Scotty Wilkins is over in Europe hanging out at the GP’s with a Pulpmx press pass and here’s what he saw at Loket.
Scotty Wilkins is over in Europe hanging out at the GP’s with a Pulpmx press pass and here’s what he saw at Loket.
What I saw
By Scott Wilkins
Czech Republic GP – Loket
The GP at Czech Republic GP has always been one event I have always wanted to attend. It is set in the hills above the town of Loket, with big hills and a cool layout with a fairly hard pack base it is one of the jewels of the GP circuit. Even though as a kiwi it is hard to look at the big step down that claimed Josh Coppins in 07 and destroyed his title run.
The GP venue is set up with a large beer tent with live bands playing with a huge fireworks display on Saturday Night, the Czech’s now how to throw a party for sure.
The first sound I heard on Saturday morning arriving from the 2 hour drive from Prague, was the beautiful sound of 40 plus 125 2 strokes, The EMX125 class is the greatest support class of the modern era in my opinion, a group of up and coming younger riders riding 2 strokes, of course KTM’s dominated this class with well over half the field riding them, but there were quite a few YZ125 and RM125’s out there as well, with the odd Husqvarna and TM in there and a sole KX125.
The Japanese 125’s had been modified by there Euro teams from when the Japanese Manufactures had stopped development over 5 years ago, many of the YZ’s featured the latest YZ250F bodywork on them, and most the RM125’s looked to have RMZ250 Sub frames and Air box’s on them.
KTM mounted Italian Samuele Bernardini, won the overall in the 125 class with a perfect 1-1, taking over the red plate with a few rounds left in the series.
The other support class for the weekend was the World Vets, which like the race at Glen Helen has a couple of fast riders, and the rest making up the numbers and the entry fee’s to Youthstream.
Making a return to the GP’s was Christophe Pourcell, made a return on his CLS Kawasaki, and he had managed to remember his chest protector this time, and he had a fairly good weekend, with a 13-5 score for 9th overall, the second moto was especially good, with a good start he ran top 5 for most of the race, with only current points leader Cairolli being able to get passed, he then managed to get Nagl in the last couple of laps.
Taking over the Factory Suzuki ride for the injured Steve Ramon was fellow countryman Kevin Strijbos, he rode very well and had his best result of the season with a 6-8 for 6th overall. On Steve Ramon, he had not made any progress since last Sunday and looks to be in for a long recovery, the former 2 times world champ is very well liked around the GP paddock and news of his situation was hanging on everyone’s hearts all weekend.
There were only 30 MX1 riders in attendance, which made the start line look at bit bare in both moto’s.
Factory TM’s Tanel Leok has a very good ride in the second moto, converting a holeshot into leading for a long race before a charging Desalle put him back into second. The rumour in the paddock is that he is will be on a red bike next season.
Another brand made an appearance on the MX1 start line, with Local Czech rider Patrik Liska riding a Husaberg, he did not score points in either moto but beat a number of riders in both, beating both factory Aprillia’s. The walk though the pits at a GP with all the different brands is really cool.
Clement Desalle was back to near his best, making places in both moto’s on a track that was hard to pass on, his 2-1 for the overall was his first since his shoulder injury, he really needs a DNF by Cairolli to get near the points lead.
American Michael Lieb had another horrible weekend, he had a huge endo on a rhythm section on the back side of the circuit, ending up knocked out and both shoulders sore, he is heading back to the US to get the shoulders looked at and does not know when he will be back to the GP’s.
HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK’s Jake Nicolls had a very good weekend, a stunning 5th in moto 1 was backed up with a very good ride back to 11th after going down in the 1st corner. He would have to be disappointed in missing out on the 3rd Factory 250F spot for next year, he has been a solid top 10 rider since his return from injury, it’s an effect of the under 23 rule for the MX2 class that a rider at 21 is considered too old.
With the track being fairly one lined with the rain over the weekend lappers became a problem for the leaders, MX2 Winner Ken Roczen had a issue with Petar Petrov on the last lap of first MX2 race. With first a very aggressive pass by Roczen on the last lap, then stopping after to give Petrov his mind, finishing up with pushing him away.
The top 2 factory KTM’s were in a league of there own again on Sunday, with 1-2 starts in both moto’s letting them get away, Tommy Searle seems to be very frustrated in not being able to get the starts to try to stick with the flying KTM’s, and by the time he makes his way through they are long gone.
Herlings was the only rider to keep Roczen in site all weekend, in the second MX2 moto he was closing in on the fast German, but never got close enough to put a wheel in and try to make a move.
The GP circuit has a weekend off this weekend before hitting up the English GP.
Thanks for reading.
