Perhaps the Motoclub Angerien were preparing themselves for a thoroughly damp event (the 15th GP at St Jean in the club’s 80th year, as Youthstream Media Manager Marionna Leiva pointed out) and in the end the French terrain was not as technical or tough compared to recent years
This was hinted at by former winner David Philippaerts. “I didn’t like the track today: no lines or bumps and all the riders going the same speed,” said the Italian in a slightly exaggerated view and his opinion was contradicted by MX2 runner-up Tommy Searle who claimed the layout was the best prepped circuit of the year so far. It is likely the Brit was faster than the ex-world champion and, in truth, only lost the Grand Prix with his 3-1 scorecard compared to Jeffrey Herlings’ 1-2 after his horror start in the first moto. I asked the Kawasaki rider and 2011 French GP winner on Saturday afternoon if the speed was that close between him and his title rival that if he fluffed the start on Sunday would he still triumph? His answer was evasive “maybe he will fluff his start and I’ll escape”. Sadly for the Brazilian mud expert it didn’t work out like that.
At a Grand Prix where Tony Cairoli was imperious, the Sicilian’s excellent performance was overshadowed by the spat between Kawasaki duo Christophe Pourcel (2nd overall, also in the standings, and now owner of four trophies from the six rounds) and Gautier Paulin (on the box three times so far). The controversial incident with Jeffrey Herlings and returning Arnaud Tonus was also a major talking point. Watch it here
I’d tipped Pourcel, Paulin or Philippaerts for the win pre-event and didn’t think much of Cairoli’s chances after his poor showing at the Motocross of Nations and his dislike of the French hard-pack. His resilient blast back to form for a third GP win (50% ratio in 2012) was almost fault-free and completely impressive. “I think it was one of my best motos of the season and maybe even from the last two years,” the champion said about his dominance in the first race ahead of a lightning fast top five pace in MX1 and in a season where the category is immensely strong in depth with some 17 riders having tasted Grand Prix success at some stage. “It was important to get two good starts on a track like this and where the lap-times are close. If you get out front then it is the others that have to pass you, they have all the rocks flying up and have to spend more energy. I was very happy that I could push when it came time to do it,” commented Cairoli who also remarked that he had to alter suspension and some aspects of the set-up on his 350SX-F on Saturday (although he wouldn’t mention what exactly).
Back to the Herlings-Tonus spill. I think it was the first time I’d seen the docile and friendly 20 year old Swiss in anything like a bad mood. He was pissed off with the ‘gesture’ made by his sister’s boyfriend but almost more worried about any after-effects to the right shoulder he dislocated pre-season and that forced his five race absence.
“Overall I’m happy because only one week ago I still couldn’t really ride like I wanted. I was still sore and I made my decision to be here on Wednesday because I couldn’t wait any longer to race. The second moto was going better until Jeffrey did that stupid thing and I crashed and lost everything. It took me almost one lap to get started again. I fell on my shoulder again so I don’t know how that will feel tomorrow. Hopefully everything will be OK.”
Herlings held the most anticipated press conference of the season alone after visiting FIM officials for a dressing down about his conduct and arriving delayed to the press office. The Dutchman may have his critics and might behave at times like the teenager he is but his openness with words and opinions is pretty refreshing, even if his explanations were mixed on the French affair. “I’ve had a small warning but nothing big. I just have to watch out next time and be a bit better,” he said on his ‘slap on the wrist’.
“It was an aggressive racing accident made by me and I regret doing it and I may have caused some trouble,” continued Herlings. “He came back from injury…and I respect him a lot. Tommy overtook him and I was straight on his back wheel. He was really fighting for his position and defending it more than he had to. He was breaking my lines and going all over the place. I saw he was over the limit and he almost crashed to be honest. I went into him and I really didn’t mean to take him down but just do what he had been doing to me. Obviously he crashed and I didn’t mean to do that but that’s racing and all I can say is that I’m sorry.”
When it was pointed out that this was the second occasion in which he’d had to apologise Herlings doubled over old ground, namely the incident with Tommy Searle where he cut across out of the gate and caused both to crash at the Grand Prix of Italy. “There has been always a game – as everybody knows – between me and Tommy,” he offered. “What I did at the start in Fermo definitely wasn’t acceptable…maybe. In my opinion I was not really at fault. He could have closed the gas like I’ve done already ten times for him but he didn’t back off so he ran straight into me. I’m not a dirty rider and as many people know I don’t go to clean people out and didn’t mean to clean Arnaud out. We just touched and he went down.”
Searle also had an opinion when probed on Herlings’ conduct: “He [Herlings] does what he wants and that’s it…I can only focus on me. Tonus was riding a good race and I think it was difficult to pass. Out there with the roost and stuff it makes you a bit angry but it is a dangerous enough sport as it is without doing stupid things on the track.”
Tonus himself actually had a chance to enact retribution on the last lap of the same moto when Herlings caught his rear wheel again on the approach to lapping the Swiss. The Yamaha man moved over and justified his plausible non-action (and therefore planting himself more firmly as the good guy wronged) by stating “I could have done something but I’m not that kind of guy.”
With one, possibly two, new rivalries simmering in MX2 another was reaching the red zone in MX1 when some gate stealing and tampering by Paulin and Pourcel was followed by a close move by the rookie on the former champion in the first moto. The overtaking manoeuvre was close and in the closing stages and earned a stinging rebuke from Pourcel who seemed to be indulging in a bit of mind games and psychological strategy by slamming Paulin in the press conference. The factory Kawasaki rider raised his eyes but didn’t react to the bait. There will be more to this dynamic for sure and it is a shame it has turned a bit ugly after two fair and close races in Bulgaria and Italy.
“Gautier came back and made what I thought was a stupid move,” Pourcel said. “If he showed he was faster than me at the end of the moto then I would have let him go because we both don’t want to crash and lose points for the championship. Anyway I don’t like him and that’s fine with me and I’ll fight to the end.”
Finally a thought for Rockstar Suzuki’s Clement Desalle who today attends the funeral of his grandfather who was in good health but who died suddenly on Thursday, creating a difficult and strange Grand Prix weekend for the Belgian and his family.
Onto Portugal and catch up with the latest drama in OTOR 32 on Tuesday.
