Lommel, Belgium – 31st July – 2011 World Championship

Nicholls solid in the sand and now 12th in the series

HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK’s Jake Nicholls was impressively quick across the hardest and most demanding race-track of the 2011 FIM Motocross World Championship yesterday as the 21 year old scored eighth place overall in the churning sand of Lommel for the Grand Prix of Limburg.

The eleventh round of fifteen in the series took place in temperate conditions and under cloudy skies and watched by a crowd of 23, 300. The sand in eastern Belgium was soft, shapeless and brutal as ever with both 35 minute and 2 lap races providing tests of attrition for both rider and motorcycle.

Nicholls made two positive starts on the 250SX-F and was placed around mid-top ten at both times of asking. The first race was slightly easier in terms of the terrain but a small crash by ‘45’ caused him to lose two positions and he finally made the finish in eighth. Another positive approach on a rougher course later in the afternoon saw Nicholls again proactive in the leading sect and his prowess was only blunted by a problem with his lower back (and another get-off) in the final minutes as he took ninth.

Team-mate Jordan Booker also tasted the sand in either race in what was a hefty and eventful baptism at Lommel. He was unlucky to miss the points in the first moto but a heavy smash in the second outing saw theteenager fortunate to make his way back into the paddock with nothing more serious than a sore left wrist.

Nicholls continues to make good ground in the worldchampionship standings and has pushed up from fourteenth to twelfth despitemissing the first four rounds of the campaign. He needs a further 31 points to rise higher and set his sights on the top ten. Booker is 42nd.

Tom Church made his MX1 debut with the team and sampled contrasting fortunes in the moto. He posted his maiden points on the board despite a first taste of Grand Prix action for over a year by scoring seventeenth after a long trawl through the sand. In the second sprint he collided with Jonathan Barragan and in the spill the fuel cap of the 350SX-F was ripped off and left the Brit staring at a DNF.

The HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK trio will next turn wheels this coming weekend with the Grand Prix of Czech Republic at Loket. For more information visit the team’s website at: www.ktmukmx.com Photo courtesy of Ray Archer

Jake Nicholls:

“I was pretty sensible around the first couple of corners. I made a mistake here last year and that crash cost me a lot so I didn’t want to do the same this time. I just went with them and set the fourth fastest lap of the race, which was really good. It was a shame that I had a little tip-over at the halfway stage and that cost me two positions and a couple of laps trying to find the rhythm again. The track was really heavy and rough in the second one but I felt good and caught Roelants. We were both being sensible but pushing at the same time. With about five laps to go I suddenly didn’t have any energy left with my lower back, I just wasn’t able to stand-up much more on the bike and it was frustrating. I was fit and ready to go but exiting the corners I couldn’t stand and get ready to ride the tops of the bumps. I’d never had that before here when I’ve ridden during the week. It kind of ruined the race from them on. I had another crash when I landed off a jump and went straight into a post. Obviously I have to work on it and perhaps ride Lommel when it is this rough in the future! I’m quite happy with two top tens away and my sand riding has improved.”

Jordan Booker:

“Very sandy! It was a disappointing week coming off two Grands Prix with points. It was an ideal opportunity to score again by keeping consistent, finding a flow and keeping on two wheels. I seemed to be struggling out of the soft gate this weekend. In the first moto I was up to 24th when I collided with someone. I came back up and on the last lap made a couple of passes to finish 21st and was a bit gutted because I just missed the points. I would have been higher it is hadn’t have been for the crash. I was outside the top twenty in the second one and had a small slip-off when I was fighting with Jordi Tixier. I got back up but then had a really big pisser around the back where I went straight over the bars and the bike hit me on the back of the neck. I hurt my wrist a bit and from there just wanted to finish. It was a bad day but I have learnt from this.”

Tom Church:

“The first race was OK. I got held up a bit at the start but then settled into a position of sixteenth, which I thought I could holdonto for the duration but I lost a bit of steam and was just pipped on the last lap. In the second the race was pretty much over before it started when I went down and the bike was damaged and the fuel poured out. I’m happy with my speed; I just need to keep working on my fitness.”

Roger Magee, Team Principal:

“We knew Lommel would be a hard event for everyone. Jake had done a lot of preparation for this one and a few minor errors aside proved he has the ability to go for the top six in the sand. His result was prettygood anyway and we are happy with the way he has gained points since comingback from injury. Jordan couldn’t make the points but I’m certain that he learned from this weekend and will surely sleep well tonight! Tom has not ridden much since May but was able to use his vast experience to bring the bike home and take some points in the first moto. It was a shame that his crash in the second caused the fuel cap to pop off. It is good having him on the team. We will regroup now and look towards Loket.”

Photos - Ray Archer

Results

MX2 Moto1

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 40:09.879; 2. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), +0:25.846; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:54.275; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:13.150; 5. Petar Petrov (BUL, Yamaha), +1:24.853; 6. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:30.270; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +1:30.797; 8. Jake Nicholls (GBR, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK), +1:56.063; 9. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +2:08.345; 10. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 21. Jordan Booker (GBR, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK), -2 lap(s);

MX2 Moto2

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 41:28.098; 2. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), +0:18.176; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:44.762; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:58.899; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +1:20.408; 6. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:28.568; 7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +1:32.563; 8. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +1:57.215; 9. Jake Nicholls (GBR, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK), +2:05.593; 10. Matiss Karro (LAT, Honda), +2:32.356; 25. Jordan Booker (GBR, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK), -3 lap(s);

MX2 Overall result

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 44 p.; 3.Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 36 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 30 p.; 6. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 30 p.; 7. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 25 p.; 8. Jake Nicholls (GBR, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK), 25 p.; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 21 p.; 10. Matiss Karro (LAT, Honda), 20 p.; 27. Jordan Booker (GBR, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK), 0 p.;

MX2 World Championship standings after 11 of 15 rounds

1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 490 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 469 p.; 3. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 400 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 373 p.; 5. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 295 p.; 6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 295 p.; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 285 p.; 8. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 249 p.; 9. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), 207 p.; 10. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 180 p.; 11.Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), 170 p.; 12. Jake Nicholls (GBR, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK), 139 p.; 42. Jordan Booker (GBR, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK), 4 p.;

MX1 Overall result

1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 40 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 35 p.; 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 33 p.; 6. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), 29 p.; 7. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 28 p.; 8. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 26 p.; 9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Honda), 24 p.; 10. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), 22 p.; 19. Tom Church (GBR, KTM), 4 p.;

Event Photo Gallery