MX1
standings as scattered rain showers mixed up conditions on a spectacular
purpose built Sevlievo circuit. Fellow THOR racer, and MX1 title contender,
Josh Coppins, had a frustrating weekend, succumbing to bad starts in both
motos and leaving the Kiwi with loads of catch up work to do.



Italian, Philippaerts put together a faultless ride in the first moto
leading from start to finish while Coppins' last lap charge was slightly
mistimed as the New Zealander narrowly missed out on a podium spot.
Philippaerts had a stroke of luck come his way in moto 2 when Spaniard,
Jonathan Barragan threw away overall victory on the last lap of the 35
minute moto. Philippaerts snatched up the gift and has tightened his hold
on to the leaders plate for THOR with a 17 point advantage over Steve Ramon
with Coppins still in contention in third spot.



Both Philippaerts and Coppins have little time to rest as the Rinaldi riders
will head to Italy for the Yamaha Monster Team's home GP in Mantova next
weekend.



David Philippaerts:

"This is a really good result for me. I tried to win both races but Barragan
was very fast in that second moto and I had some luck when I saw him crash.
I was pretty tired by that point and I could not stop Pourcel taking the
lead. The track was very different in the afternoon. The rain had made it
very slippery and some more lines appeared. The mud went softer and got
bumpier. The bike is really good and the team are working hard. I'm happy
for this; a good day!"



Josh Coppins:

"I'm quite frustrated at the moment although I was pleased with my
qualifying yesterday and this morning I was fastest in warm up which put me
in a good mindset. I didn't get the starts I needed today and in the first
moto I took too long to get going. After the 10th lap I stepped it up and
closed down the front pack but too late to gain some vital positions. The
second moto start was a disaster and I was way back in the pack which, with
the track being really fast and one-lined after the rain, meant that it
would be difficult to make up lost ground. I have to say my starts and not
being fast enough in the opening laps let me down this weekend and this is
something I have to work on for the next GP"



Race results:

MX1 Race 1

1 Philippaerts, David ITA Yamaha (THOR)

2 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM

3 de Reuver, Marc NED Honda

4 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha

5 Ramon, Steve BEL Suzuki

6 Bill, Julien SUI Honda

7 Leok, Tanel EST Kawasaki

8 Pourcel, Sebastien FRA Kawasaki

9 Desalle, Clement BEL Suzuki

10 de Dycker, Ken BEL Suzuki

11 Nagl, Maximilian GER KTM

12 Brown, Mike USA Honda

13 Nemeth, Kornel HUN KTM

14 Priem, Manuel BEL Kawasaki

15 Mackenzie, Billy GBR Honda







MX1 Race 2

1 Pourcel, Sebastien FRA Kawasaki

2 Philippaerts, David ITA Yamaha (THOR)

3 Ramon, Steve BEL Suzuki

4 Barragan, Jonathan ESP KTM

5 de Reuver, Marc NED Honda

6 Mackenzie, Billy GBR Honda

7 Coppins, Joshua NZL Yamaha

8 Bill, Julien SUI Honda

9 Nagl, Maximilian GER KTM

10 Brown, Mike USA Honda

11 de Dycker, Ken BEL Suzuki

12 Priem, Manuel BEL Kawasaki

13 Schiffer, Marcus GER KTM

14 Leok, Tanel EST Kawasaki

15 Nemeth, Kornel HUN KTM





MX1 World championship standings:

1 Philippaerts, D. ITA 149 (THOR)

2 Ramon, Steve BEL 132

3 Coppins, J. NZL 115 (THOR)

4 Mackenzie, B. GBR 100

5 de Dycker, Ken BEL 98

6 Barragan, J. ESP 94

7 Pourcel, S. FRA 90

8 Nagl, M. GER 80

9 de Reuver, M. NED 76

10 Leok, Tanel EST 71

11 Brown, Mike USA 62

12 Nemeth, Kornel HUN 62

13 Priem, Manuel BEL 56

14 Desalle, C. BEL 55

15 Schiffer, M. GER 40