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MX2 : The Cairoli express steams on in Nismes
Round: 12 - Grand Prix of Wallonie
Circuit: Nismes
Date: 31 July 2005
Crowd: 12000
Temp: 17ºC
Weather: Muddy
Antonio Cairoli (Team Yamaha De Carli) was a man on a mission during the GP of Wallonie, round 12 of the motocross world championship. The 19-year old Italian posted the fastest qualifying time on Saturday and showed the same supremacy on race day by winning both races. Andrew McFarlane (Ricci Racing) took second overall, while home rider Cédric Melotte (Yamaha L&M Motocross Team) climbed the podium for the first time since the Japanese Grand Prix. With five rounds left Cairoli reduced the gap with McFarlane in provisional standings to 12 points. Chiodi, fifth in Nismes, is another 26 points adrift and hangs on to his third place in standings.
In spite of rain showers during the weekend and prior to the GP, the track was heavy but fair enough to race thanks to a reduced schedule on Saturday and maintenance works from the local club. Cairoli made the first race of the day a one man show. The YZ250F mounted rider grabbed the holeshot and cruised to an uncontested win. Fellow Italian Philippaerts (KTM) claimed second edging out McFarlane by just over a second. Melotte made an impressive comeback, lowering his mediocre sixteenth on the opening lap to a hard earned sixth in the end.
It was also Belgian hopeful Melotte who put the pressure on Cairoli in the second heat. Cairoli again claimed his signature mark holeshot, but Cédric tailgated him for most of the race. Melotte put the pressure on Cairoli but could not make the final pass. Three time world champ Alessio Chiodi successfully defended his third place position against team mate McFarlane for the full race distance. Belgium's Patrick Caps (Honda) finished sixth ahead of Yamaha Evolution rider Mickael Maschio.
Antonio Cairoli (Team Yamaha De Carli) - first overall "I had a really good weekend here and the most important thing was of course to take some points from Andrew again. So I'm very happy with this GP. The second race was quite fun. Cédric was really fast on this track and I enjoyed riding against him, to have him in between me and Andrew was good for the championship as well. At some points it was pretty intense and when you are jumping together the adrenalin really starts flowing! I'm looking forward to Loket next week. It's absolutely one of my favorite tracks and I have good memories from last year when I got my very first heat win in Loket."
Andrew McFarlane (Ricci Racing) - second overall "Antonio rode really well today and unfortunately I lost some of my point advantage so it was not a great weekend for me. In the second race I was chasing Chiodi all the time, but it was hard to find a passing opportunity and I had to settle for fourth. I can live with what happened this weekend and just have to look ahead and get ready to have a good result next week. I know the team is working really hard to give me everything I need, the bike is running well and my confidence is good so all the ingredients are there to make it happen."
Cédric Melotte (Yamaha L&M Motocross Team) - third overall "It's good to be back on the podium again, especially in these difficult conditions and at home in Belgium. It proves that even when times are difficult with my injury, it was the right thing to keep on riding and scoring points. I got closed in at the start of the first race and I was in the second half of the pack. The track was very slippery and it was difficult to find good passing opportunities. I found a good rhythm after about 15 minutes and managed to get sixth. I was quite satisfied with second in the second race. I was keeping the pressure on Cairoli, but a mistake in the last lap ruined my chances of victory."
Alessio Chiodi (Ricci Racing) - fifth overall "I'm a bit disappointed with my overall result this weekend and my riding was not as confident as it should be, but I made a good improvement over my performance on Saturday when I was only 17th in time practice. I had a bad start in the first race and after that it was very hard to come back here. I finished seventh and that was not too bad coming from 18th. My second moto was better, I started third and kept my position. Loket has quite a strange soil, but I always have good results there so that should be a better race for me."
Race classification MX2
Round: 12 - Grand Prix of Wallonie
Circuit: Nismes
