Rattray leads MX2 ahead of SA GP
8 July 2008
South Africa's Tyla Rattray, riding a factory KTM, sprayed his eighth bottle of podium champagne at round nine of the 2008 FIM MX2 World Championships at the damp and cold Uddevalla circuit of the Swedish Grand Prix on Sunday.
Rattray took second position overall with results of first and third in the two motos.
He is now the rider with most podium finishes (missing the top three only once, in Spain) and leads the standings by 14 points from world champion Antonio Cairoli.
Red-plate
The Durban-born motocross racer will now head to his home Grand Prix in Nelspruit – at the foot of Kruger Park – with the red plate denoting his status as series leader. He'll be confident of recording his third victory of the season.
In Sweden, Rattray chased holeshotter Shaun Simpson in the first moto and needed at least half of the race to build and maintain his rhythm in order to catch and overtake the Scot.
Once he was in the lead, even discarding his goggles did not prevent the 22-year-old from forging a big advantage for his second moto victory in a row and his sixth of the season.
Goggle problems
'Styla' was again part of the same group in race two but, after having to throw away his goggles once more, he couldn't close down the gap to Simpson in second position and had to settle for a steady third place.
"I was sitting behind Shaun in the first moto and my goggles started misting, so I knew I had to pass him quickly," he said.
"Once I was through then the goggles went! I was a little bit lucky as I had 20 minutes without eye protection, but only found some slower riders towards the end.
"In the second race I ran out of tear-offs and again had to throwaway the goggles. I was getting roostered from Shaun, and at the same time I knew Tommy was behind me so I had to be sensible.
"At the moment things are going really well for me and I must keep on working hard," he added.
Home support
Looking ahead to the South African Grand Prix, he said: "I have seen plenty of photos of the track in Nelspruit and I reckon it will get really rough; much to my liking. Hopefully it will be a good GP and the crowd will get behind me.
"I want to come out of there having extended my points lead."
The Leatt-Brace South African Grand Prix takes place at the Alkmaar circuit in Nelspruit from 18 July to 20 July.
Ticket prices will be R240 per person for a two-day pass, R110 per person for a Saturday pass, R 210 per person for a Sunday pass, and R250 per day for a paddock pass with a 50 percent reduction for children under the age of 12.
Tickets will be on sale at Computicket.
SWEDISH GRAND PRIX
MX2 Moto1
1. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 2. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 3. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 4. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 5. Nico Aubin (Yam); 6. Tommy Searle (KTM); 7. Rui Goncalves (KTM); 8. Matti Seistola (Hon); 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (KTM); 10. Davide Guarneri (Yam)
MX2 Moto2
1. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 2. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 3. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 4. Tommy Searle (KTM); 5. Jeremy Tarroux (KTM); 6. Rui Goncalves (KTM); 7. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 8. Marvin Musquin (Hon); 9. Wyatt Avis (Hon); 10. Greg Aranda (Kaw)
MX2 Overall result
1. Antonio Cairoli (Yam); 2. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 3. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 4. Tommy Searle (KTM); 5. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 6. Rui Goncalves (KTM); 7. Jeremy Tarroux (KTM); 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (KTM); 9. Matti Seistola (Hon); 10. Marvin Musquin (Hon)
MX2 World Championship Standings(After 9 of 15 rounds)
- Tyla Rattray (371)
- Antonio Cairoli (357)
- Tommy Searle (348)
- Shaun Simpson (251)
- Rui Goncalves (227)
- Nico Aubin (205)
- Xavier Boog (182)
- Manuel Monni (172)
- Jeremy Van Horebeek (170)
- Steven Frossard (160)
SAinfo reporter
