Have won their respective MX1 and MX2 classes in Sweden four weeks ago, Mickael Pichon and Ben Townley repeated the feat in today’s Czech Republic Grand Prix, at Loket.
For the first time this season, Pichon won both motos, but it was still Stefan Everts who maintained his second behind Pichon kept the MX1 championship lead.
With a soft watering during the night, the Czech track was in perfect condition and offered plenty of action from the start of each race, especially as pole man Pichon missed his starts and had to work hard during both motos.
Just tenth at the start of race one, Pichon clawed his way back to fourth after two laps, and then began to close on Josh Coppins, Tanel Leok and Brian Jorgensen ahead. It would take the Tiscali Honda rider four laps to claim third, three more to be second and then only one lap to lead the heat and clinch another moto victory.
Meanwhile, Everts had been eighth in the opening lap and would rise to second by the finish – but was never able to threaten Pichon. Coppins finished third, followed by Jorgensen, Leok, Steve Ramon and Kevin Strijbos.
CAS Honda rider Coppins would then take the holeshot in race two, closely followed by Everts - while Pichon again lost time as he rounded turn one in eighth. However, the Frenchman was on a charge and reached third at the end of lap one, before eventually passing Everts with a firm move two laps later.
Coppins held his lead until lap seven, before Pichon – one second a lap faster than his rivals – put his fellow 450F in front. Everts would also pass Coppins by the chequered flag.
“I’m really happy to win both races, it was not easy as many guys were really fast today and as I missed my start,” began Mickael. “In the first moto I had to come back from eight to four behind Jorgensen, Leok and Coppins who were going pretty fast. I finally found some good spots where I could pass them, and when I was leading I pushed really hard during a couple of laps. When Stefan came second I continue to push, I wanted this win!
