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Kevin Strijbos: “Cosa possiamo dire? Nulla di molto, avevamo la possibilità di fare dei buoni risultati, ma è stato troppo rischioso quando il caldo ha cominciato a creare dei problemi alla moto. E’ stato deludente, dobbiamo andare avanti e guardare al Brasile”.

Jeremy Van Horebeek: “Mi sento bene e la velocità è buona. Ho tenuto il mio ritmo perché sapevo che  col caldo era difficile. Prima della manche ho detto ai ragazzi che saremmo andati sul podio, perché me lo sentivo. Abbiamo lavorato duramente e la partenza in dara due ne è stata la conferma. Desalle mi ha passato, ma per venti minuti sono stato con i primi e mi sentivo bene. Faceva molto caldo e man mano che la gara andava al termine pensavo al podio. Nel prossimo GP sarò ancora più in grado di stare con primi. Credo che abbiamo fatto un gran lavoro sulla moto. Sono felice”.

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David Philippaerts: “Sono veramente senza parole. In questo week end ci è successo di tutto. Non sono riuscito a finire una manche a causa di problemi tecnici che non è stato possibile risolvere. Abbiamo praticamente cambiato tutta la parte elettrica, più di una volta, e dopo la prima manche abbiamo anche usato il motore che era pronto per la prossima gara in Brasile ma è servito a poco, visto che mi sono ritirato solo dopo due giri. I principali problemi sono derivati dal fatto che siamo stati costretti a usare una benzina con la quale non avevamo mai provato in precedenza. Praticamente quasi tutte le moto hanno accusato problemi del genere, ma bene o male, quasi tutti sono arrivati a fine gara mentre io mi sono dovuto ritirare entrambe le volte. Abbiamo fatto anche un mezzo “miracolo” tra le due manche, quando il mio meccanico è riuscito, da solo, a sostituire in tempo il motore e gli impianti elettrici. È stato un lavoro “da formula uno” ma non è servito a niente purtroppo. Posso solo ringraziare il mio staff che ancora una volta ha dato il massimo per mettermi in condizioni ottimali, ma posso usare soltanto le parole al posto del risultato che meritavano. Ora dobbiamo rivedere molte situazioni e appena rientrati in Italia cercheremo di prepararci al meglio per il prossimo GP del Brasile. La moto partirà direttamente da qui ma probabilmente dall’Italia porteremo nuove soluzioni tecniche alla prossima gara.”.

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Max Nagl: “Davvero una gran giornata. Nella prima gara ero praticamente ultimo ma sono riuscito a risalire fino alla sesta posizione. La gara stava andando bene e mi sentivo a posto. Nella seconda abbiamo fatto dei cambiamenti, ma anche qui mi sono ritrovato dietro al mucchio. Nei primi giri ho recuperato posizioni, ero aggressivo perché non mi sono piaciuto in partenza. Per dieci giri non ho avuto nessuno davanti, ho potuto impostare il mio ritmo. Poi quando ho intravvisto Paulin e Strijbos ho pensato di andare a prenderli, ho spinto di più. Dal grand caldo ho calato il ritmo, negli ultimi cinque giri non ho più usato la frizione, tenevo le marce alte lasciando correre la moto tenendo i giri bassi per aiutare il motore a raffreddarsi. Alla fine sono soddisfatto del quarto posto, è stato un weekend buono per il team, e per tutti che hanno fatto un gran lavoro”.

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Evgeny Bobryshev: “Sapevo che sarebbe stato caldo molto umido. Race 1 è stata più difficile, da un lato la caviglia mi faceva male, dall’altra una pista piatta senza traiettorie dove bisognava far spazzolare la moto. Solo che non riuscivo a mettere giù il piede. Ho portato a casa punti. Molto meglio in gara 2. Non avevo una buona posizione al cancelletto, ma la pista era più bucata, così è stato più facile impostare le traiettorie senza compromettere la caviglia. Al primo giro è stato difficile, ero in mezzo al mucchio e avevo paura che qualcuno mi colpisse la gamba, ho stretto i denti e ho chiuso quinto. Grazie ad HRC, a Honda e al team per questo weekend, hanno fatto un gran lavoro. Questa settimana starò un po’ a riposo con la caviglia, c’è tempo prima del Brasile”.

