Brit wins in Japan

British off-roader Billy Mackenzie has won the MX2 class at the Grand Prix of Japan at Sugo, one year after taking his maiden victory at the same track.

In the first race, Mackenzie, 22, seized the lead on the third lap and defended his position to the flag from Frenchman Christophe Pourcel. Marc De Reuver took third.

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The second race saw Mackenzie finish third after losing the second spot to Marc De reuver in the closing stages, but it was enough to take the overall win.

“I got through the first corner OK in the first race and after that I was putting in some really hard laps and picking the lines as they came to me. I was taking whatever came along and it was working because I was riding really aggressivley. When I remember the race now i think ‘how did I get around some of those corners?’ said Mackenzie. “I’ve been getting better since the start of the season. I want to get inside the top three as much as I can for the rest of the year.”

The MX1 class was dominated by Stefan Everts, with the fifth consecutive victory for the Belgian. He claimed pole position, two holeshots and two race wins to take overall glory and a 92nd career success. Ken de Dycker and Tanel Leok filled the first race podium, with Steve Ramon and Jonathan Barragan rewarded in the second race. James Noble was the top British rider with two seventh places.

MX2 Moto1: 1. Mackenzie. 2. Pourcel. 3. De Reuver. 4. Cairoli. 5. Philippaerts.

MX2 Moto2: 1. Cairoli. 2. De Reuver. 3. Mackenzie. 4. Swanepoel. 5. Pourcel.

MX2 standings: 1. Pourcel 196. 2. De Reuver 194. 3. Rattray 181. 4. Cairoli 162. 5. Mackenzie 150.

MX1 Moto1: 1. Everts. 2. De Dycker. 3. Leok. 4. Ramon. 5. Jorgenson.

MX1 Moto2: 1. Everts. 2. Ramon. 3. Barragan. 4. Strijbos. 5. Van Daele.

MX1 standings: 1. Everts 242. 2. Leok 181. 3. De Dycker 168. 4. Strijbos 165. 5. Ramon 151.