GP Of Belgium: Bill Finished Third In Race 2
[Posted 06.08.07]
NAMUR (Belgium), 5 AUG. – Huge success for the 60° edition of the Belgian GP in Namur, that took place on a 2457 metres long circuit called "La Citadelle".
In MX 2, 17-year-old French Gautier Paulin made his debut on the long and difficult Belgian track and was the protagonist of a great first moto. He started perfectly in 4° position, while Christophe Pourcel and Antonio Cairoli crashed, and he showed an impressive rhythm behind Searle, Goncalves and Tarroux. During lap 6, he overtook his countryman Tarroux in the wood after he controlled him for the previous 2 laps. Paulin impressed everybody with his ease on the long jumps (the famous 31 metres long triple jump) and on Chalet du Monument downhill. Paulin put the heat on Goncalves, riding in 2’52, but when Gautier was ready to pass him, he had some troubles with the chain of his CRF 250 R and he had to give up. Searle won ahead of Goncalves and Schiffer. In the second moto, Martin Honda's French rider started well and was tenth in lap 1 through the wood. He passed Hamblin and Church and was eighth, but in the end he finished 12° the first GP of Belgium of his career scoring 9 points. The race was great, probably the best 2007 moto with a frantic challenge in the wood among Christophe Pourcel and Italians Cairoli and Guarneri. Pourcel won the moto.
The last 3 rounds of the World Championship will be held on 19th August in Moneyglass Demense (Northern Ireland), then on 26th August in Donington Park (UK) and on 2nd September in Lierop (The Netherlands).
In MX 1, great performance also for Julien Bill, the Swiss rider that had a bad start in Race 1 and was 23° through the wood but he did not give up and thanks to his top physical conditions he passed Kovalainen, Salaets, Salvini, Chiodi, Anderson, increasing his rhythm and riding in 2’48” in the last lap. Right on "Esplanade", he tried to pass French Renet but he had to settle down for a glorious tenth position. Sebastien Pourcel won and De Dycker and Mc Kenzie completed the podium.
In second heat, Team Honda Martin' Swiss rider started really fast behind Italian Philippaerts. During lap 3, Julien took the lead with an impressive rhythm till the end of the lap. Then, during lap 6, Leok worked his way up to second, but Bill managed to handle the heat very well, finishing third on the podium of second heat, behind Philippaerts and Leok.
Positive performance for Bill, who is ready for another good race in Northern Ireland as a protagonist of MX1 class.