Gautier Paulin: “La pista mi piace e pure il caldo, ma oggi sono deluso dei problemi con la benzina che ci hanno fornito gli organizzatori. Era molto pericoloso. All’ultimo salto della seconda manche non sono stato in grado di saltare, penso che la moto non avrebbe continuato. Ho perso quattro posizioni e cinque punti, ma il team non ha colpe. Sabato è stato buono con la settima posizione, anche nella prima gara è andata bene con il quarto. Nella seconda ho trovato il ritmo dopo dieci minuti, poi ho avuto problemi alla moto e ho dato del mio meglio per salvare più punti possibili”.

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Todd Waters: “Credo di aver fatto molti progressi, inizio ad abituarmi al livello del Mondiale ed avere più fiducia. Nella prima manche è andata bene, ma è stata una di quelle gare dove lotti per avere ritmo decente. Nella gara due mi sono trovato meglio, la moto nonostante le condizioni umide è stata impeccabile e sono stato in grado di spingere fino al traguardo. Ho perso il quinto posto per il sesto, ma è stato comunque un buon weekend”.

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Davide Guarneri: “Buona gara quando si riesce a stare nei dieci, peccato aver perso una posizione alla fione della seconda manche, la moto è andata bene, gara molto dura, con partenze più felici potremmo fare degli ottimi risultati, siamo tutti molto contenti e sappiamo dove lavorare per migliorare”.

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Tanel Leok: “Nella prima manche non male, ho spinto fin dai primi giri riuscendo a rimontare fino al 13°, nella seconda ho avuto problemi di stomaco che mi hanno penalizzato e non sono riuscito a tenere il mio ritmo”.

MX2

Jeffrey Herlings: “Non sono allo stesso livello, la competizione è più dura quest’anno. Sono stato infortunato per molto tempo ma essere in gara mi rende felice. Quest’anno voglio divertirmi e vincere il più possibile. La moto era perfetta, non abbiamo avuto problemi, ma arrivare dai 5-10 gradi dell’Olanda  abbiamo dovuto fare interventi per il caldo e l’umidità dalla Thailandia”.

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Jordi Tixier: “Ho cercato di trovare una soluzione al caldo umido e ai problemi di stomaco, ma non sono stati abbastanza per rimettermi di essere perfetto per la gara. Comunque ho fatto delle buone partenze e i primi giri buoni, ma dopo 15 minuti ho cominciato a star male e ho provavo a dare il massimo che potessi. Anche l’anno scorso ho fatto un inizio di campionato del genere, ma alla fine sono cresciuto chiudendo il campionato secondo. Quindi sono fiducioso per la stagione”.

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Glenn Coldenhoff: “E’ stata davvero una buona giornata. In Qatar era quasi podio ma ho avuto problemi col freno posteriore. So di essere forte e e la preparazione non manca, quindi dovrei esserci. Sono contento del team e della moto, sono sempre fiducioso, questa settimana ho fatto un po’ di allenamento pensando di esser pronto ad affrontare il gran caldo, ma non era così. Nella prima manche ho speso un sacco di energie e alla fine della seconda manche non ne avevo più. Il risultato mi soddisfa, non vedo l’ora di andare in Brasile”.

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Dylan Ferrandis: “Weekend molto difficile. Respirare non era facile, ma più o meno hanno avuto tutti lo stesso problema. Nella prima gara sono partito bene, ero secondo, poi per del fango sugli occhiali ho dovuto pulirli, in più ho commesso qualche errore e ho perso due posizioni. La partenza successiv non è andata bene, sono scattato quinto, in lotta con Condenhoff quando ho sentito un problema al motore, purtroppo è mancato il podio ma sono contento di tornare in Europa con il secondo posto in campionato, probabilmente il più difficile della stagione”.

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Arnaud Tonus: “Questo weekend avevo feeling, sono felice del terzo posto nella prima manche anche se ci ho messo un po’ a trovare ritmo. In seconda manche sono partito terzo ma il motore si è spento durante il primo giro. Ho recuperato fino alla nona posizione pensando di migliorare, ma negli ultimi dieci minuti ho avuto problemi al motore e ho cercato di tenere la posizione”.

