GREAT DAY FOR GREAT BRITAIN IN LOMMEL: SIMPSON & ANSTIE

Last week it looked like the French were in the driver’s seat. Romain Febvre had a big lead in the 450 Championship and Valentin Guillod came back from the dead to tie Tim Gajser on points for the 250 lead (not counting the done-for-2015 Jeffrey Herlings). It looked possible for French riders to win both the 250 and 450 titles in the same year. But Guillod went 12-22 in the sand at Lommel, and Tim Gajser was only 5-7. As a result, Pauls Jonass’ 2-2 was good enough for him to take the lead in the 250 World Championships by 4 points over Gajser with four races left (Italy, Holland, Mexico and the USA). Valetin Guillod went from tied for the points lead to 25 points (one full moto) behind.

Romain Febvre lost 4 points to Honda’s Gautier Paulin at Lommel. Paulin has been elevated to a title contender via the attrition rate that knocked Cairoli, Nagl, Villopoto and Desalle out of the series. If Paulin keeps gaining 4 points on Febvre every week, he will catch him on December 26, 2015. That might be too late.

Shaun Simpson’s Lommel victory was only his second ever 450 GP win. His first win was in Lierop in 2013.

Suzuki’s Clement Desalle suffered another shoulder dislocation and decided to pull out to have it fixed. Since he is leaving Suzuki, reportedly for Kawasaki in 2016, this is the end of his Suzuki era.

Tony Cairoli thinks that he will be able to come back at the third Grand Prix of Italy (this one at Mantova). That will give him three extra weeks to heal (since the Brazilian GP that was suppose to fill this gap got canceled a long time ago).

Tommy Searle’s disastrous season continues as he broke some ribs in the qualifier and did not race at Lommel.

Honda signed 250 GP points leader Tim Gajser to a five-year contract. Gajser is only 18 years old and could stay in the 250 class for at least four more years—if he wanted to.

Youthstream announced that there will be a Swiss Grand Prix on August 7, 2016. This isn’t a surprise as it has been listed on the 2016 GP calendar since day one. Perhaps it was a slow news week at Youthstream headquarters.

BELGIAN GRAND PRIX FINAL RESULTS: 450 CLASS
1. Shaun Simpson (KTM)…1-1
2. Gautier Paulin (Hon)…2-2
3. Romain Febvre (Yam)…3-3
4. Evgeny Bobryshev (Hon)…5-4
5. Kevin Strijbos (Suz)…..7-5
6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yam)…4-9
7. Todd Waters (Hus)…8-6
8. Glenn Coldenhoff (Suz)…6-12
9. Tyla Rattray (Kaw)…12-7
10. Gert Krestinov (Hon)…9-10
Other notables: 11. Dean Ferris; 12. Christophe Charlier; 13. Pritt Ratsep; 13. Filip Bengtsson; 16. Jose Butron; 17. Nathan Watson;

BELGIAN GRAND PRIX  FINAL RESULTS: 250 CLASS
1. Max Anstie (Kaw)…1-1
2. Pauls Jonass (KTM)…2-2
3. Petar Petrov (Kaw)…3-4
4. Julien Lieber (Yam)…6-3
5. Harri Kullas (Hus)…4-5
6. Tim Gajser (Hon)…5-7
7. Jeremy Seewer (Suz)…8-8
8. Benoit Paturnel (Yam)…10-9
9. Jordi Tixier (Kaw)…7-12
10. Brian Bogers (KTM)…11-13
Other notables:  11. Davy Pootjes; 12. Thomas Covington; 14. Brent van Doninck; 15. Jens Getteman;18. Ben Watson; 19. Valentin Guillod.

2015 FIM 450 POINTS STANDINGS
(After 14 of 18 races)
1. Romain Febvre…547
2. Gautier Paulin…463
3. Evgeny Bobryshev…423
4. Tony Cairoli…416
5. Max Nagl…360
6. Shaun Simpson…356
7. Clement Desalle…331
8. Jeremy Van Horebeek…324
9. Glenn Coldenhoff…290
10. Kevin Strijbos…287

2015 FIM 250 POINTS STANDINGS
(After 14 of 18 races)
1. Pauls Jonass…433
2. Tim Gajser…429
3. Jeffrey Herlings…423
4. Valentin Guillod…408
5. Jeremy Seewer…395
6. Jordi Tixier…393
7. Max Anstie…387
8. Julien Lieber…340
9. Petar Petrov…262
10. Benoit Paturnel…259