In the MX2 class KTM took a clean sweep by winning both qualifying motos with Championship leader Tyla Rattray and youngster Gert Krestinov. Home rider and series leader Peter Iven took pole in the Veterans’ Cup.

MX1 Martin Honda’s Marc de Reuver ended the qualifying session with a surprising pole position despite a left foot injury took him out of the South African GP two weeks ago. The Dutchman ended in front of other sand specialist Ken de Dycker of Teka Suzuki WMX1 as the Belgian looks like a solid challenger for tomorrow’s race. GPKR’s Sebastien Pourcel took the third quickest time from Kawasaki fellow rider Tanel Leok as defending Champion Steve Ramon was a solid fifth.

Josh Coppins was one second off the pole as he clocked the sixth quickest time, placing himself ahead of the winner of the latest two GP’s Jonathan Barragan.

Top five: 1. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), 2:03.015; 2. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:00.138; 3. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:00.563; 4. Tanel Leok (EST, Kawasaki), +0:00.632; 5. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:00.789

MX2

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tyla Rattray ended the first qualifying heat in first place to choose the best gate position tomorrow. Team mate Rui Goncalves was second ahead of Shaun Simpson recovering to third after a difficult start.

A surprising Gert Krestinov of Favor KTM Motorsport took victory in the second qualifying heat as early leader Tommy Searle of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing crashed and handed the lead to the Estonian.

The Brit brought the bike home in second from Joel Roelants. MX2 QUALIFYING RACE 1 After Goncalves’ holeshot Rattray took control of the opening heat and won his sixth Lovemytime Qualifying Award. Goncalves ended second as Simpson rounded off the top three.

The latter made a brilliant recovery from outside the top five. Van Horebeek took a hard fought fourth as Eggens rounded off the top five. After riding upfront Verbruggen dropped down to sixth.

Top five: 1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 26:26.184; ; 2. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +0:14.352; 3. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:42.576; 4. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:43.819; 5. Erik Eggens (NED, Suzuki), +0:48.186

MX2 QUALIFYING RACE 2

After a solid start Searle was heading the pack but he crashed at mid race distance to hand Krestinov the lead. The Estonian brought the bike home safe in first for the first time in his career as Searle took second. Roelants was third ahead of Frenchmen Aubin and Musquin rounding off the top five.

Top five: 1. Gert Krestinov (EST, KTM), 24:37.809; ; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), +0:02.939; 3. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:27.954; 4. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:42.713; 5. Marvin Musquin (FRA, Honda), +1:02.275

FIM VETERANS’ WORLD CUP

Home rider and series leader Peter Iven took a fantastic pole position at this last round of the Veterans’ World Cup; being one of the most expert riders in sandy conditions such as in Lommel, Iven aims at wrapping up his first ever title while runner up Dave Thorpe struggled today and ended fourth. Toine van Dijk was second quickest ahead of Jan Blancquaert.

Top five: 1. Peter Iven (BEL, Kawasaki), 2:17.887; 2. Toine van Dijk (NED, Suzuki), +0:01.267; 3. Jan Blancquaert (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:01.832; 4. Dave Thorpe (GBR, Honda), +0:04.353; 5. Erwin Gabriel (BEL, Yamaha), +0:05.317

NEWS OF THE DAY:

BELGIAN RED BULL MXoN TEAM PRESENTED

At the start to their home GP, the Belgians presented their team for the forthcoming Red Bull FIM Motocross of Nations taking place on September 28th in Donington Park, Great Britain.

Team Manager Joel Smets announced the three men line up made of MX1 rider Ken de Dycker, MX Open rider Steve Ramon and MX2 rider Jeremy van Horebeek. The squad is the same as the one taking third at last year’s event in Budds Creek, USA.

More information on the Belgian squad can be found on their dedicated website: www.mxofnations.be.

NEWS OF THE DAY: KTM UNVEILS FACTORY TEAM’S LINEUP FOR 2009

With just four remaining Grand Prix’s before the end of the 2008 season, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Team Manager Stefan Everts and KTM’s Off Road Director Pit Beirer announced the factory team’s line up for the next season. Rui Goncalves and Shaun Simpson will ride in the MX2 class, with the latter coming from one of the satellite KTM teams (KTM UK) which are part of the young riders dedicated program to continue also next year. Maximilian Nagl will remain in the MX1 class with current MX2 series leader Tyla Rattray joining him in the same category.

NEWS OF THE DAY:

EVERTS AND FRIENDS CHARITY RACE 2008

August 23rd will see the start to the third edition of the Everts and Friends Charity Race, organized by Mr. Serge Giuliani and involving directly the ten time World Champion. The event will be held at Genk, Belgium, and it will offer lots of different racing situations involving also Stefan Everts.

During the same day Stefan Everts, his father Harry –four time World Champion- and his son Liam, who just started to race Motocross, will do a lap of the track altogether.

The funds raised at the Everts and Friends Charity race will be given to two associations, the Een Hart vor Limburg and the Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner, helping the children affected by cancer.

More information on the Everts and Friends Charity Race can be found on their dedicated website: www.evertsandfriends.lu.

STEDELIJK MOTOCROSSCENTRUM AND LOMMEL

The race track in Lommel is one of the most popular sandy courses in the world, as it is very well known for its deep and demanding ground. The weekend will be probably the toughest in the GP calendar even though the high summer temperatures might be reduced by possible rain showers.

In occasion of the Grand Prix the track has been fully rebuilt; compared to the previous layout the course is slightly shorter, wider and more flowing.

These conditions will allow the riders to keep a higher and more constant pace, which is normally a worry in a sandy course as the track conditions change lap by lap.

The town of Lommel is 112 kilometres East of Brussels; it is in the province of Limburg, the easternmost province of Flanders, one of Belgium’s main regions. Having about 30000 inhabitants, Lommel has got plenty of interesting spots which are all worth a visit.

The “Sahara” is a beautiful natural attraction consisting of a desert-like landscape with white sand and a lake in the middle of the area. In the city there are modern buildings such as the Soeverein, a multipurpose hall, and ancient constructions such as the Burgomaster’s House, an estate which is now a well equipped centre for visitors, with also a visual tour on Lommel’s history.

THE EVENT’S SCHEDULE

Sunday August 3: Veterans Warm-up at 9:00 am; MX2 Warm-up at 9:30 am; MX1 Warm-up at 10:00 am; Veterans Race 1 at 11:10 am; MX2 Grand Prix Race 1 at 12:10 am; MX1 Grand Prix Race 1 at 1:10 pm; Veterans Race 2 at 2:10 pm; MX2 Grand Prix Race 2 at 3:03 pm; MX1 Grand Prix Race 2 at 4:03 pm (local time).