Christophe Pourcel of Team CP377 Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit won his second GP of the year in the Brazilian round of the FIM World MX1 Motocross Championship at Beto Carrero. Tommy Searle surged back into contention for the FIM World MX2 Championship title with a devastating double win for Team Floride Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit.
Heavy overnight rain had made conditions treacherous but Christophe Pourcel was in superb form, winning the opening MX1 race by nearly a minute and a half despite slackening his pace in the final laps. He again took the lead in the second moto, but a couple of incidents as he caught up to lap the tailenders cost him the race win; however a 1-4 scoreline in the two motos was more than enough to clinch overall honours on the day and move Christophe up to third place in the series.
Gautier Paulin of the Kawasaki Racing Team narrowly missed joining Pourcel on the podium after two solid races to third and fifth.
It was an historic day for Paulin's teammate Xavier Boog as the 24 year old recorded his first-ever race victory in the MX1 world series, taking the lead from Pourcel halfway through the second race and repelling the challenges of Pourcel and two other riders to the chequered flag.
MX2 rider Tommy Searle was in a class of his own in Brazil; he quickly took over the lead in both motos and rode two tactical brilliant races to come home unchallenged each time. Even a slip midway through the opening moto could not halt his domination as he coolly pitted for fresh gloves and quickly regained the lead.
The double success has brought him to within 20 points of the series pace after five GPs of the 16 round series.
Searle's teammate Joel Roelants continues to recover from a heavy crash last month and only missed the podium by a single point despite a troubled first moto when he crashed numerous times in the sticky going.
Christophe Pourcel: "It's never easy in conditions like these, but my Kawasaki gave me a great start in both races and the first moto was unbelievable. I didn't feel I was riding super fast but after only a few laps my mechanic boarded me that I was a minute in front. In the second race I made a few mistakes with the lappers. I was planning to repass Boog in the closing laps; in the end it was me who made a couple of mistakes and I lost two places, but I knew I still had the overall win.
Tommy Searle: "I'm not the best mud rider, but I knew I needed good starts and to ride smart. I took the lead quickly in both races and concentrated on not making mistakes and keeping my goggles free of mud when I came up behind lappers. I slipped off once in the first race and my gloves were covered in mud but it was easy to retake the lead after I stopped for fresh gloves. The result today means I have halved the points gap to the series leader and makes up for my bad luck in Italy."
