KTM Press Newsletter

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MOTOCROSS
Nunn pumped after Hawkstone Park victory (06.03.2006)
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The reigning British Champion looked fit, fast and assured over the rough English sand, under some winter sunshine in low temperatures. A large crowd travelled to the renowned pre-season meeting in Shropshire, just west of the city of Birmingham.

Nunn blasted away from main rival Billy Mackenzieand young Kawasakirider Tommy Searle to win the first moto of 25 minutes and 2 laps and then took a steady 2nd position later in the day to confirm the overall victory. In the last race of the meeting, the ‘Grand Final’ between the best classified riders of MX1 and MX2, Nunn was holding a top six position before he crashed on the long, steep hill section and struggled to restart his machine. He did however manage to complete the race and was ranked 6th from the MX2 group.

Champ KTM team-mate Marc de Reuver was making his first tentative competitive outing of the year but was unable to place within the top ten.

The MX1 team of Mickael Pichon and Sebastien Tortelli were also in attendance. Pichon, who was ill during the week, was easing his way into competition and continuing to work on the set-up of the SX450F. The Frenchman scored a brace of 4th positions for 3rd place overall and was also 4th in the ‘Grand Final’. Tortelli had a crash-filled introduction to the Hawkstone sand with three falls in the first moto. The former World Champion’s best ranking was a 7th in the ‘Grand Final’.

Carl Nunn:

“This was good because I felt that my pace was there last week in Francebut my results did not really show it. I think a lot of people looked at that as if I hadn’t been working this winter when the complete opposite is the real truth. I am way ahead of my condition and readiness of last year; all I can do is build on this. My training is going great. I have lost a bit of weight to be lighter for the starts and it is working well. We are working on the starts as a team and it has been really effective, like we saw today. KTM have worked hard on the 250 and I feel really comfortable on the bike.”

Mickael Pichon:

“Today was not so bad because I had been sick after Pernes for three days. I am in fact quite happy with the result because the track was not that easy! My motos were consistent, no DNFs or big mistakes. I don’t feel that I am at 100% yet physically when it comes to my riding; so I am satisfied. The bike was running well. I want to keep on working because we only have another three weeks before Zolder.”

Sebastien Tortelli:

“There was some good and some bad today. We finished the three motos which was a positive thing but I was not that used to the nasty conditions and had a bad first race with a lot of crashes. I had been training in sand but this was much deeper! I was very happy with the bike and we have made a big step forward compared to the two last races. Now we just need to train and focus on the Championship.”

MX1 Moto 1

1. Stefan Everts

2. Kevin Strijbos

3. Ken de Dycker

4. Mickael Pichon

5. Josh Coppins

6. Tanel Leok

7. Steve Ramon

8. Cedric Melotte

9. James Noble

10. Mark Hucklebridge

MX1 Moto 2

1. Stefan Everts

2. Kevin Strijbos

3. Steve Ramon

4. Mickael Pichon

5. Cedric Melotte

6. Josh Coppins

7. Tanel Leok

8. James Noble

9. Ken de Dycker

10. Gordon Crockard

Grand final result MX1 class:

1. Kevin Strijbos

2. Stefan Everts

3. Josh Coppins

4. Mickael Pichon

5. Tanel Leok

6. Steve Ramon

7. Sebastien Tortelli

8. Mark Jones

9. Yoshitaka Atsuta

10. Gordon Crockard

MX2 Moto 1

1. Carl Nunn

2. Tommy Searle

3. Billy Mackenzie

4. Brad Anderson

5. Steven Clarke

6. Lewis Gregory

7. Jason Dougan

8. Wayne Smith

9. Oliver Sandiford Smith

10. Alex Snow

MX2 Moto 2

1. Billy Mackenzie

2. Carl Nunn

3. Tommy Searle

4. Wayne Smith

5. Brad Anderson

6. Shaun Simpson

7. Jim Murro

8. Jamie Law

9. Ray Rowson

10. Alex Snow

Overall MX2 classification:

1. Carl Nunn

2. Billy Mackenzie

3. Tommy Searle

4. Brad Anderson

5. Wayne Smith

6. Lewis Gregory

7. Alex Snow

8. Steven Clarke

9. Oliver Sandiford Smith

10. Shaun Simpson

Grand Final MX2 classification

1. Billy Mackenzie

2. Lewis Gregory

3. Tommy Searle

4. Oliver Sandiford Smith

5. David Willet

6. Ben Saunders

7. Alex Snow

8. Carl Nunn

9. Ashley Greedy

10. Dan Johnson