Cairoli Wins 2010 FIM MX1 Title

Motorcycle.com Staff
by Motorcycle.com Staff

Cairoli Wins 2010 FIM MX1 Title

World Championship for KTM 350SX-F in debut season
By Motorcycle.Com Staff, Aug. 23, 2010, Photography by R. Archer
Tony Cairoli has secured the 2010 MX1 World Championship in the debut season for the new KTM 350SX-F.

The Red Bull KTM factory racer clinched the title after winning his seventh overall of the season at the Aug. 22 round at Campo Grande, Brazil.

Cairoli arrived in Brazil with a 531-447 lead over Rockstar Makita Suzukis Clement Desalle. Cairoli had been on a roll of late, winning six of the previous seven motos.

The Italian rider had a poor start in the first moto at Brazil however. Cairoli finished the first lap down in ninth place as pole qualifier David Philippaerts of Yamaha Monster Energy took the holeshot. Cairolis KTM teammate Max Nagl followed Philippaerts with Desalle sitting third after the opening lap.

Tony Cairoli is the 2010 FIM MX1 World Champion, winning on the all-new KTM 350SX-F. Photo by R. Archer.

Lap by lap, Cairoli worked his way back up to the front runners, passing Desalle on the final lap to move into second place where he finished nearly ten seconds behind Philippaerts. Desalle finished third to trail Cairoli 553-467 in the season standings.

Cairoli had a stronger start in the second moto but trailed Desalle and Nagl after the opening laps. Desalle, looking to stay within striking distance of the MX1 title, moved into the lead on lap two and held that position for most of the race.

Mid-way through the race, Cairoli crashed and dropped back to fourth place. Cairoli was able to recover however and worked his way back to second by lap 12. He stalked Desalle for a couple of laps until the Suzuki rider came to a halt with an electrical problem on lap 15. Cairoli surged ahead to take the lead and win the moto and the 2010 World Championship.

Clement Desalle put up a strong effort in the second moto, leading most of the race until getting shut down by an electrical problem.

I didnt expect to win here but its always nice to be world champion as soon as possible, says Cairoli. I didnt take any risks and I was also a bit lucky that Desalle stopped, but that is racing.

The 2010 title is Cairolis fourth World Championship and second in a row in the MX1 class following MX2 titles in 2005 and 2007.

Photo by R. Archer.
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