The final countdown of the 2009 MX3 World Championship motocross was today at the fast and famous Villars sous Ecot racetrack in north east France. The early leader of the series, Frenchman Vanni, was in the hunt with our man Antti Pyrhönen for the bronze medal. In other words, enough for Antti to be seriously under pressure although he had a 21 points lead on Vanni.

“This was the most difficult and demanding race of my career, the last two weeks I had not enjoyed life at all, the pressure to keep my third place in this championship was so incredible high. Another person cannot imagine what pressure is.”

“To finish fourth would mean nothing and I would have been so disappointed. But I did manage to preserve third place, I kept a safe advantage on Vanni in points and though it was far from my best race of my career it is a great feeling to have my name in the record books.”

“Third is worth a lot to me and gives me new inspiration and motivation to work hard for next year and enjoy motocross again.”

“Since the last GP in Denmark two weeks ago my life has been one big misery, I could not enjoy one single day. All because of pressure you put on yourself. Now I know what pressure is, it felt today was ‘live or die’, really! Now that the GP season is behind me I can be satisfied with my work.”

“It was so emotional to win my first ever GP moto in Chile and then I did it all over once more in Slovenia. It proved I can race with all the fast guys in the MX3 class and when it’s a sand track I can beat them. My two victories at Vantaa were prove and such a boost for myself and my team.”

“Today is my birthday and I took third place in the motocross world championship. Thanks to the incredible amount of work that my mechanic Jukka has done. A big thank you goes to him, he is a big part of my success. And of course a big thank you goes to my crew and my sponsors!”

THE PRESSURE IS ON

The 21 points may sound a big gap but Vanni is a great rider and born in France and thus very dangerous for Antti’s bronze medal.

“I know the tracks in France are hard but this was even more then expected, rock-hard with many stones and holes. It was dangerous in the take off of the jumps and for the braking points there were small rolling stones so you had to be very careful all around the track.”

“I was okay with my riding in qualifications and ready for the last two motos of the GP year. My first start was not special and nevertheless I was riding okay and relaxed and did not lose so much ground on the guys ahead of me.”

“I knew I could not afford one mistake and while Vanni scored third I arrived in seventh so 6 of the 21 points had gone and all was still wide open.”

“Vanni had to win the last race and in that case I needed a tenth. The second moto started bad before the gate dropped as one other rider took the place I had prepared for my gate. We prepare our own spot behind the gate and if someone else takes it then it messes up your head I suppose.”

“Anyway once into the race I was tenth and Vanni was leading. You cannot imagine that the pressure went through the roof. Tenth was still enough and when Vanni lost a few places I knew I was safe. This was the longest motocross race of my life, not because of my physics but because of nerves and pressure.”

“Today is my birthday and this was by far the most precious present I ever had. I am glad it’s all over now, it’s been a great year!”


RESULTS:

QUALIFICATION PRACTISE: 1. Xavier Boog, 1.45710; 2. Alex Salvini, 1.46.100; 3. Christophe Martin, 1.46.730; 4. Matevz Irt, 1.46.760; 5. Joaquim Rodrigues, 1.46.990; 6. Julien Vanni, 1.47.270; 7. Pierre Alexandre Renet, 1.47.340; 8. ANTTI PYRHÖNEN, 1.47.890; 9. Hugo Basaula, 1.48.340; 10. Kasper Jensen, 1.49.190

MOTO 1: 1. Boog; 2. Renet; 3. Vanni; 4. Salvini; 5. Hansen; 6.Irt; 7. PYRHÖNEN; 8. Basaula; 9. Santos; 10. Martin

MOTO 2: 1. Boog; 2. Renet; 3. Salvini; 4. Vanni; 5. Martin; 6. Irt; 7. Basaula; 8. Wicht; 9. PYRHÖNEN; 10. Jensen

OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO 3RD MAN IN 2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP !

FINAL MX3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AFTER 15 GP’S:

Pos Nr Rider Nat. Total
1 15 Renet, Pierre FRA 584
2 23 Salvini, Alex ITA 525
3 213 Pyrhonen, Antti FIN 486
4 65 Vanni, Julien FRA 477
5 3 Martin, C. FRA 431
6 289 Irt, Matevz SLO 405
7 5 Lozano, Alvaro ESP 308
8 747 Basaula, Hugo POR 302
9 9 Hansen, N. DEN 300
10 31 Jensen, Kasper DEN 267
11 6 Zerava, Martin CZE 159
12 27 Astaykin, S. RUS 145
13 21 Roos, Patrick NED 144
14 47 Gijsel, Roy NED 140
15 22 Wicht, Gregory SUI 104
16 188 Rodrigues, J. POR 93
17 62 Anderson, B. GBR 90
18 7 Kragelj, Saso SLO 84
19 25 Martens, Y. BEL 73
20 139 Quintanilla Vasquez, P. CHL 72



This Press Release was made by mxbuddy@hotmail.com for Antti Pyrhönen