For the second time in a week the main news in MXGP revolved around incidents aside from who took the chequered flag and pole position. HRC witnessed a good day of work from Evgeny Bobryshev (second Quali win this year with the CRF450RW) and Tim Gajser (first ever MX2 Pole) at Teutschenthal but the second corner crash by series leader Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Max Nagl has thrown the impetus of the 2015 title chase again into the air. Injuries to the likes of Clement Desalle and Tony Cairoli in the last three weeks gave Nagl the clearest hint yet that 2015 could finally be his year…but the accident in a windswept and cold Qualification Heat has meant another bitter blow for the likeable German who is still the most successful rider this season with three victories.
It is not clear whether Nagl crashed by himself or had his leg tagged into the left-hander. As the 27 year old scrabbled clear of the debris DP19 Racing Yamaha’s David Philippaerts ploughed into the prone Husqvarna and was lucky to escape with a sore right shoulder, neck and head that could still rule the Maggiora hero out of the event and reduce the battered MXGP gate even further.
On Saturday night Nagl was apparently on his way to hospital to be prepped for insertion of another pin into his limb Sunday morning. Speculating on a return period the red plate holder by 30 points (and who could still be at the top of the table by the end of play tomorrow) will be looking at a return for the Grand Prix of Latvia in three weeks and two rounds, or a race later in the Czech Republic at the end of July – ironically where he made his comeback so emphatically from a serious back injury in 2012.
The shock news of yet another casualty of the Grand Prix season had many shaking their heads, and brought the recent meeting between FIM, Youthstream and the manufacturers where all parties allegedly again discussed capacity limits and the attrition supposed caused by the 450s into sharper focus. Safety is premium and is the particular priority for FIM CMS President Tony Skillington so expect some parameters of Grand Prix to be analysed and discussed in the coming months and possibly the landscape to shift in the next three year cycle. On the absentee lists now is also Tyla Rattray whose troublesome hip had affected his lower back and he was unable to mount the factory Kawasaki (the South African even has trouble to kickstart the bike), leaving the brand without any representation in Germany and principal sponsor Monster Energy without a rider in the premier class.
Bobryshev was again lightning fast on Saturday and held Yamaha’s Romain Febvre at distance across a track that the paddock either loved or loathed for the hard-pack bumps and ruts but was also dusty and unpredictable. The Russian has history at the Talkessel layout and won his first – and only to-date – Grand Prix here in 2011 that was his first term on the factory Honda. ‘Bobby’ also confirmed that he’s had offers from other teams for 2016 although he is expected to stay with HRC who are on the verge of delivering another contract.
Tony Cairoli struggled with the double fracture in his left arm and will be fortunate to take two top ten results on Sunday just one week after sustaining the injury. The champion is second in the points and (somehow) scoring just 31 tomorrow will mean his first grasp of the red plate this season.
The name on most people’s lips Saturday night was winner of the previous two rounds, Romain Febvre. The Yamaha rider is the in-form MXGP racer and at 38 points adrift of Nagl could also reach dizzying heights after Teutschenthal. Febvre was quickest in Timed Practice and was rapid to slot into second behind 777.
Over in MX2 and another incident and fall early in the Heat race for Red Bull KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings meant a charge through the pack to tenth while a Honda again controlled another Yamaha with the freshly graduated (from school) Gajser leading Valentin Guillod. The Standing Construct man is recovering from four broken metacarpals in his right foot. Wilvo Nestaan’s Alex Tonkov again snatched the holeshot and was third. In the post-race press conference he apologised for his “stupidity” in the second moto at Maggiora where he take-out move on Pauls Jonass cost the Russian a shot at a maiden overall win.
Kiara Fontanesi took an important win over Livia Lancelot at the WMX series nears a finale and this was the penultimate outing for the girls. An entertaining first EMX250 moto saw Damon Graulus take victory from a quartet that also involved Adam Sterry, Maxime Desprey and Steven Clarke. Sterry is the standings leader.
Who will successfully walk the MXGP tightrope tomorrow? At least brighter weather conditions are forecast.
1. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 24:05.340; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:06.104; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:26.819; 4. Dean Ferris (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:30.909; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:34.020; 6. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:40.438; 7. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:41.001; 8. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Honda), +0:43.188; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:49.309; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), +0:52.929; 11. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +1:01.374; 12. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +1:02.533; 13. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:04.472; 14. Lukas Neurauter (AUT, KTM), +1:06.500; 15. Jeremy Delince (BEL, Honda), +1:06.771; 16. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +1:10.104; 17. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:12.083; 18. Dennis Ullrich (GER, Suzuki), +1:40.512; 19. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 20. Kei Yamamoto (JPN, Honda), -1 lap(s); 21. Angus Heidecke (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 22. Pier Filippo Bertuzzo (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 23. Stuart Edmonds (IRL, Honda), -1 lap(s); 24. Panagiotis Kouzis (GRE, Honda), -1 lap(s); 25. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), -14 lap(s); 26. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), -14 lap(s);
Photo by Ray Archer
