The uncompromising sand of Lierop was the site for the fourteenth round of sixteen in the 2012 FIM Motocross World Championship and twenty thousand spectators travelled to Holland, east of Eindhoven to see Antonio Cairoli take another victory in the premier MX1 class.

The Grand Prix of Benelux witnessed Evgeny Bobryshev classify fourth overall – equalling his best finish of the season - to be the highest-placed CRF450R rider across the line.

The Grand Prix was also notable for Gariboldi Esta’s Max Anstie taking his CRF250R to third position in the MX2 class. The trophy represents the Brit’s first in the category this year and Honda’s first since 2009.

Lierop is renowned for its simplistic layout in terms of trajectory, but the surface itself is a beguiling test for both man and machine. The fine sand is punishing through the sheer extent of the bumps, holes, berms and waves that shift and move as the two thirty-five minute and two lap motos drag on. Wavering lap-times and pummelled reserves of energy are not rare sights for what is one of the heaviest, tiring and most fascinating motocross grand prix events on the calendar.

Evgeny Bobryshev struggled a little with his suspension setting that saw him searching for optimum performance through the sand. The Russian suffered a small crash in the first race, but still showed resilience to maintain a position in the top ten and relegate Shaun Simpson on the last lap to score seventh. It was Simpson who was the victim again in the second race as Bobby took part in an entertaining battle with the Scot and Tanel Leok. Fourth place replicated his highest result this season (achieved two weeks ago in the UK) and showed the Russian is reaching better form and promise as the campaign draws to a close.

Team-mate Rui Goncalves is a formidable sand rider thanks to his years spent living and training in Belgium. Indeed the Portuguese notched his second top three moto finish for the factory Honda World Motocross team last year in similar terrain at Lommel in Belgium. At Lierop number ‘999’ was unlucky. He suffered a technical problem in the qualification heat that left him low down in the gate for Sunday.

Rui started the first race brightly, but another small glitch as a consequence of using a fresh engine prevented him passing the flag in a position better than fourteenth. In the second dash later in the afternoon he crashed on the opening lap when Max Nagl fell in front of him and the former Grand Prix winner had to ride to the limit to make ground up until eighth. Rui completed the afternoon with tenth overall.

LS Honda’s Jonathan Barragan had to withdraw from the first sprint after colliding with Marc de Reuver and hurting his ankle. The Spaniard received some treatment and felt fit enough to enter the second race and came away reasonably pleased with a tenth place.

Max Anstie shone on his CRF250R. The youngster posted his second career Grand Prix podium with two confident and consistent performances and a double run to third position. Anstie’s sand prowess is well known and he proved his smooth style is a sharp advantage at one of the most difficult tracks. His second moto effort in particular was outstanding as he made his way up from outside the top ten to close to the rear wheel of Jeremy Van Horebeek for second spot by the last lap. The forty point haul helped him consolidate seventh in the MX2 standings where he has a forty-two point gap over Dylan Ferrandis.

In the MX1 championship Goncalves is safely ninth and twenty-three points from further promotion. Bobryshev remains eleventh and Barragan thirteenth. The fifteenth and penultimate round of the 2012FIM Motocross World Championship will take place next week on the Italian hard-pack of Faenza for the Grand Prix of Europe.

Max Anstie:
MX2 Race Result: 3rd / 3rd - MX2 Championship position: 7th

“I’m really happy with how I rode today. I proved to people that I am strong and I can keep going. In the second race I passed loads of people; I kept coming like a freight train! I grew up riding the sand like Jeffrey [Herlings] and learned how to find my rhythm on tracks like this. Lierop is very hard physically, but to keep the momentum and limit the mistakes is something not many can do; I felt like I did a good job today. Full credit to the team because they have been working really hard to make the bike the best it can be and it kept going all the way across one of the toughest tracks out there. I hope in the next two GPs we can come out with the same sort of results.”

Evgeny Bobryshev:
Race Result: 7th / 4th - Championship position: 11th

“To be honest I didn’t get the best feeling with the bike this weekend. I felt like I was fighting it a little bit. We made some progress from Saturday, but it still didn’t ‘fit’ me. I found my own rhythm and tried to cut down the mistakes. I finished seventh in the first, but the second moto was much better and I pushed to the end for fourth. I was really tired, but to pass Simpson I needed to find some reserves! I’m happy to come out of here in good shape and we got some testing done for the motocross of nations. It has been a tough season…trying to find a weekend where I have been fully fit.”

Rui Goncalves:
Race Result: 14th / 8th - Championship position: 9th

“I did my best and the team worked hard, but we had more than our fair share of bad luck. In the second moto I started third and then Max crashed in front of me and I couldn’t avoid him. When I restarted I was far behind and pushed to get some positions. I knew it would be tough to get to the front, but I kept going and managed eighth, almost getting Desalle on the last lap. I was quite happy with that second moto although it would have been easier if the Grand Prix had been a bit more straightforward. Anyway thanks to the guys for giving me the best they could this weekend and to my family and supporters. Two races to go and we’ll keep trying to give the best results possible.”

Jonathan Barragan:
Race Result: DNF / 10th - Championship position: 13th

“A tough weekend and a hard track. I touched De Reuver in the first moto and it meant that I caught my ankle and I had pain. It was too uncomfortable to continue, but after some treatment I wanted to try the second race. Overall I was quite pleased with how the GP ended.”

2012 FIM MX1 / MX2 World Motocross Championship
Round 14: Lierop – Netherlands