South African Finishes Eighth In World Motorcross Champs

South Africa’s Tyla Rattray finished eighth on his Kawasaki bike during both races of round two of the 2015 Federation of International Motorcycling Motocross World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday.

Rattray finished eighth, +1:08.958 behind the leader and his teammate, Ryan Villopoto from the United States, who came in with a time of 34:09.149.

The 29-year-old Durbanite and former world champion performed well, despite the scorching conditions – due to the heat in Nakhonchaisri, event management had reduced both MXGP races by five minutes.

Villopoto was joined on the overall podium by Clement Desalle and Antonio Cairoli.

The reigning MXGP Champion (called MX1 last season), Cairoli, may have finished fifth in race one, but was untouchable in race two. During the second race, Cairoli earned the Fox Holeshot and pulled away for his first win of the season. Rattray also finished eighth in this race.

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The 2015 MXGP Championship breaks for three weeks before heading to Patagonia in Argentina on March 29.

Watch the highlights of the race here.

2015 Thailand MXGP Results, Race 1 Top 10:

1. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), 34:09.149;

2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:10.536;

3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:23.931;

4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:28.213;

5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:34.893;

6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:40.874;

7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:49.471;

8. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +1:08.958;

9. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +1:20.819;

10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:40.905

2015 Thailand MXGP Results, Race 2 Top 10:

1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 29:10.216;

2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:09.756;

3. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), +0:22.788;

4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:51.327;

5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:59.278;

6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +1:03.006;

7. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +1:05.485;

8. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +1:16.036;

9. Dean Ferris (AUS, Husqvarna), +1:18.208;

10. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +1:19.321

2015 Thailand MXGP Results, Overall:

1. Ryan Villopoto (USA, KAW), 45 points;

2. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 44;

3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 41;

4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 38;

5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 31;

6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 29;

7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 28;

8. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 26;

9. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KAW), 26;

10. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 20

2015 MXGP Championship Point Standings:

1. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 88 points;

2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 79;

3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 78;

4. Ryan Villopoto (USA, KAW), 70;

5. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 67;

6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 67;

7. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 55;

8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 45;

9. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 40;

10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 38

By: Editor