Mallory Park in KTM hands after GP win by Marvin Musquin

2009-05-31 13:26
Marvin Musquin, the new team member of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team clinched a double MX2 victory in Britain's Mallory Park on Sunday to take the GP win on his first weekend for his new team.

The French rider won both motos for the first time in his career and retained the red number plate as the championship leader. It was his second GP win of the season and his first racing for his new factory team. He later described his first weekend with the orange team as "perfect". Teammate Rui Goncalves finished overall fourth after a very impressive second moto.

Already fast on Saturday
"I am feeling very confident. I liked the track and I am happy with my bike," Marvin said. "Yesterday I knew I was fast when I won the qualifying race and could choose the first gate. I managed to take the holeshot in the first race and I put in some good lap times."

Great ride by Goncalves in second race
Musquin did get at little tangled with Italian David Guameri at the start of the second race and was back at fourth or fifth. Meanwhile factory teammate Rui Goncalves had assumed complete control of the lead. Musquin slowly eroded away the gap and was ultimately able to slip past Goncalves in the closing stages. Rui finished a confident second in the second moto, picking up 36 championship points for his weekend's work to retain his fourth place in the standings. Just 32 points shy of the leader he still has plenty of opportunity to level the score.

Rui Goncalves: "this was a positive weekend for me although after getting a good start in the first race I did have some problems with arm pump. Then before the second race we did some changes to the bike set up. I managed to get the holeshot and I rode my own race. I got passed at the end but I am still very satisfied with my ride today. I know I am strong mentally and physically and I am looking forward to tackling the next races with the same positive attitude."

Jeremy van Horebeek of the KTM Factory Junior Racing Team was fifth following his debut GP victory in Bellpuig, Spain in the last round to round off a very strong weekend for KTM riders.

Plenty of home GP support for Shaun Simpson
The team was able to welcome injured Shaun Simpson in the paddock and he said he was able to learn much from just being at the British GP. "Even though I was not riding, it was great to experience how much the crowd supported me and was happy to see me here," Shaun said. I watched very carefully because you can always learn something and in the first race I even had a go at doing the race commentary. It was quite funny but very difficult!"

Looking forward to great sporting moments
Team boss Stefan Everts said it had been a weekend of transition for the team with the arrival Musquin, the new team member. "It is a new experience but I am confident that we are going to enjoy some great sporting moments like the ones we shared with Tyla (Rattray) and Tommy (Searle) last season," he said. Everts congratulated Musquin on "a great entry race" to the factory team.


Results
1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM (25-25) 50 points
2. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki, 42
3. Gautier Paulin, France, Kawasaki, 38
4. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM, 36
5. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, 29
Other KTM
10. Anthony Boissiere, France, KTM, 25
11. Stephen Sword, Britain, KTM, 23
12. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM, 12
15. Jake Nichols, Britain, KTM, 10
17. Arnaud Tonus, Switzerland, KTM, 9
18. Valentin Teillet, France, KTM, 8

Championships Standings after 7 of 15 rounds
1. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM 234 points
2. Gautier Paulin, France, Kawasaki, 219
3. Davide Guarneri, Italy, Yamaha, 208
4. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM, 202
5. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki,178
Other KTM
8. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, 118
9. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM, 97
13. Arnaud Tonus, Switzerland, KTM, 92
14. Marcus Schiffer, Germany, KTM. 89
15. Stephen Sword, Britain, KTM, 84

Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG

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