Antonio CAIROLIIIIIII !!!! Posted: 10/03/09 That's what the partisan Italian crowd was shouting, as their man moved up from a mediocre start to get past Billy MacKenzie, Chad Reed, and Cedric Desalle to run away with the victory. It was impressive, and probably caught Reed off guard when he realized he wasn't even all that close to the Italian's pace... 744 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	More Cairoli Posted: 10/03/09 The guy's got style, that much is for sure, and he whipped it good off the infield tabletop after passing a fading Mackenzie for the lead in today's MX1 qualifying race. Cairoli's win, along with that of his teammate David Phillipaerts in the Open qualifier, allowed Italy to move into 1st in the qualifying leading into tomorrow's mains. 811 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	Marvin Musquin Posted: 10/03/09 France's latest world champion put on an impressive display in the MX2 qualifier, snaring a monsterous holeshot and checking out in short order to take the win. France ended up qualifying 2nd after Gautier Paulin nailed a solid 2nd in the Open qualifier. 650 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	Australia Posted: 10/03/09 Chad Reed's ride was the best for Team Australia, as teammate Brett Metcalfe ended up 4th in MX2 and Michael Byrne's 7th was dropped. The Aussies qualified just ahead of the U.S. in 5th position. 583 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes
Steve Ramon Posted: 10/03/09 Belgium's controversial choice of Steve Ramon seems to be so far being going well. After sitting out most of the season, Ramon was chosen over a more obvious team member - Ken DeDycker, so all eyes were on him during the qualifying. Ramon went 3rd, helping Belgium to qualify 3rd for the day. 640 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	Dungey and Team USA Posted: 10/03/09 The U.S. team were stuck with 33rd (of 40) gate pick, and only Tedesco was able to parlay that into a good start. Both Dungey and Weimer suffered mid-pack or worse starts, and Dungey was as far back as 17th in his race. The MXoN virgin managed a respectable 5th, though, as did teammate Tedesco. 673 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	Weimer's race. Posted: 10/03/09 Jake Weimer put in a very good showing in his MX2 qualifier, and was knocking on Brett Metcalfe's door for 4th when he went down late in the moto. He ended up 8th, which was the team's worst score, and so was dropped from the calculations for team rankings going into tomorrow's finals. 604 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	Tedesco's start. Posted: 10/03/09 Going from way on the outside, Ivan nearly got a holeshot in his qualifier. Rouding turn one in roughly 3rd spot, he went backwards quickly to sit solidly in 5th-6th before dropping off his pace that was pushing Shaun Simpson for 4th. 612 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes
Rattray and RSA Posted: 10/03/09 Rattray is clearly the Republic of South Africa's top rider, and he put in a respectable showing in the MX2 qualifier. Tyla the Styla raced his way to 5th, putting RSA 7th just behind the US for qualifying. 606 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	U.S. support Posted: 10/03/09 The U.S. contingent on hand is nothing like it was last year at Edinburgh, England. In fact, that is the only instance of an American or American influence that we could find while scanning the crowds today. 543 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	Racing Posted: 10/03/09 Reed and Clement Desalle (the Belgian who came over and did well in the first moto at Washougal) battled early, and Desalle was eventually to get past and pull away from Reedy. It seemed a little odd to us too, so we'll see how it goes tomorrow for our National Champion. 560 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	More racing. Posted: 10/03/09 This was how close the top 5 were in the Open class qualifier, with Shaun Simpson chasing Belgium's Steve Ramon, who's chasing France's Gautier Paulin who was just able to keep leader David Philippaerts in sight. Ivan Tedesco was just behind this group for much of the race. chasing 587 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes
Rui Goncalves Posted: 10/03/09 Portugal's Rui Goncalves is always fast, and seemed particularly so in the stacked MX2 qualifier, finishing 6th just behind Tyla Rattray. 555 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	Open qualifier start Posted: 10/03/09 That's Canada's Mitch Cooke looping out off the gate in the Open qualifier, while Tedesco hooks it up and goes for the front. Cooke did a decent job of catching back up though, making it to 20th by the end. 660 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes	David Philippaerts Posted: 10/03/09 The "other" fast Italian guy is David Philippaerts, and he was as impressive as Cairoli in the Open heat, easily winning it. That duo is going to be tough to beat tomorrow, so keep your fingers crossed for a turnaround for Team USA tomorrow! 518 Views 0 Comments Rating: 0 Likes