Alessandro Lupino: “Non sono felice, ma è andata meglio del weekend scorso e so che dobbiamo lavorare continuamente. Al momento non sono ancora al 100% e non riesco a spingere come vorrei, ma il problema è di testa. Sbaglio le partenze e poi è dura dover togliermi dalla mischia. Ci sono molti piloti veloci ma so di potercela fare e aver la velocità per fare dei podi”.

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Romain Febvre: “Sono contento del terzo posto in gara 2. Una giornata un po’ di alti e bassi, ma ho mostrato buona velocità. Dopo il podio in Qatar, pensavo ad un risultato simile in Thailandia, ma nella prima manche sono caduto un paio di volte. Ho fatto un ottima partenza, alla prima curva sono stato portato all’esterno, mi sono ritrovato dietro e nel recuperare sono caduto due volte. Con questo umido sono riuscito a recuperare fino al nono posto. Seconda manche è partita meglio. Ho alzato il ritmo e passato Condehnoff per la terza posizione. E’ stato grande finire la gara con questo risultato”.

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Aleksandr Tonkov: “Venendo dalla Russia non riesco a sopportare il livello di umidità, quindi il mio obiettivo era quello di portare a casa il meglio possibile. In gara 1 ho avuto un ottimo ritmo, Finire settimo mi ha un po’ sorpreso. In gara 2 faticavo a respirare, ma stringevo i denti e ho finito ottavo. In queste condizioni climatiche la Thailandia è la gara più dura di tutta la stagione e sono molto soddisfatto del mio risultato”.

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Tony Cairoli: I’m really happy today because this was a very hard race; two weeks ago in Qatar my ankle was sore and the situation was much more complicated so I was not sure about my potential, but this week in Thailand I was able to recover better. Today the track was also more technical compare to Losail and for sure this fits more with my riding.

Jeffrey Herlings: I’m on the same level, but the competition is stronger this year. I’ve been injured for a long time so I’m just happy to be here and on the track again. For this year I want to have fun and to win as much as I can. The bike was perfect this weekend and we had no problems, but it was a big adjustment coming from Holland where it was 5-10 degrees, into this heat and humidity.

Clement Desalle: It was a really good race and nice to come back after not having such a good feeling in Qatar. I enjoyed riding here and you could see that with my result. It suited my style of riding. In the second moto I had some really good lines and was feeling confident. It was not easy in the hot weather and Cairoli passed me because of a problem; a similar thing to what many others were having. It was scary to do some of the jumps and it was strange because I didn’t have the problem in the first moto and was really happy with my bike. I thought it was even hotter then so I don’t really understand. I made a mistake with an aggressive reaction in the paddock and I want to say sorry to my team. It was not so professional of me but I think because I am coming back from an injury I was worried about hurting myself again. It was a heat-of-the-moment thing. We will work for more results in the future and starts like we did today in the next races.

Glenn Coldenhoff: It was good for sure today. We were close in Qatar but I had some problems with my rear brake. I know I am strong and I am fit so I should be there every week. I am happy with the team and the bike and confident on it always. I made some training this week in Thailand and I thought I was ready for the heat but I still got hammered! I spent a lot of energy in the first moto and I couldn’t give any more at the end of the second. Anyway the result is pretty good. I’m really looking forward to Brazil now.

Jeremy Vab Horebeek: I feel really good and my speed is good. I rode my pace because I knew it would be a difficult one with the heat. I said to the guys ‘come to the podium’ before the second moto because I felt that it would be a good day. Together with the team we have been working hard and the start in the second moto was evidence of that. Clement passed me but I was there for twenty minutes and felt really good. It was really hot and I started thinking about the podium as the race went on and figured if I felt better at another GP then I might be able to live with the boys more. I think we have done a great job getting this bike working for me. I’m really happy.

