European Intersnips...
By TMX Archives on 9th Oct 08
MAX Nagl has regained the German motocross title. Having lost the national series through injury to Marcus Schiffer in 2007, the 21-year-old Bavarian has dominated this year's MX Masters in the Fatherland, winning almost every moto since taking a tactical second place at round one when he was ill. However, his title clincher in the penultimate ound of the series at Teutschenthal was still a surprise as he started the day with only a 27-point lead as chief rival, Clement Desalle, has spent almost all year finishing second. After qualifying that result seemed again likely, but, in extremely blustery weather which had caused a delay in racing and abbreviated races on a shortened version of the GP course which cut out the high jumps, the Belgian ended up on the ground in a heap at turn one along with team-mate Xavier Boog and neither Inotec Suzuki rider could continue the race.
A victory for Nagl left the KTM rider 52-points ahead, and, after a cut-and-thrust battle with Desalle in race two, he was crowned champion.Desalle now goes to the series finale this weekend with a 20-point advantage over Kornel Nemeth, runner-up on Sunday, for second in the series.
Ken Roczen was another to crash at the dangerous first turn in the Youngsters Cup, and, despite a win in the other moto, the 14-year-old still needs another 30-points to clinch that title.
THE Dutch also staged the penultimate round of their national series last Sunday, and Aigar Leok shrugged off the broken collarbone, which kept him out of the Nations, to score a double win and move closer to the MX1 title.
The Estonian was the only prominent non-Dutchman in the race, Patrick Roos and William Saris sharing the placings.
In MX2, Jeremy Van Horebeek won the day on the second moto tie-break from Champ KTM team-mate, Joel Roelants, and in so doing pulled himself up onto the same series total as Erik Eggens, twice third at Harfsen. World champion Jeff Herlings dominated the 85cc class as usual.
THE big names of the sport were at neither of the two events, but rather at the first of the autumn's big beach races.Run on a three-moto format using MX2 bikes, the event at Berck-sur-Mer was a resounding success for Marc De Reuver, who won the first two motos and was runner-up to world champ, Tyla Rattray, in the third.
The South Africa ended the day third on the podium, his 8-5-1 motos edging out boss Stefan Everts (6-3-5), Josh Coppins (5-4-6) and Steve Ramon 4-13-4).
The man who beat them all was record Le Touquet winner, Arnaud Demeester (3-7-3), but 2007 Berck winner Timotei Potisek DNF-ed the final moto after going 2-6 in the first two races.
Ken De Dycker also relinquished his chance of the podium with a final moto exit after going 7-2 in the first two races.