PHILIPPAERTS AND CAIROLI MAKE IT AN ITALIAN ONE-TWO
TEUTSCHENTHAL, 13 May 2007- The 2007 FIM Motocross Grand Prix of Germany was one of the best rounds the crowd ever saw at the Talkessel.With some showers naturally watering the track, and the temperature staying around 20 degrees Celsius, each of the 32000 spectators enjoyed a spectacular view of the bowl of Teutschenthal.David Philippaerts won his maiden MX1 Grand Prix, and was imitated by countryman Antonio Cairoli in the MX2 class, with the Sicilian winning his fifth event in a row.The opening round of the FIM Women's Motocross World Cup was won by German rider Larissa Papenmeier.
MX1
A brilliant David Philippaerts of KTM Red Bull grasped his maiden MX1 GP victory after just five races in the class, leaving a very consistent Steve Ramon of Suzuki behind in second overall. Yamaha Motocross' Joshua Coppins won the opening moto but was third on the podium, as his Dutch team mate Marc De Reuver was fourth. Suzuki's Kevin Strijbos completed the top five.
MX1 GRAND PRIX RACE 1
Josh Coppins and Maximilian Nagl battled for the holeshot in turn one, but the Kiwi jumped soon to the lead of the pack. Also his team mate Marc De Reuver had a quick start, and once he passed in front of Nagl, he kept Coppins company for all the 19 laps, but never overtook him.After the Yamaha's one-two, the fight for third was hard stuff. Nagl progressively dropped down because of his broken collarbone, and handed third to David Philippaerts.Steve "the Bomb" Ramon waited behind the Italian for a few laps, to pass him at half race distance. Also Belgian Ken De Dycker studied the Italian's lines for a while before moving past him, and riding to a safe fourth place behind countryman Ramon.Philippaerts ended the top five ahead of Kevin Strijbos, whereas local hero Nagl ended ninth.
MX1 GRAND PRIX RACE 2
The final moto started with Mike Brown leading the group into the first turn, but the American was soon passed by Coppins. The Championship leader was pulling away from the rest of the field, when he crashed and handed first to De Reuver.Both the Dutchman and Philippaerts moved in front of Brown after his crash, but De Reuver's moment of glory -he was the virtual GP winner on the track where he won his maiden GP- lasted just six laps. Marc crashed, and Philippaerts automatically jumped to the to spot.Ramon was smelling victory while lapping behind Philippaerts, and he tried his hardest to find an open door and move past the Italian.But there was no way to pass the MX1 debutant, and Ramon had to bring the bike home with a third place, after he was passed by Sebastien Pourcel. While the Frenchman was closing in on Philippaerts, Kevin Strijbos was coming up until he reached team mate Ramon's tail. Both duos arrived very close, but no one of the many overtaking manoeuvres went through.Philippaerts owned the chequered flag, ahead of Pourcel, Ramon and Strijbos. Gordon Crockard of PAR Honda made it to fifth, after he passed Coppins in the final lap.Coppins was sixth, as previous race leader De Reuver finished eighth.
MX2
For the fifth time this season, Yamaha De Carli's Antonio Cairoli was unstoppable and won another GP. But defending Champion Christophe Pourcel of GPKR finally showed speed and consistency today, and looked ready for his first victory of 2007. He was second on the podium, ahead of KTM Red Bull's Tyla Rattray, who raced another solid GP. Fresh Martin Honda rider Pascal Leuret finished fourth overall, ahead of Ricci racing's Davide Guarneri.
MX2 GRAND PRIX RACE 1
Tony Cairoli banged his Yamaha out of the gate to get the holeshot, and begun a successful series of laps. He never lost the lead, even if a very fast Christophe Pourcel came up from third with victory ambitions.But the Frenchman lost three laps behind Kenneth Gundersen, and once he passed the Norwegian for second, he was already five seconds away from the leader.Pourcel put so much pressure on Cairoli, that the Italian turned the last lap into the fastest lap; with Cairoli owning the chequered flag, Pourcel brought the bike home with second ahead of Kenneth Gundersen, who was back to the top three after a long absence.Tyla Rattray made up ground from seventh, and grasped fourth place with a final lap overtaking manoeuvre on Davide Guarneri, who completed the top five.Ten seconds behind the Italian, Pascal Leuret rode his bike to a final sixth place.