Pre-season favourite Josh Coppins takes a six-point lead over home favourite Jonathan Barragan into this weekend's Grand Prix of Spain, round two of the 2007 MX1 world championship.
While Coppins' race one win and overall victory at the Valkenswaard season-opener was of little surprise, the factory Yamaha mounted New Zealander couldn’t prevent KTM star Barragan taking his first ever moto victory in the second outing - and the young Spaniard is expected to again challenge Coppins, for what would be a first GP victory, in front of his home fans this weekend.
Suzuki WMX GP riders Steve Ramon and Kevin Strijbos took third and fourth in Valkenswaard, and Strijbos in particular will be aiming to up his pace further this weekend after winning both the second round of the Belgian Championship and an International race at Wuustwezel over Easter. Ramon isn’t a fan of the hard packed Bellpuig surface, but the smooth Belgian will also expect to be in the podium hunt.
Coppins' rookie team-mate Marc de Reuver made a promising debut at his first MX1 grand prix and is so far the highest ranked debutant, although - being something of a sand specialist - he may well face a tougher test this weekend.
'Gentle giant' Ken de Dycker impressed many people at the Eurocircuit two weeks ago by clocking his first pole position and leading the first part of moto one - but his race fitness again let him down. Another rider with something to prove is Kawasaki's Tanel Leok. The Estonian Express is just eleventh in the standings, but was second in Bellpuig last year.
In the MX2 class, former champion Antonio Cairoli currently holds the red plate with a six point advantage over Tyla Rattray after a perfect double victory at round one, while reigning champion Christophe Pource had a harder start to the season and sits fourth in the standings.
KTM
Red Bull rider Rattray raced two stoic motos in Benelux, after being injured on Saturday’s qualifying race, and heads to round two looking to confirm his title aspirations. Young team-mate Tommy Searle had a spectacular clash with Pourcel in race two in Valkenswaard, but showed impressive speed.
