Meanwhile, in MX2, only one rider has won more than one Grand Prix this season and the same rider is now back on top of the MX2 points standings; Yamaha
Red Bull De Carli’s Tony Cairoli snatched the red plate from arch rival Tyla Rattray by winning his third GP of 2008 at
Mallory Park two weeks ago.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Rattray is a close second as he sits just one point behind Cairoli, while his KTM team mate Tommy Searle is looking like a threat for the leading duo.
Since the Portuguese Grand Prix, Searle is on a four podium run, taking one victory in Sevlievo. Now the Brit sits third in the Championship with a ten point gap from Cairoli but he looks forward to improving his best overall finish in St. Jean, which is a sixth place from last year.
With British countrymen Shaun Simpson (KTM UK) and Stephen Sword (Molson Kawasaki Racing) being also pumped up for France after a solid home GP, now it is Frenchmen Nicolas Aubin and Steven Frossard’s time to be under the spotlight.
Ricci Racing Yamaha’s Aubin is the highest placed home rider being fourth in the standings while CLS’ Frossard has been impressive in the latest two events (he took his maiden top three finish in heat two at Mallory) even though he dropped down the overall standings due to technical problems in one heat per event.
The sixth place in Great Britain gave a confidence boost to Anthony Boissiere, who was hardly seen battling on top after he won his first career Lovemytime Qualifying Award in Bellpuig.
Other talents supported by the French fans will be Xavier Boog, Jeremy Tarroux, and the 2007 European Championship stars Gautier Paulin (winner of the 2007 EMX2 series), Marvin Musquin and Khounsith Vongsana, with the trio being at their first year in the GP scene.
Being second and third respectively in this year’s European Championship, French Loic Larrieu and Swiss Arnaud Tonus (winner of the Ricky Carmichael Motocross of Nations Award-Youngest Rider at the 2007 Red Bull Motocross of Nations) will have a taste of the GP series this weekend.
