Martin Honda’s Marc de Reuver put in another astonishing performance after his fifth overall in Bulgaria; the Dutchman took his first pole of the season, marking also the first pole position for Honda since the manufacturer came back to MXGP’s with a factory involvement.

Yamaha Monster Motocross’ David Philippaerts took a superb second after heading the time sheets for part of the section; the MX1 series leader was right ahead of runner up Steve Ramon of Teka Suzuki WMX1, who was just 50 thousandths of a second away from the Italian.

At the end of the day Philippaerts also announced a new sponsorship deal with the GP’s title sponsor Lovemytime. David Philippaerts is on route for his second consecutive GP win after Bulgaria A solid Clement Desalle of Suzuki Inotec was fourth ahead of Kawasaki Racing’s Tanel Leok and Ken de Dycker.

The latter jumped up to sixth with a few minutes to go, placing himself ahead of the winner of the latest three Lovemytime Pole Position Awards Sebastien Pourcel. Bike problems made it a difficult opening day for Joshua Coppins, who ended sixteenth fastest.

Top five: 1. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), 1:54.015; 2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:00.602; 3. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:01.254; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:02.488; 5. Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), +0:02.577

Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Tony Cairoli and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tommy Searle were the protagonists of this opening day as they both won their Lovemytime Qualifying Award today at Mantova.

A superb Stephen Sword of Molson Kawasaki took a solid second from Cairoli, with Suzuki Inotec’s Xavier Boog ending the top three. In moto two Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tyla Rattray ended second to Searle but left KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson behind, with the result reminding of the recent Bulgarian GP podium.

Home rider and Spanish GP winner Davide Guarneri crashed in heat one and damaged the ligaments of his right knee. He will not ride on Sunday. Tony Cairoli won both heats at Mantova last year

MX2 QUALIFYING RACE 1

Cairoli took the lead at the third lap after a solid Sword tried to ran away from the rest of the field; eventually Cairoli was the one to make it, leaving the British behind with a gap of more than eight seconds. Boog worked his way up throughout the heat, ending third from countrymen Aubin and Frossard.

Celebrating his 23rd birthday today, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Rui Goncalves had an awful celebration as he crashed at lap one and had to work his way up from last to eighth.

Top five: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 24:30.567; ; 2. Stephen Sword (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:08.723; 3. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), +0:10.133; 4. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:10.807; 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:22.633

Stephen Sword lead the opening laps of qualifying heat one MX2 QUALIFYING RACE 2 Taking an early lead, Searle was successful to keep it throughout the entire moto despite team mate Rattray tried to close in several times to keep up a possible qualifying heat wins record of five out of five.

Though the South African ended second ahead of Simpson, who cruised in third for all the 11 laps. Riding ill, home rider Monni grasped a well deserved fourth place with Eggens rounding off the top five.

Top five: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 24:21.418; ; 2. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), +0:06.534; 3. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:10.870; 4. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), +0:27.623; 5. Erik Eggens (NED, Suzuki), +0:28.811

Tommy Searle will start from second on tomorrow’s grid

RED BULL ENERGY STATION OPENS DOORS TO MOTOCROSS MEDIA

The very well known Red Bull Energy Station, which is present to each Motocross Grand Prix, is now a very popular meeting point in the paddock. Today the media following the Championship had the possibility to enjoy a visit to the structure, being very welcomed by the Red Bull crew, offering an aperitif and a buffet to end a pleasant evening. The media enjoying a relaxing evening at the Red Bull Energy Station