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Rattray keeps World Moto-X lead

12 August 2008

South African motocross star Tyla Rattray took his haul of trophies into double figures with second position overall and his tenth podium result of the year at the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic on the weekend.

At the same venue where his 2007 campaign was prematurely halted due to a knee injury, Rattray took another step towards his first title with victory in the opening race and the runner-up position in the second moto.

His strong performances resulted in a tie on points with his team-mate and main rival for the crown Tommy Searle; the final classification was determined by the second race ranking, which saw Searle claim the honours.

Ninth win

After sealing his seventh lovemytime award on Saturday and pole position, the Red Bull KTM star took advantage of a mistake by Searle to secure his ninth chequered flag from 23 races in the first moto.

Even though he carried a tweaked ankle into the second outing, Rattray engaged in the best race of the year so far when he and Searle circulated for almost the entire distance within a second of each other.

The duel ended on the last lap when the South African made a mistake and clipped the side of a plastic fence and went down, allowing Searle an opportunity to escape.

'Two solid rides'

"I have always liked to come and race here, but in the last couple of years the track has bitten me quite badly so I am happy to get two solid rides finally," said Rattray afterwards.

"The second moto was great. Tommy and I had a really good, clean fight. I was ready to try everything to try and pass him on that final lap, but I made a small mistake which gave him the GP.

"I still have the red plate, but there is no pressure because it is what I have worked and sacrificed a lot for...if I still have it after the second moto in Faenza then I will be really happy!"

Three more rounds

With only three more rounds left in the season, Rattray continues to hold onto a 20-point lead over Searle in the world championship standings.

The 22-year-old now faces a three-week hiatus before preparing for the final three Grands Prix of the season - in Dublin, Lierop and Faenza – that will take place over successive weekends.

MX2 Moto1

1. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 2. Tommy Searle (KTM); 3. Nicolas Aubin (Yam); 4. Stephen Sword (Kaw); 5. Anthony Boissiere (Yam); 6. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 7. Joel Roelants (KTM); 8. Rui Goncalves (KTM); 9. Jeremy Tarroux (KTM); 10. Xavier Boog (Suz); 11. Manuel Monni (Yam); 12. Alessandro Lupino (Yam); 13. Jake Nicholls (Suz); 14. Marvin Musquin (Hon); 15. Jason Dougan (Suz); 16. Carl Nunn (Suz); 17. Gert Krestinov (KTM); 18. Loic Rombaut (Kaw); 19. Gunter Schmidlinger Hon); 20. Petr Smitka (Yam)

MX2 Moto2

1. Tommy Searle (KTM); 2. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 3. Anthony Boissiere (Yam); 4. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 5. Stephen Sword (Kaw); 6. Nicolas Aubin (Yam); 7. Davide Guarneri (Yam); 8. Manuel Monni (Yam); 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (KTM); 10. Rui Goncalves (KTM); 11. Xavier Boog (Suz); 12. Jeremy Tarroux (KTM); 13. Matti Seistola (Hon); 14. Carl Nunn (Suz); 15. Elliot Banks-Browne (Suz); 16. Zach Osborne (Yam); 17. Alessandro Lupino (Yam); 18. Gert Krestinov (KTM); 19. Loic Rombaut (Kaw); 20. Joel Roelants (KTM);

MX2 Overall result

1. Tommy Searle (KTM); 2. Tyla Rattray (KTM); 3. Anthony Boissiere (Yam); 4. Nicolas Aubin (Yam); 5. Stephen Sword (Kaw); 6. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 7. Rui Goncalves (KTM); 8. Manuel Monni (Yam); 9. Xavier Boog (Suz); 10. Jeremy Tarroux (KTM); 11. Joel Roelants (KTM); 12. Davide Guarneri (Yam); 13. Alessandro Lupino (Yam); 14. Jeremy Van Horebeek (KTM); 15. Carl Nunn (Suz); 16. Matti Seistola (Hon); 17. Jake Nicholls (Suz); 18. Gert Krestinov (KTM); 19. Marvin Musquin (Hon); 20. Elliot Banks-Browne (Suz);

MX2 World Championship Standings

1. Tyla Rattray (499); 2. Tommy Searle (479); 3. Antonio Cairoli (357); 4. Shaun Simpson (312); 5. Nicolas Aubin (309); 6. Rui Goncalves (303); 7. Steven Frossard (248); 8. Xavier Boog (245); 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (244); 10. Manuel Monni (226); 11. Stephen Sword (212); 12. Anthony Boissiere (210); 13. Marvin Musquin (180); 14. Davide Guarneri (167); 15. Jeremy Tarroux (161); 16. Joel Roelants (148); 17. Greg Aranda (101); 18. Gautier Paulin (95); 19. Carl Nunn (85); 20. Gert Krestinov (80)

SAinfo reporter