David Philippaerts celebrated his fifth podium of the 2010 FIM MX-GP World Championship by taking second position overall at a sweltering Campo Grande for the Grand Prix of Brazil. The Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team rider was a prominent force throughout the weekend at the new circuit that entertained the thirteenth round of fifteen. Philippaerts guided the innovative 2010 YZ450F to Pole Position, a first moto victory and then second place in the second sprint to tie on points with world champion Tony Cairoli and only lose the top step due to the second race ranking.

Philippaerts was superb on Saturday and won an electrifying duel with Cairoli to earn his third pole position of the season. The jumpy, hard-pack and rutted circuit was dusty and perilous on Saturday and the watering required overnight meant a softer but rougher terrain on Sunday as 21,500 people flocked into the grandstands.

After seizing the holeshot in the first moto Philippaerts flew away from Max Nagl and comfortably ran on towards his second chequered flag of the campaign. The second race was a tougher prospect but with the late mechanical failure of Clement Desalle the 25 year old was able to complete the distance in second spot. Philippaerts is now just 30 points from Desalle and second place in the championship standings.

Yamaha Monster Energy Ricci Motocross Team’s Ken De Dycker elected not to travel to Brazil and concentrate on his daily physio and rehab on his injured shoulder. The Belgian is hoping to be close to full fitness for the trip to Lierop in Holland and the next stop on the 2010 schedule.

In the penultimate round of the FIM MX3 World Championship Team Yamaha Andalucía’s Carlos Campano gunned his YZ450F to victory at Vantaa in Finland. The Spaniard sits on the precipice of his first title and can wrap up the big-bore series at the final meeting at Geneva in a fortnight thanks to his 32 point advantage over Alex Salvini.

The Grand Prix of Benelux – in the rough and challenging sand of Lierop near Eindhoven – will take place in two weeks time. The penultimate round of the FIM World Championship will also see David Philippaerts take to the track on Sunday with a brand new helmet and shirt design thanks to the creative input of the public in the DP19 Design Competition. The season will conclude one week later with the Grand Prix of Italy at Fermo on the Adriatic coast.

David Philippaerts, Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team:

“I am really happy with the bike and the team are working really hard and our efforts showed in the first moto which was pretty much perfect. All the time it seems that we make a step forwards. After Loket we tried a new suspension set-up with a softer front end and it worked well for me. I was fast both days here in Brazil. I expected more from the second moto but today is very hot and the track was difficult. I wanted to win but I am content with second place. The conditions were better for me in Brazil this year. I could sleep well and the track overall was more to my liking. We go to Lierop now and I really like this circuit and then we have our home Grand Prix so we will push hard to finish as high as we can in the championship.”