Team USA sneaks through
By Team TMX on 28th Sep 16
The massive crowd that packed the terraces on Saturday in Maggiora was able to revel in a thrilling qualification programme as Germany was eliminated and the USA nearly joined them.
The German fate was effectively sealed on the opening lap of MXGP quali as Max Nagl collided with a Hungarian and was stretchered off to the local hospital. The world number three, with full movement and no confirmed broken bones, was released in the evening but he was still in immense pain and immediately headed home for intensive specialist examination of his back.
Without their team leader Henry Jacobi and Dennis Ullrich could not make the main race.
Switzerland also had a worrying afternoon after Valentin Guillod hurt his shoulder in the opening race but Jeremy Seewer and Arnaud Tonus eventually saw them home fourth, two ahead of Britain as Tommy Searle, Shaun Simpson and Max Anstie took no risks with 4-5-12 placings.
Italy survived a crash by Tony Cairoli as the eight-time champ went down under pressure from Romain Febvre and Jeremy Van Horebeek ran down Seewer for the MX2 win while Jeffrey Herlings celebrated his first win aboard a 450 on the world stage in the Open race.
Cooper Webb had gone down hard when holding fifth early in MX1 and could only recover to a battered 18th, then Alex Martin cast away sixth and only salvaged ninth in the closing laps of MX2. Jason Anderson, fastest in practice, came round last on lap one of the Open race and was still only 14th at the chequered flag but it was enough – just!