Max Anstie: I’m just pumped on life right now and to be in the battle is such fun. The last few years have been tough and we’ve started from the bottom and now it is so nice to be racing and up there. To be going for holeshots is a new experience for me. Steve and the team have done an amazing job on the bike and we’ve just worked so hard. Jeffrey and I used to race each other when we were ten and we go back a long way. The plan has always been the same and that’s to go out and ride my laps and it’s doing the job for us so far.

Jordi Tixier: I tried to find a solution but it was not enough to keep me fit for the entire race. But I did get good starts and my first laps were not so bad, but after about 15 minutes the pain was too bad. I just did my best and gave all I could.” Tixier said he had had a similar start to the season in 2013 but came back strong to finish second overall, so he was confident for the season ahead.

Todd Waters: I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress this weekend. I’m beginning to settle into racing at world championship level and growing in confidence. The first race went ok but it was one of those rides where you struggle to get a decent pace going. I got into my groove a lot better in race two and was enjoying the conditions. My FC 450 was flawless in the extreme weather and I was able to charge all the way to the chequered flag. Despite just missing out on fifth place by one second I’m chuffed with sixth. It’s been a good end to the GP of Thailand.

David Philippaerts: My team is working really hard and we did everything we could to be in the best shape this weekend but couldn’t avoid problems with the power. I think many others had the same. We tried to solve it but without any luck. I hope we can get some more information and sort the problem for Brazil and I am sure we’ll do it.

Rui Goncalves: It was definitely a big improvement since last weekend. We even made a step from yesterday to today. I didn’t have such a good start in the first moto but I kept steady with the lap-times. I tried to progress and break into the top ten but with two laps we had some of the same problems with the heat that many were having. I just had to roll it across the jumps and to the finish. That was a bit of a bummer because I know I could have made the top ten. In the second moto I started around twelfth and just kept going to make my way to the front. To finish seventh was good and lets say I’m happy. I’m still looking forward to working with the team because we haven’t had much riding time as you know. We are a strong group and we’ll keep on looking for improvements and we should soon be even better.

Romain Febvre: “I’m really happy to come away with third place in the second MX2 race. My day was a bit up and down but I showed my speed was good by working my way into third. After my podium result in Qatar I was hoping for a similar result in Thailand but I crashed twice in the first race and that ruined my chances. I got a great jump off the gate and then got pushed wide in the first corner. It dropped me outside the top 10 and as I pushed forward I ended up crashing twice. In this humidity I could only recover to ninth. In race two I started much better. Towards the end of the moto I upped my pace and passed Coldenhoff for third. It felt great to get that result and end the race on a high.”

Aleksandr Tonkov: “Coming from Russia I struggle with this level of humidity so my main focus was to just get through the day and score some decent points. In race one I had a nice rhythm going and finished seventh, which surprised me a little. It was hard to breathe in the second race but I gritted my teeth and placed eighth for ninth overall. Thailand is the toughest race of the season in terms of weather conditions so I’m pleased with how I rode.

Max Nagl: Unbelievable today, really great! First race I was completely last from the start but we managed to come through to sixth position. Riding was going really good, and I was really happy. Just on the start we had some problems today. Second heat, we made some changes and the start was better but the gate jump wasn’t fast, so I was again somewhere stuck in the pack. In the first few laps I make may positions and I was riding really aggressive and really pushing because I was not happy with the start. For ten laps I had nobody in front of me and nobody behind so I could really go into my rhythm, and then I saw Paulin and Strijbos and I thought “I have to get them” and I pushed so hard. At the end of the race everyone was running slower because of the heat so in the last five laps I didn’t use any clutch, downhill I just used higher gears and let it run, keeping the revs low to help with cooling. At the end, I am really pleased with fourth and it’s been a very good weekend for the team, everyone’s done a great job.

Evgeny Bobryshev: I knew it was going to be really hot and with humidity so high – we had maybe 40 degrees [Celsius]. First race I was eleventh – it was a difficult race for me. I’ve been fighting twice because of my ankle and the track was flat and there weren’t so many lines so you have to slide the bike when it’s like that and I couldn’t with my right leg, but we scored some points. Second race was much better. I had not so good a gate jump, but there were more ruts so it was easier for me to follow them and take the pressure off using my leg. It was difficult at the beginning, on the first lap, because I was in the pack and people were coming from inside and outside and I was scared for my leg, but I grit my teeth and pushed and I’m happy to finish fifth. Thanks to HRC and Honda and the team for this weekend – everyone did a really great job. I’m having a medical assessment now next week on my ankle, and then we have some time for recovery before Brazil.

