Though after winning his first season’s GP in Portugal, the Frenchman saw Championship leader David Philippaerts of Yamaha Monster Motocross take his first win last weekend in Sevlievo.

The latter will enter his home GP in Italy with the red plate and will try to add more heat wins to his account, as he is currently level with Pourcel and Teka Suzuki WMX1’s Ken de Dycker courtesy of two first places in the heats.

While Philippaerts took his third consecutive podium in Bulgaria and Pourcel took his second consecutive one, AXO KTM Silver Action’s Jonathan Barragan was on the rostrum for the first time this year.

He lead a total of 17 laps in the attempt to reach his maiden overall victory, which ended in a second place due to a last moto crash.

MX1-GP OF BULGARIA RESULTS David Philippaerts Jonathan Barragan Sebastien Pourcel Steve Ramon Marc de Reuver

MX1 LOVEMYTIME POLE POSITION AWARD WINS

Sebastien Pourcel 3 Ken De Dycker 1

MX1 RACE WINS

Ken De Dycker 2

David Philippaerts 2

Sebastien Pourcel 2

Steve Ramon 1

MX1 GRAND PRIX WINS

Ken De Dycker 1

Sebastien Pourcel 1

David Philippaerts 1

Steve Ramon 1

MX1 PODIUM POSITIONS

David Philippaerts 3

Ken De Dycker 2

Steve Ramon 2

Sebastien Pourcel 2

Jonathan Barragan 1

Joshua Coppins 1

Max Nagl 1

MX1 RED PLATES

Ken De Dycker 2

David Philippaerts 2

MX1 LAP RECORD (during race)

Ken De Dycker 1

Sebastien Pourcel 1

David Philippaerts 1

Joshua Coppins 1

MX1 LAPS LED

David Philippaerts 35

Ken De Dycker 34

Jonathan Barragan 22

Billy Mankenzie 16

Steve Ramon 13

Sebastien Pourcel 10

MX2

An exciting Bulgarian Grand Prix ended with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tommy Searle leaving his mark on the event, as the British took victory number two of his career after Donington 2007’s maiden win.

Team mate Tyla Rattray took the second spot on the podium to snatch the red plate from first moto winner Antonio Cairoli of Yamaha Red Bull De Carli. The latter crashed at the start of the final heat, with Rattray getting involved in the crash as well.

The South African still holds the record of winning all the four qualifying heats that he took part in so far in the season to top the Lovemytime Qualifying Award standings. Cairoli follows with two wins, the last of which was in Sevlievo.

KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson was a brilliant third on the weekend’s podium, to take his first ever podium finish after an amazing duel with countryman Searle in the final heat – Searle eventually moved past and won in the final lap.

MX2- GP OF BULGARIA RESULTS Tommy Searle Tyla Rattray Shaun Simpson Xavier Boog Nicolas Aubin

MX2 LOVEMYTIME QUALIFYING AWARD WINS

Tyla Rattray 4

Antonio Cairoli 2

Tommy Searle 1

Anthony Boissiere 1

MX2 RACE WINS

Tyla Rattray 3

Antonio Cairoli 3

Tommy Searle 1

Davide Guarneri 1

MX2 GRAND PRIX WINS

Tyla Rattray 1

Antonio Cairoli 1

Tommy Searle 1

Davide Guarneri 1

MX2 PODIUM POSITIONS

Tyla Rattray 3

Antonio Cairoli 2

Tommy Searle 2

Davide Guarneri 1

Manuel Monni 1

Stephen Sword 1

Shaun Simpson 1

Erik Eggens 1

MX2 RED PLATES

Tyla Rattray 3

Antonio Cairoli 1

MX2 LAP RECORD (during race) Antonio Cairoli 2 Tyla Rattray 1 Steven Frossard 1

MX2 LAPS LED

Antonio Cairoli 51

Tyla Rattray 40

Shaun Simpson 16

Tommy Searle 16

Davide Guarneri 9

Joel Roelants 4

Jeremy Van Horebeek 3 131

Nicolas Aubin 1

WHAT’S NEXT There is not much time to move from Bulgaria to Mantova, where the Lovemytime Grand Prix of Italy will take place next weekend (May 17-18). The event will also host the second round of the Women World Championship, reaching Italy for its first time.