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MX 2 Podium for Tyla Rattray in Bellpuig

In Offroad

16 aprile 2007

Tyla Rattray put the KTM Red Bull Racing Team on the podium for the Grand Prix of Spain with 3rd overall in the 2nd round of the MX2 World Championships.

The MX2 KTM factory team’s result was further boosted by an overall 4th place by young teenager Tommy Searle of Britain.

“Spain is always good to me,” said Rattray, who had a 4-3 result in the two motos. “For a bad day, today was good.” The South African, rarely satisfied unless he is on the top of the podium was referring to the conditions at the Spanish circuit which had suffered from continual rain since Thursday. Saturday’s training was cancelled altogether due to the bad weather and although the skies cleared for Sunday the track was muddy and very heavy. Rattray admitted he had not had good starts in either of the two motos, but plans to spend the coming week leading up to the Portuguese Grand Prix with some dedicated training with team boss and 10 x world champion Stefan Everts.

It was also an excellent day for young Tommy Searle who delivered a 6-4 result on Sunday. He said the conditions had been tough after the rain and there were lots of roots on the track demanding that the riders paid close attention to the line. “The second race was good for me and I was happy to be fourth,” he said. Searle will return to Britain this week and train there ahead of the Portuguese GP. “I am looking forward to that. I like the track and there are some good jumps,” he said. “I hope to be on the podium in Portugal.”

Everts conceded that his two factory riders had had trouble with their starts this weekend, which hindered them being able to jockey for good positions in the early stages of the races. “We need to be up there in the front,” Everts said. “I will train the starts with Tyla and David (Philippaerts of the KTM MX1 team) this week. But I am very positive and confident that we are going to be up with the best.”

Tyla Rattray is second in the overall world championship standings with 82 points after two Grands Prix and Tommy Searle is eighth with 44 points.

Results Bellpuig, Round 2
1. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, Yamaha
2. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki
3. Tyla Rattray, south Africa, KTM
4. Tommy Searle, Britain, KTM
5. Pascal Leuret, France, Honda