Pourcel and Roczen seize pole at Matterley Basin

The British Grand Prix started on Saturday with the qualifying races of MX1 and MX2, as well as both races of the FIM Veterans World Cup. Christophe Pourcel and Ken Roczen were the Lovemytime pole position winners after dominating their respective races, and Philip Mercer ruled both veterans’ heats. In the MX1 class Christophe Pourcel and Steven Frossard starred in an incredible battle for the lead and after exchanging the first position several times, Pourcel crossed the finish line first. Second was Frossard and third was Antonio Cairoli, who did a great recovery from his initial sixth position. Ken Roczen won the MX2 qualifying race and Gautier Paulin and Arnaud Tonus were second and third respectively. Jeffrey Herlings went too wide at the start and went down the floor, which made him start from the dead last position. The runner up of the series managed to finish 22nd. MX1
CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit had a really good start and rode second behind Frossard during the first two laps, but he made a move from the inside over his compatriot and, although they exchanged the lead several times, he crossed the finish line first. Pourcel admitted that he is finally feeling really good on his bike and he expects to fight for the top positions in the upcoming races. Second was Monster Energy Yamaha’s Frossard, who managed to take the holeshot but he did not want to take many risks and rode second until the chequered flag after he was overtaken by Pourcel. Frossard admitted that he had really good fun at the British track today and that he is looking forward to the races tomorrow morning. Red Bull Teka KTM Factory Racing MX1’s Cairoli was sixth after the start and during the first laps of the qualifying race he rode behind Boog and Leok, who were battling for the third position. However, having three laps to go, the Italian made a move over the two riders and managed to cross the finish line third. TM Racing Factory’s Leok was fourth, ahead of Kawasaki Racing Team’s Boog, who took the holeshot of the MX1 qualifying race. Guarneri ended sixth in today’s race and home rider Mackenzie was seventh in his comeback to the GP after his two year’s stay in Australia. Strijbos was eighth and Gonçalves and Barragán were ninth and tenth respectively. Campano, who is riding for the Monster Energy Yamaha squad, did a mistake when he was trying to overtake Nagl, but he was very satisfied with his 13th position and he expects to finish among the top ten tomorrow. 1. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 25:02.317; 2. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), +0:01.995; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:16.088; 4. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +0:16.910; 5. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:23.806; 6. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:29.492; 7. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:30.642; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:31.256; 9. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:32.511; 10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:34.977; MX2
Red Bull Teka KTM Factory Racing MX2’s Roczen obtained his tenth Lovemytime pole position award after wining todays MX2 qualifying race. Roczen admitted that he felt really comfortable racing the British track and he actually described it as one of the best ones of the season. Monster Energy Yamaha’s Paulin did not have a great start, but rode really well during the first lap and managed to get up to the second position already in the second lap. The French rider has been really unlucky in the previous GP, so he hopes to be back on the podium after having missed it during the last three rounds. Bike-it Cosworth Wild Wolf Yamaha’s Tonus did an incredible start and, although he fought for the lead with Roczen during the first laps of the race, he had to settle down with a final third place. After his qualifying race win in Loket, Tonus has recovered some confidence on himself and he feels now ready to obtain his maiden podium of the season. CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit’s Searle rode a consistent MX2 qualifying race and crossed the finish line fourth, ahead of Van Horebeek. The home rider is very excited about tomorrow’s races and in today’s press conference he confessed that his main goal tomorrow is being on the first step of the podium in front of his British crowd. Van Horebeek from Red Bull Teka KTM Factory Racing MX2 team obtained a solid fifth position, which will let him choose a good starting gate tomorrow and fight for another podium finish. Teillet, Roelants and Nicholls ended sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, and Tixier and Butrón completed the top ten. British rider Anstie was not able to finish the qualifying race, as he had some problems with his bike already in the first lap. However, Anstie did not want to give up and he was riding sixth when the bike suddenly stopped. 1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 25:10.677; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:06.657; 3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:09.836; 4. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:18.830; 5. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:24.377; 6. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Suzuki), +0:24.892; 7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:32.977; 8. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +0:48.847; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:55.841; 10. Antonio Jose Butron Oliva (ESP, KTM), +0:57.603;