South Africa’s leading off-road motorcycle racer Tyla Rattray has steered his factory Red Bull KTM to runner-up position today at a sweltering and 29,000 fan-packed Mantova circuit for the Grand Prix of Italy and the fourth round of the FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship. The sandy, jumpy and spectacular course in the centre of the town presented a demanding test to the world’s elite as sunny conditions once again graced the fifteen-race 2007 Motocross campaign. The terrain blended hard-pack sections with more rutted and bumpy sandy parts. After qualifying well in his heat Rattray finally realised a pair of decent starts in the two 35 minute and 2 lap motos. Antonio Cairoli would prove unbeatable at his home Grand Prix but ‘Ratters’ was easily best of the rest. He had to contend with team-mate Tommy Searle (who would go on to claim third overall) and Kenneth Gundersen in the opening race but pulled clear at the half way stage to confirm second place. Rattray, who suffered a mechanical failure at the previous round in Portugal, again excited the gate in sprightly fashion and made a positive first lap in Moto2. He quickly moved into second spot but Cairoli had already made a break and the 21 year old enacted a lonely moto for his second top three finish of the day and his fifth of the season from eight sprints thus far. “In Portugal I had some problems but I put that behind me,” said Rattray, who used the customised butt patch ‘Ciao Italia’ on his Alpinestars racing pants. “We changed a few settings on the bikes and KTM have been working hard so we came to Italy full prepared. I am pretty happy with two second positions today and it was important to get as many points as I could after Portugal.” “The first moto was difficult in the beginning, I struggled to find a rhythm and got a little bit of arm-pump but felt a lot better towards the end of the race,” he continued. “The second heat was different because the sun was beating down and I knew the track would be a lot rougher we changed the suspension to suit the conditions. I got into second on lap two and put some times down in an effort to catch Tony but he was too good today.” Rattray has now accumulated 145 points to lie second in the series standings, 55 behind leader Cairoli and 5 ahead of current World Champ Christophe Pourcel. The factory KTM team now focus their attentions for round five of the World Championship. Rattray will begin preparations immediately for the fast and undulating Talkessel circuit at Teutschenthal next week. The Grand Prix of Germany precedes a weekend break before the trip to Sugo and Japan for the final race this month. picture from ktmpresss.com
Monday, May 7, 2007
Third podium of the season for Rattray in Italy -ozzy go- stylamx.com
South Africa’s leading off-road motorcycle racer Tyla Rattray has steered his factory Red Bull KTM to runner-up position today at a sweltering and 29,000 fan-packed Mantova circuit for the Grand Prix of Italy and the fourth round of the FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship. The sandy, jumpy and spectacular course in the centre of the town presented a demanding test to the world’s elite as sunny conditions once again graced the fifteen-race 2007 Motocross campaign. The terrain blended hard-pack sections with more rutted and bumpy sandy parts. After qualifying well in his heat Rattray finally realised a pair of decent starts in the two 35 minute and 2 lap motos. Antonio Cairoli would prove unbeatable at his home Grand Prix but ‘Ratters’ was easily best of the rest. He had to contend with team-mate Tommy Searle (who would go on to claim third overall) and Kenneth Gundersen in the opening race but pulled clear at the half way stage to confirm second place. Rattray, who suffered a mechanical failure at the previous round in Portugal, again excited the gate in sprightly fashion and made a positive first lap in Moto2. He quickly moved into second spot but Cairoli had already made a break and the 21 year old enacted a lonely moto for his second top three finish of the day and his fifth of the season from eight sprints thus far. “In Portugal I had some problems but I put that behind me,” said Rattray, who used the customised butt patch ‘Ciao Italia’ on his Alpinestars racing pants. “We changed a few settings on the bikes and KTM have been working hard so we came to Italy full prepared. I am pretty happy with two second positions today and it was important to get as many points as I could after Portugal.” “The first moto was difficult in the beginning, I struggled to find a rhythm and got a little bit of arm-pump but felt a lot better towards the end of the race,” he continued. “The second heat was different because the sun was beating down and I knew the track would be a lot rougher we changed the suspension to suit the conditions. I got into second on lap two and put some times down in an effort to catch Tony but he was too good today.” Rattray has now accumulated 145 points to lie second in the series standings, 55 behind leader Cairoli and 5 ahead of current World Champ Christophe Pourcel. The factory KTM team now focus their attentions for round five of the World Championship. Rattray will begin preparations immediately for the fast and undulating Talkessel circuit at Teutschenthal next week. The Grand Prix of Germany precedes a weekend break before the trip to Sugo and Japan for the final race this month. picture from ktmpresss.com
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