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Double victory for KTM's Steffi Laier for dream home GP win
at Teutschenthal
After Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Steffi Laier sailed through the chequered flag for her home GP victory in Teutschenthal she said it had been "a perfect weekend". Laier, who captured the lead in the Women's World Championship and the coveted red plate, laid the foundation for her overall GP win in the first race on Saturday evening and on Sunday morning went out and finished the job. She led a trio of German riders over the finish line with a margin of almost 13 seconds and now moves into strong contention for winning the title. Two holeshots, two fastest laps, two moto victories and all in her home GP - It doesn't get much better than that. Red Number plate and leader in the championship While Steffi said she was thrilled to finally win a GP and take possession of the red number plate she did say she was disappointed that her strongest opponent, Livia Lancelot, with who she has shared the glory this season, was not able to ride. The French rider tackled Saturday's race with a shoulder injury and failed to finish. It is now being reported that she will need surgery to fix the injury and Lancelot herself told reporters that she must now concentrate on being fit for next season. "I am sorry that Livia was not riding today because I wanted to fight with her on equal terms. It is always sad when you get injured. I know what its like because it has happened to me. Also there are not so many of the women riders in the top group and it is always more interesting when the competition is close," Steffi said. Steffi drew praise from KTM's Offroad Racing Director Pit Beirer. "It was really great that Steffi won today and she did it with a double moto victory. Now she has the red plate so she must be confident and believe in herself," he said. Results Women's GP 1. Steffi Laier, Germany, KTM 26:01.812 2. Maria Franke, Kawasaki, 26:14.548 3. Larissa Pappenmeier, Germany, Suzuki, 26:30.188 4. Nathalie Kane, Ireland, Suzuki, 26:46.920 5. Marielle De Mol, Netherlands, Yamaha, 27:06.323 Other KTM 14. Sarah Whitmore, USA, KTM Championship Standings after five of seven rounds 1. Steffi Laier, Germany, KTM, 211 points 2. Larissa Pappenmeier, Germany, Suzuki, 190 3. Livia Lancelot, France, Kawasaki, 185 4. Maria Franke, Germany, Kawasaki, 179 5. Elin Mann, Sweden, KTM, 157 Max Nagl rewards home crowd fans with podium place in Germany Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Max Nagl rounded off a great weekend at his home MX1 GP in Teutschenthal scoring a 1-3 result in the two motos for overall second on the podium. Max continued his tradition of lightning starts, shooting out of the gate in both motos to take the coveted holeshot and in both races fought a tough battle for the lead with the championship leader Toni Cairoli. Podium at home for Nagl "Today I went out and I really wanted to win the first moto, especially as Toni (Cairoli) had beaten me in the final lap of the qualifying," Nagl said. "But winning that race cost me a lot of energy and I was a bit tired in the second race. Today I managed to reach my goal of being on the podium in my home GP and I picked up some good championship points. Now I am only four points behind David Philippaerts in second place. This weekend was really positive for MX in Germany because Steffi (Laier of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team), Ken Roczen (winner of the MX2 GP) and I were all on the podium. We also learned that the MX of Nations will be in Teuschenthal in 2013 and this is also very good for our sport. Today was great for me to have so much support from the crowd. They were amazing and it is very important when you are racing your home GP to get that support," Nagl said. Max dedicated his result to team trainer Hugo America because he has helped the team a lot and because it is his birthday. Pit Beirer, KTM Offroad Racing Director said Max's result shows his strength and praised the entire factory team. "Our whole team is strong and you just have to keep going like this," he told the assembled factory team. "I have to thank Stefan (team boss Stefan Everts) for the work he is doing with you and because we got six holeshots today, I also have to thank our mechanics!" he added. KTM's second factory rider Jonathan Barragan (Team Silver Action) is currently injured and did not compete in Germany. Conditions were almost perfect on the Teutschenthal circuit with occasional light rain keep the track malleable to allow riders a choice of lines without hampering the races. Riders next travel to new territory in Latvia for the next round at Kegums, south east of the capital Riga. Results 1. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, Yamaha, 22-25--47 2. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM 25-20—45 3. Ken de Dyker, Belgium, Suzuki, 14-22—36 4. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha, 20-16—36 5. Josh Coppins, New Zealand, Yamaha, 20-16—36 MX 1 Standings 1. Antonio Cairoli, Italy, 338 points 2. David Philippaerts, Italy, 297 3. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM, 293 4. Josh Coppins, New Zealand, 274 5. Clemente Desalle, Belgium, 268 Other KTM 8. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM 215 Musquin third in MX2 GP of Germany, retains championship lead Red Bull KTM Racing's French rider Marvin Musquin spoiled his chances of a hat trick of GP win in the first MX2 moto in Teutschenthal, Germany after a mistake on the unforgiving circuit dropped him down to sixth place. But Musquin, the latest recruit to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, was first across the finish line in the second race of the day, salvaging enough points for third overall to allow him to retain his healthy 38-point lead in the championship standings. Two holeshots for KTM riders I managed to take the holeshot in the first race but I was not riding that well and I made some mistakes," Musquin said later. "I crashed and it was quite hard to make up ground again because somehow I lost my rhythm. Then Rui (factory team-mate Goncalves) got the holeshot in the second race. He was fast but I managed to get past him and I led the race for a while until Ken Roczen overtook me. I went on and managed to fight for the win in the second moto but it was not easy for me like it was in France. I got some good points and I am happy for Roczin that he won his home GP. I know how that is, he is very young and he deserved to win. Young Ken Roczin of Germany, the ultimate winner of the MX2 GP was racing in only his fifth GP and is only 15-year-old. The team's second factory rider, Rui Goncalves of Portugal also had a good day picking up 32 championship points to be overall fifth and is currently fourth in the standings. "This was a tough weekend for me," Rui said. "I missed my rhythm and all I can say is I now look forward to the next races in Latvia and I want to be back riding the way I know I can." Rui is already the winner of two GP this season. Next week the riders face a new challenge when they break new territory competing in Kegums, Latvia, which is southeast of the capital of Riga. MX2 GP Results 1. Ken Roczen, Germany, Suzuki, 22-22—44 2. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki, 25-16—41 3. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM, 15-25—40 4. Gautier Paulin, France, Kawasaki, 16-20—36 5. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM 14-18—32 Other KTM 8. Marcus Schiffer, Germany, KTM 10-14—24 10. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, KTM 7-12—19 12. Jake Nicholls, Britain, KTM 12-7—19 14. Anthony Boissiere, France, KTM 0-15—15 15. Petr Smitka, Czech Republic, KTM 5-10—15 16. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM 9-4—13 22. Stephen Sword, Britain, KTM 3-0—3 Championship Standings 1. Marvin Musquin, France, 324 2. Gautier Paulin, France, Kawasaki, 286 3. Davide Guarneri, Italy 264 4. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM 254 5. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki, 246 Other KTM 10 Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, KTM 147 11. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM 116 12. Anthony Boissiere, France, KTM, 115 14. Marcus Schiffer, Germany, KTM, 113 15. Arnaud Tonus, Switzerland, KTM, 108 17. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM, 97 18. Stephen Sword, Britain, KTM, 87 19. Valentin Teillet, France, KTM, 71 |