VILLOPOTO TURNS UP MXGP HEAT
R
yan Villopoto is used to mak-
ing his rivals sweat. Whether
in the midst of battle or contem-
plating a championship duel, the
Monster Energy Kawasaki multi-
AMA Champion has rarely let a
fellow racer have an easy ride.
At the jumpy, rutty and swelter-
ing venue of the Thailand Circuit
in Nakhonchaisri for round two
of the FIM Motocross World
Championship—MXGP—RV only
increased the discomfort for his
relatively new set of opposition
in Grand Prix. The thermometer
bubbled at 101 on raceday at the
scratchy circuit, so much so that
in the MX2 class factory riders
like Rockstar Suzuki's Jeremy
Seewer and Monster Energy
CLS Kawasaki's Jordi Tixier
would fall from their machines
within sight of the finish line in
the first moto and be unable to
remount through heat exhaus-
tion. Officials even reduced the
length of the second sprints in
each class by five minutes in the
interests of safety.
There is little doubt that Euro-
peans are largely unfamiliar with
competing in such a climate and
while the two previous editions
of the Grand Prix at Si Racha
were hot and humid, suffocat-
ing conditions like those found
close to Bangkok are rarely
seen in the confines of the FIM
series.
IN
THE
WIND
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