Top Podium for David Philippaerts in MX1 Germany
By TMX Archives on 13th May 07
Teutschenthal and the Grand Prix of Germany were fertile soil for KTM Red Bull Racing Team's Italian rider David Philippaerts, who finished the day atop the MX1 podium.
Fifth in the first moto, Philippaerts then showed his true colours by comingin victorious in the day's second race to steal the premium podium for the KTMteam. The Italian's victory also proved that New Zealand's Joshua Coppins, thedominant in the class a third of the way through the season is not invincible.Coppins won the first race but came in sixth in the second to finish overallthird in the Grand Prix results.
Philippaerts expressed satisfaction in the result even though he struggled inthe first heat and wasn't able to stay with the front runners. His good start inthe second heat put him among the top five and he was able to constantly improvehis position as the race progressed. He took the lead with 10 minutes to go andafter Coppins crashed in the final stages, the race - and the GP - was his.
Today I pushed hard and it was a good result for me. Now I will just try tobe relaxed and do my best and take it race by race, the Italian said.
The MX1 victory was particularly sweet for KTM's Offroad Director Pit Beirer,who revelled in what is essentially the atmosphere of his home GP. I am sohappy for the whole team, he said. We have great riders and great bikes and toleave with this victory it's as if I won the race myself.
Team boss Stefan Everts was also delighted, saying that David showed histrue potential with the win at Teutschenthal.
Even though David struggled a bit in the first heat, his speeds were up withthe best. He was stuck with a group of seven and that is never easy. But then inthe second he fought very hard all the way. He was very good and veryconcentrated through the entire race, focusing on the action in front of him andthat was exactly the right thing to do, Everts said.
Philippaert's Spanish teammate Jonathan Barragan finished the day with a 14-7result for ninth place in the final tally, enough to hold is sixth position inthe season standings. Philippaerts vaulted up four places from eleventh toseventh on a weekend that will be a significant confidence booster for him andthe team. The result was also some compensation for Philippaerts who crashed outin the second moto at home in Italy last weekend.
In other MX1 news, Pit Beirer announced at Teutschenthal that the company hadsigned a three-year contract with German rider Max Nagl. The privateer, now tobecome a fully fledged factory rider has been performing impressively thisseason up until the Grand Prix of Portugal where he crashed and broke hiscollarbone. The surgery that followed left Nagl incapacitated for Italy but herejoined the action this weekend at home in Germany. He wrapped up the day witha 9-16 result even though he is not yet completely fit.
It is very nice for us to welcome a German speaking rider, Beirer said.Max is one of the upcoming talents in Motocross, and he will receive all oursupport. Three years is a long way ahead, and I am sure we will have very goodresults together. I have to thank KTM Germany's General Manager Norbert Zaha forthis, as he was the one who discovered Nagl.
Results MX1 Teuteschenthal
1. David Philippaerts, Italy, KTM (5-1)
2. Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki (3-3)
3. Joshua Coppins, New Zealand, Yamaha (1-6)
4. Marc de Reuver, Netherland, Yamaha, (2-8)
5. Kevin Strijbos, Belgium, Suzuki (6-4)
9. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM (14-7)
13. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM (9-16)