Coppins Back in Style at German Sunbath

The Grand Prix of Germany, the eighth round of fifteen in a rapidly passing 2008 FIM World Championship, saw the temperatures rise to cook the hefty 34,000 in attendance at Teutschenthal, and the heat also increased on the protagonists of the MX1 and MX2 classes as the points gap narrowed at the top of standings.

Josh Coppins

A welcome and overdue double win by Yamaha Monster Motocross Team’s Josh Coppins signified the seventh different rider to gaze from the top step of the podium thus far. The New Zealander depressingly watched a lead of 104 points decrease in the last four rounds of 2007 as he sat forlorn on the sidelines with a broken shoulder. Almost twelve months later, the 31-year-old – one of the most professional and popular riders in the series – prompted a shrinkage of a different sort as his early season barren spell (one podium from six events) was ended thanks to a revised philosophy and a tighter link to his Italian team. Adrift of teammate Philippaerts by 54 points two rounds ago, Coppins’ speed and resolution across the hard German soil and through the fast layout partly helped him remove one hurdle in his pursuit of world championship “justice” this season and erode the cushion back down to four points.

Other news to arise from the disputes in the MX1 forays include a rare error from world champion Steve Ramon, who slipped on a watered section on the first lap of Moto 2 (he was runner-up in the first outing) and spent the rest of the race finding his way to 18th for a significant point giveaway. The Suzuki man’s mistake saw Yamaha’s elevation to first and second in the series.

Ramon’s teammate Ken de Dycker – one of the very few riders who can dazzle and bemuse in the same Grand Prix – took second place from Kawasaki’s Tanel Leok, who finally put aside difficulties with an injured shoulder to produce a fine battling performance to third in Moto 2.

Tanel Leok

David Philippaerts aggravated a suspected fractured rib in the second sprint and the gritty Italian was not at his best around the venue where he scored his maiden MX1 victory in his debut season last year. Despite missing the podium for the second GP in succession (he still has the most silverware with five sets), the red plate remains stuck on the front of the YZ450FM although the gaps between the protagonists in the category continue to fluctuate in breadth.

Steve Boniface

Steve Boniface’s dalliance with CAS Honda and Mike Brown’s vacated saddle – one of the two GP teams with HRC backing – was not a memorable one, even if the British team is keen to employ the Frenchman for the rest of the season. A first-moto crash with Seb Pourcel saw him stop with an injured foot, while another problem – this time with the throttle cable – ended Moto 2 prematurely. Pourcel himself crashed out of second place in the latter race but his recovery from 16th to fifth was arguably one of the rides of the meeting. The quiet Frenchman’s 2009 services continue to be the main target for most teams and manufacturers.

Ken de Dycker

It was not actually the best weekend for Honda, as Italian GP winner Marc de Reuver had a mechanical problem in Moto 1 and crashed on the second corner in Moto 2. Billy Mackenzie started brilliantly to lead both races in the fledging stages, but his weakened right shoulder from his qualifying prang in France two weeks ago meant his double moment in the spotlight was brief.

Tyla Rattray

MX2 was owned by Tyla Rattray – the motos were split between the South African and world champion Tony Cairoli, but an authoritative performance in the second decided the podium order – while fellow works KTM rider Tommy Searle seemed not to sit easily with the extra “weight” of the red plate. The British teenager crashed twice in the Heat to enter the GP via the Last Chance session and although his flight from mid-pack obscurity to third position in the opening race was one of the stand-out moments of the day, his crash in the moto after lunch (finishing a tired eighth) meant his liaison with the status of championship leader was short-lived.

Shaun Simpson

Third went to debut podiumee Steven Frossard on the CLS Kawasaki, yet another of the batch of French talent (including Musquin, Paulin and Boog) filling the 2008 classifications. South African Shannon Terreblance was airlifted to the hospital with a snapped femur, while Yamaha’s Nico Aubin was simply not able to get going with the track and said that his disappointing 20th overall was one of the low points of his career. The “off-day” allowed Shaun Simpson – apparently on the verge of being a works KTM rider in 2009 – to rise to fourth in the standings. Rattray, Searle and Cairoli are now split by 16 points, and this one will certainly go to the bitter end.

Antonio Cairoli

With Yamaha’s Katherine Prumm snapping her collarbone into four pieces and missing the final two rounds of the Women’s World Championship, Steffi Laier was able to take her KTM to a popular home victory – her third in succession – and to within 20 points of Teutschenthal runner-up Livia Lancelot with just one event remaining. Another German, Maria Franke, was third as Ashley Fiolek was busy winning in the States.

Steffi Laier

On Saturday night Giuseppe Luongo informally greeted key media to explain his motivations behind the entry fees, bolstered branding of the world championship, and strong appeal to increased manufacturer backing for 2009. The subject is polemic at the very least and has divided opinion in the paddock. A more insightful look into how world championship motocross will change will be provided on www.racerxill.com this week.

The hours are counting down already to round nine. The Grand Prix of Sweden at the reversed and scenic Uddevalla occurs next weekend.