Pascal Rauchenencker: I got a phone call on Monday to race in Thailand so you could say I wasn’t perfectly prepared coming here. But I really feel like I’ve done well. I knew I wouldn’t be 100 per cent but two 16th place results is good. Thanks to the team for giving me the opportunity to race in MXGP – it’s been a fantastic experience working with them.

Jeremy Seewer: My speed wasn’t too good on Saturday. I was too tight; like I was riding with a knife between my teeth! It was a bit similar in the first moto but I felt that it was starting to get better when I had some bike problems and it kept stopping. I finished in the points, so that was not so bad with the problems. My jump was good out of the gate in the second moto but I lost some positions on the start straight. I was 18th, I think, and finished 12th, which is the best result until now. I can do better but my speed and style was much more cool and easier. I am going to work on this and I hope for a few places further forward. Overall it was not such a bad weekend because I increased by speed and everything so it was good.

Kevin Strijbos: What can I say? We had the chance to get some good results today but it was just too much of a risk once the heat started to affect the bike. It was frustrating and we’ll just move on from this and look to Brazil.

Shaun Simpson: Ups and downs today but there are definitely plenty of positives to take away from this weekend. The speed is definitely there and I hadn’t pulled a holeshot in three years. It was nice to be back at the front and I felt comfortable. I felt that my pace was OK to run with the front guys. I could hear the gaggle of Kawasakis coming and I had a nice wee battle going with Paulin until he just wiped me out. He wasn’t even in front of me and just cut across the line and put me down. I tweaked my wrist quite badly and I have this sharp little pain in my hand…not great for a track with a lot of hard landings. That bothered me in the second moto and I was riding too defensively, losing lots of positions. I got a second wind and made some progress but I’m a bit disappointed how it all unfolded. 24 points today and 12th in the Championship; so positives to take. The bike was solid all weekend and there were a lot of guys having problems in the heat. Anyway, we’ll go back and re-group. We’ll build a bike and head across for the first round of the British at Landrake; a track I like. At the moment it looks like I have the edge in speed over Jake and Matiss but when you don’t have a couple of guys between you then it can be a different story. It will be nice to come away with an overall and carry on the momentum into Brazil.

Mel Pocock: In both motos I didn’t get terribly good starts and didn’t make much progression in terms of coming back through. I guess I am struggling a bit with racing the KTM as the moment. It was a hard weekend and a hot one. I need to fight the whole way through the race and I’m working on getting up to that.

Petar Petrov: I’m really disappointed. The first race was going pretty well. I was riding in ninth position and felt good but a couple of laps before the finish the bike started to make noises and losing power. I managed to finish 18th in the end. In the second moto I already knew in the sighting lap there were problems. I hear many of the teams had some problems but unfortunately I couldn’t finish the race. It seems the luck isn’t at my side at the moment. My starts were good this weekend and so was the speed, but I just miss that bit of luck. We go back home now, work hard and hope for some better luck in Brazil.’

Luke Styke: Another bad weekend for me. I’m still not feeling 100% and in this heat it was hard. Just like Petar I had problems with my bike and I had to retire in both races. I’m satisfied these first two races are over now. I’m going back to Belgium now, We have a couple of weeks now to regroup and get back in shape. I will go to a sports doctor wednesday to check my blood and figure out the problem. Hopefully the Brazilian GP will be better then!.

Davide Guarneri: I had a good race, I’m happy of having entered the top ten. Unfortunately I lost a place in the second manche in the end, the bike was good and the race was really hard. With better starts we can obtain better results. We are very happy and we know where to work in order to improve.

Tanel Leok: In the first heat I had a good race, I pushed in order to catch up as many positions as possible finishing 13th. in the second race, I had some problems with my stomach that affected my performance and I couldn’t maintain the pace.