HUSQVARNA RIDERS RACE THROUGH EXTREME HEAT IN THAILAND

[totalmotorcycle]

#HUSQVARNA #RIDERS RACE THROUGH EXTREME HEAT IN #THAILAND

@RedBull @IceOne and Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team riders have successfully battled their way through round two of the 2015 MXGP series in Thailand. Following hot on the heals of the season’s opening Grand Prix in Qatar, where Max Nagl secured a double MXGP class win aboard his FC 450, in Thailand surviving the near 40-degree heat and stifling humidity were the number one priorities for all riders.

Red Bull IceOne’s Nagl and Waters secured the best MXGP results for Husqvarna with fast starting Nagl placing fourth in the opening moto and Waters seventh in moto 2 – the Australian’s best finish of the season to date. In the MX2 class it was a tough weekend for Aleksandr Tonkov who after crashing in his qualifying race fought hard to place ninth and eighth.

The opening MXGP race in Thailand started well for Max Nagl as the German got a great jump from the gate to round the first turn close to the front of the pack. With his priority simply on getting to the finish of the moto in as strong a position as possible, Max did just that and placed fourth. Moto 2 didn't start as well for Max as a small wheelie out of the gate forced the GP of Qatar winner to momentarily power off, resulting in him getting buried mid-pack in the first turn. Again not wanting to take any risks, and mindful of the extreme heat, Nagl improved to take an 11th place result.

Todd Waters enjoyed a solid GP of Thailand, placing ninth and seventh in the two MXGP races. Struggling to put together a good lap during timed practice and then not having the best of qualifying races, in both motos he battled his way inside the top 10. Ending the GP just one position behind Nagl in eighth overall, Todd ended his weekend in Thailand pleased with his riding. Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna’s Dean Ferris placed 20th and ninth in the MXGP class for 17th overall.

Aleksandr Tonkov’s event got off to a frustrating start when the Wilvo Nestaan FC 250 mounted rider crashed in the first turn of his qualifying race. The subsequent DNF meant he faced a huge challenge in the opening moto, yet pushed hard to place ninth. With several MX2 class riders unable to compete in the second moto due to heat exhaustion Tonkov, who injured his shoulder one week earlier in Qatar, fought hard to place eighth and secured valuable championship points.

Red Bull IceOne Racing’s Nathan Watson, who crashed heavily in Qatar, withdrew from the opening MXGP race and opted not to compete in race two.

Max Nagl – Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing: “I hoped to keep the championship leader’s red plate here in Thailand, but with the heat and the track conditions the way they were I wasn’t taking any risks at all. It was so, so hot and that was tough. Also, the track was challenging, so like I said I wasn’t taking any risks. I was happy with my first moto result. I got a good start, went a little wide in the first turn, but put together a good race. In the second race I just couldn't make it happen. I got a bad start and had to fight my way forward from the middle of the pack. I made up some positions but I wasn’t prepared to really push to the limit.”

Todd Waters – Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing: “I wasn’t feeling great at the start of Sunday, but things really improved. I was just disappointed that things hadn’t gone well during qualifying. I couldn’t get a good lap together in practice and then didn't have a good qualifying race. But things were much better on race day. Running closer to the front felt great. I know my speed is good, I just need to work at improving my starts so that I can get amongst things from the first lap.”

Aleksandr Tonkov – Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing: “It’s been a tough GP for me, but we got some championship points, and that was important. After my qualifying race I knew it would be a hard first moto, so to finish in ninth isn't so bad. Eighth in the second race was a little better but with the heat it’s been tough. I’m looking forward to getting back to normal racing conditions.”

Results – Motocross World Championship 2015, Round 2 Thailand

MXGP Overall
1. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) 45 points; 2. Clement Desalle (Suzuki) 44; 3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 41; 7. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 28; 8. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 26; 13. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 13; 16. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 11

MXGP Race 1
1. ¬Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) 20 laps 34:09.149; 2. Clement Desalle (Suzuki) 34:19.685; 3. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 20 laps 34:33.080; 4. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 20 laps 34:37.362; 9. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 35:29.968; 14. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 19 laps 34:41.231; 20. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 18 laps 34:11.081

MXGP Race 2
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 17 laps 29:10.216; 2. Clement Desalle (Suzuki) 17 laps 29:19.972; 3. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) 29:33.004; 7. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 17 laps 30:15.701; 9. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 17 laps 30:28.424; 11. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 17 laps 30:33.131; 17. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 16 laps 29:34.547

MX2 Overall
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 50 points; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 40; 3. Dylan Ferrandis (Kawasaki) 40; 7. Aleksandr Tonkov (Husqvarna) 25; 14. Anton Lundgren (Husqvarna) 12; 23. Christopher Valente (Husqvarna) 4

MX2 Race 1
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 20 laps 34:58.798; 2. Dylan Ferrandis (Kawasaki) 20 laps 35:06.400; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 20 laps 35:19.311; 9 Aleksandr Tonkov (Husqvarna) 36:21.062; 17. Anton Lundgren (Husqvarna) 19 laps 36:26.326; 20. Christopher Valente (Husqvarna) 18 laps 36:15.064

MX2 Race 2
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 17 laps 30:06.023; 2. Pauls Jonas (KTM) 17 laps 30:16.335; 3. Julien Lieber (Yamaha) 17 laps 30:22.531; 8. Aleksandr Tonkov (Husqvarna) 17 laps 31.06:552; 13. Anton Lundgren (Husqvarna) 16 laps 30:29.246; 18. Christopher Valente (Husqvarna) 31:42.832