GP of Faenza:
Bill and Leuret Protagonists
[Posted 16.07.07]
Huge success for Gp of Faenza Città delle Ceramiche, where 29.000 people attended the coming-back of a World Championship race on "Monte Coralli" track, since the last one was held in 1994.
Team Martin Honda was the protagonist, with Pascal Leuret obtaining the 4° place in MX 2 class, Julien Bill finishing 7° in MX 1 class and 17-year-old Gautier Paulin finishing 13° in MX2 Race 2.
The riders fought very hard in both classes, in MX2 Race 1 Pascal Leuret started 9° and Paulin 12°, at lap 3 Pascalito was already 7° right behind Aubin, at lap 4 he passed Goncalves and so was sixth, while Paulin passed Simpson and Boissiere and so was ninth. At lap 9, Leuret overtook Musquin while Paulin was overtook by Tom Church, while he was fighting with Guarneri for the eighth place. French rider fell and his shoulder was hit and had to withdraw, while Leuret finished fifth and the race was won by Cairoli over Christophe Pourcel. In Race 2, Paulin started 3° behind Pourcel and Rattray. Gautier was the protagonist for 3 laps, fighting with the first riders, then, as a consequence of his crash in Race 1, he started to lose speed and so he finished 13°, which is a great result anyway for a young rider like him that takes part to the European Championship.
Leuret instead started sixth and in spite of the heat and the track that is not one of his favourites, overtook Guarneri at lap 13 and finished 4°, while Christophe Pourcel won the MX 2 GP.
"The result of this Gp is very good", said Leuret, "in Race 1 I obtained a good position and I kept it till the end suffering a lot because of the slippery track. In Race 2 instead, once I entered the top five, I took a little rest because the heat was really unbearable, I thought and I attacked in the end. Next race is Loket and even if also this one is not one of my favourite tracks, the aim is to clinch a good result to get the chance of a podium in Namur".
Gautier Paulin is already thinking about next round of the European Championship and he doesn't hide a little disappointment.
"In Race 1 I was riding very well, Church overtook me and I got hurt. In Race 2 I tried to go ahead and it was not so bad even if the race was spoiled on the whole. Now I will try to win next round of the EUMX 2 to reach Deny Philippaerts, then I will take part in the races in Loket and Namur, even if my main aim is the European Championship".
In MX 1 Julien Bill really amazed with his wonderful riding and overtakings. In Race 1 Swiss rider started seventh and fought hard with Coppins, Mackenzie, Philippaerts with many overtakings while Sebastien Pourcel won the race. In Race 2 Julien started perfectly in fifth position and fought for the podium. Then at lap 4 he was overtook by Ramon and he had to change his rhythm, and with 36° degrees on the track he overtook Belgian rider finishing sixth.
Sebastien Pourcel won the GP ahed of Coppins and Mckenzie.
"The bike and the professional staff that Martin Racing put at mydisposal made it possible for me to achieve these good results, said Bill, it was very hard, the heat was terrible and now I'm hopeful considering next round in Loket, where I got injured last year but I think it can be a good track for me like Faenza".
Also Team manger Paolo Martin is very happy with the results. "We knew we had a strong potential here in Faenza, he said, I had already said this on Friday, both Leuret and Bill showed they are at the top of their physical conditions and they have a bike that supports them. I really enjoyed Bill's riding with his 450 that was flying on the uphills, while Leuret attacked on a track that he doesn't like very much. As for Gautier, another step further for his riding experience and 8 points. He will take part in the races of Loket and Namur because he showed he deserves this. This is confirmation of the good idea of the Junior Team. Now we will work hard for Loket where Bill could produce good results, while I expect Leuret to step on the podium in Namu".
