Intro:

Christophe Pourcel and Xavier Boog take wins in race one and race two respectively in the MX1 class of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Brazil on Sunday (May 20).

Script:

The 2012 FIM Motocross World Championship headed to Brazil for round five on Sunday, with two MX1 races the big talking points of the day.

Anthonio Cairoli began race 1 with a solid 29-point advantage over Clement Desalle - and was eager to widen the gap. 

However it was Christophe Pourcel, who had struggled in qualifying, who gained the all-important holeshot to take the race lead. 

The Frenchman held his place at the head of the pack for the duration in extremely trying conditions to take a 'lights-to-flag' win. 

Championship leader Cairoli endured a difficult race and could only manage eighth and Clement Desalle also found the mud hard going and came to a stop with a lap to go, whilst ahead of his championship rival.

In race two Christophe Pourcel gained the early race lead but soon came under examination from Kawasaki driver Xavier Boog, who promptly charged past to move to the head of the pack. 

Pourcel's woes didn't end their though as the French rider made a mistake and dropped down the order to fourth. 

Boog hung on to take the win, from Desalle in second - with a well deserved third place going to Kevin Strijbos for his first podium in more than four years. 

Cairoli finished ninth to cap a highly disappointing weekend, with his overall lead to Desalle now reduced to 24 points as the championship heads to France in two weeks time.