Ricky Carmichael (MX1), Ryan Villopoto (MX2) and Tim Ferry (Open) all won their qualifying heats, making a healthy home crowd go mad along the 1500 metre circuit. The Americans also dominated the three practice sessions, with each of them being the fastest in the respective class.
Team South Africa ended the day with a surprising second place, after reigning AMA Motocross Grant Langston tried to chase retiring legend Carmichael in the MX1 moto. Although the American crashed, Langston could not close in on him and finished second. Gareth Swanepoel was also fast in his heat, where he finished third after battling it out with reigning MX2 world champion Antonio Cairoli for the runner up spot. On the other hand Wyatt Avis ended the Open class heat in seventh position.
Italy qualified third, with Cairoli unsurprisingly being the best finisher of the three team members. Toni was second behind reigning AMA Motocross champion Villopoto, while David Philippaerts clinched a third place after Britain's Billy Mackenzie and Belgian Steve Ramon both crashed in the MX1 heat. Davide Guarneri's race was less unlucky, due to a crash at the start.
Former AMA champion Chad Reed was the worst of the three Australians, because of a crash in his qualifying heat, but the Aussies still brought home a good result, with fourth place in the qualifications. Michael Byrne ended second behind Ferry in the Open race, and Andrew McFarlane finished sixth in the MX2 heat - as all three made use of their American experience.
The Belgians rounded off the top five after an eventful day where their best placed rider was Ken De Dycker, who actually had the worst start as he crashed with Guarneri. The furious Belgian world champion Steve Ramon crashed and finished fifth while youngster Jeremy Van Horebeek dropped down to a final eleventh place.
Germany finished in sixth place, with Max Nagl taking the holeshot in his heat and Marcus Schiffer ending fifth in the Open class - he normally races MX2.
