Germany‘s Max Nagl took his second career GP win at the weekend as he scored back-to-back wins in the MX1 class at the French motocross GP at Ernee.

The KTM rider (pictured above) showed renewed confidence in Ernee and move to third in the championship standings, 10 points ahead of Kiwi Josh Coppins, who remains in fourth spot overall after finishing sixth and seventh in his two outings at Ernee.

“I got tired and didn’t have any power at the end; there was nothing left in the tank,” said Coppins afterwards.

“I still have the same problem as the last few GPs and I am not sure why because my strength is normally my strong point. So I am struggling a little bit at the moment and need to get it fixed.”

Coppins’ factory Yamaha team-mate, Italian defending world champion David Philippaerts, extended his podium record to three in the eight rounds thus far as he ended the day second overall in Ernee.

A strong performance in the first moto, which he ended in second, was followed by a difficult second heat as he crashed and was forced to work his way up through the pack.

Former MX2 champion Antonio Cairoli, still the series leader after eight rounds, was back on the podium taking third behind Philippaerts. The Italian managed to lose just four points from runner-up Philippaerts, even though he experienced two eventful heats. In heat one he was involved in a tangle ending seventh while in heat two he put together a strong recovery to end second.

Other Yamaha Red Bull De Carli racer Tanel Leok was fourth overall ahead of French Honda rider Clement Desalle. After a solid opening heat the Belgian crashed twice in moto two.

Former 250cc world champion Mickael Pichon was the highest placed home rider with seventh overall while Belgian Ken De Dycker‘s hopes of a podium finish ended with a dnf in moto two due to a broken footpeg.

Britain’s Tom Church instead ended 12th overall and managed to remain with the front runners at the beginning of heat two.

MX1 Overall top ten: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 50 points; 2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 40 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 36 p.; 4. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), 33 p.; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 33 p.; 6. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 29 p.; 7. Mickael Pichon (FRA, Honda), 28 p.; 8. Aigar Leok (EST, TM), 25 p.; 9. Manuel Priem (BEL, Aprilia), 20 p.; 10. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 20 p.;

MX1 Championship top ten:

1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 291 points;

2. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 261;

3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 248;

4. Josh Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), 238;

5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Honda), 237;

6. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 228;

7. Tanel Leok (EST, Yamaha), 223;

8. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), 215;

9. Gareth Swanepoel (RSA, Kawasaki), 120;

10. Aigar Leok (EST, TM), 118.

MX2 CLASS

The MX2 Grand Prix saw an incredibly strong Marvin Musquin steer his works KTM to two dominant heat wins.

Right after winning two heats at Mallory Park for the first time in his career, Musquin built on his championship lead courtesy of another haul of 50 points. The Frenchman led the pack into the opening turn after both starts and from then on he displayed an incredible pace which no one could match.

KTM’s Anthony Boissiere gave him chase in the first moto but never managed to close the gap. Second heat was another story due to a flat tyre, though an eventual seventh was enough for Boissiere to end on his second season podium.

Young gun Loic Larrieu put together two strong heats to collect his first career podium with third overall. The Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci Motocross rider took two good starts and finished fourth and fifth in the heats.

Completing a French top four was Gautier Paulin, with the Kawasaki Bud Racing man being again consistent to keep the runner up spot in the championship.

Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2’s Ken Roczen made up for a difficult first moto with an incredible second place in moto two, when he started a lot better. The young German even slipped throughout the heat but that caused no damage to his eventual result. Roczen is now 10th in the championship after completing just four GPs.

Davide Guarneri remained third in the Championship as he finished sixth while fourth placed Rui Goncalves had a bad day, ending 11th.

MX2 Overall top ten: 1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Anthony Boissiere (FRA, KTM), 36 p.; 3. Loic Larrieu (FRA, Yamaha), 34 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 31 p.; 5. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), 28 p.; 6. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), 27 p.; 7. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 27 p.; 8. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 25 p.; 10. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 22 p.;

MX2 Championship top ten:

1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 284 points;

2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 250;

3. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), 235;

4. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 222;

5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 205;

6. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), 177;

7. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 161;

8. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), 134;

9. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 128;

10. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), 120.

Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com