15/09/08 - Tyla Rattray became the third South African to win a motocross world title when he clinched the MX2 category championship at the Italian Grand Prix in Faenza on Sunday, September 14.

Second place in the first moto of the final event of the years was enough to give Rattray the title. He went into the event needing 18 points out of a possible 50 to make sure of the championship.

The result saw the Durban rider join Greg Albertyn, who won 250 and 125 world titles, and Grant Langston, who won the 125 championship, as the only South Africans to win world motocross championships.

Rattray and his Red Bull KTM team-mate, Briton Tommy Searle, were the only riders in with a chance of winning the world title. Reigning world champion Antonio Cairoli, of Italy, dropped out of the title race when he injured a knee at the South African GP in Nelspruit in July.

Yesterday’s overall win went to Searle who won both motos. Rattray was classified second and Belgian Joel Roelants, also on a KTM, took the final podium place.

The first moto saw Rattray content to play second fiddle to Searle and make sure of wrapping up the title. Searle led home the South African with Frenchman Anthony Boissiere third on another KTM.

Searle then walked away with the second moto with Roelants second and American Zach Osbourne, on a Yamaha, in third place. Rattray cruised around to finish in fourth place.

The final breakdown of points saw Rattray (636) take the title by 23 points from Searle. Frenchman Nicholas Aubin was third a massive 207 points behind Searle.

A third and a ninth were enough to give Italian David Philippaerts the MX1 category world championship. Philippaerts finished 14 points ahead of 2007 champion Steve Ramon with Ramon’s fellow Belgian and team-mate, Ken de Dycker, finishing third in the standings.


New MX2 World Champion Tyla Rattray Pic youthstream.org