Yamaha Motocross Team's Josh Coppins continued his 100% podium record with third place overall in the German GP held at the 'Talkessel' circuit of Teutschenthal. His teammate Marc de Reuver enjoyed his best moto result to date in a MX1 GP race, finishing second to Coppins in the first heat. A crash in the second moto unfortunately destroyed Marc's chance for his first GP victory. Coppins gained his first pole position on the YZ450FM during an initially wet Timed Practice on Saturday. High winds on Friday meant that the practice schedule had to be cut in order to complete the set-up of the circuit, Nevertheless the Yamaha Motocross Team had a decent day of preparation enjoying a pleasing one-two for both of their riders as Marc de Reuver flew to a lap-time just four thousandths of a second slower than Coppins.
Despite the adverse conditions at the start of the weekend (Saturday was windy, cloudy and with occasional showers) Sunday dawned sunny and slightly breezy. With its climbs, drops, banked curves and undulations Talkessel still has a flowing layout even though a new sandy loop had been installed. The hard terrain had also been mixed with sand in many places with a view to generating more lines which was partially successful. The speed remained fairly high and the course was not the most technically difficult of the calendar; therefore the gaps between riders remained constant and tricky to cut down.
The first MX1 moto saw an excellent start for the Italian crew as Coppins pulled away from de Reuver and the pair kept a comfortable distance over Steve Ramon. A repeat result looked as though it might happen later in the afternoon but the three second lead diligently created by Coppins vanished when the 30 year old hit neutral and crashed in the sand. He remounted in eighth and then joined in a thrilling five rider fight for the lead.
In theory it should have been de Reuver's race and Grand Prix. Riding at the venue where he won his first Grand Prix in 2003 the Dutchman looked comfortable when he inherited Coppins' position but then slipped off his 450 in a surprising crash. Devastated by his mistake he then could do no better than eighth place, which gave him fourth overall; still his best finish so far this year. Coppins meanwhile had re-launched an offensive and climbed into the top four but he then clipped his right foot on a bank after exiting a corner a little too fast and twisted his ankle, nullifying his speed somewhat. He confirmed sixth to seal the third step of the podium.
Coppins' lead in the standings has increased by seven points over Kevin Strijbos, who could only take fifth, and now reaches 43 for almost a full Grand Prix advantage.
Josh Coppins, Yamaha Motocross Team:
"I was riding well in the second moto and passed Brown for the lead. I pulled a nice little advantage over the others and was happy with that but I hit a neutral going through the sand and crashed. I restarted around sixth or seventh and was riding quite good again, passing a few guys, although I then hit the bank with my foot with five or six laps to go and took it a bit easy after that. The first moto win was good because this track is so fast and the racing is so close that a couple of seconds lead is a lot here compared to other circuits. I was comfortable and able to control the race. The second moto was frustrating. I made a mistake that I am disappointed about because I was in a good position. It was a so so day but on the bright side I was able to extend my lead in the championship."
Marc de Reuver, Yamaha Motocross Team:
"Even in my junior motocross races did I not give away a race like that! I went into the corner and my right hand slipped off the grip. I don't know why because I always took the same rut. The bike was still running and I picked it up straightaway. I lost only two places and thought that the moto was still there for me but then Ramon pushed me over the berm and just into the fence and everyone in that group went through. I have nothing more to say except that I am sick of this. I should have won it easily, with 'two fingers in my nose' even. I was riding so smoothly and it was just a stupid thing."
Carlo Rinaldi, Team Manager, Yamaha Motocross Team:
"It could easily have been a one-two for the team. The first moto was easy for them both and it looked as though the second race was going to be the same, even when Josh crashed because Marc had the lead and Josh could have made second overall. It turned around very quickly though because Marc made the mistake and Josh twisted his ankle. Marc was so angry and disappointed. He lost a lot of time and speed. The second half of the second moto was hard for us!"
Circuit Length:1780
Temp: 20
Crowd: 32000
Weather: Showers
Race 1 - 19 Laps - GP of Teutschenthal, Germany:
1. Joshua Coppins - Yamaha - NZL 41'33.823
2. Marc De Reuver - Yamaha - NED 0'6.946
3. Steve Ramon - Suzuki - BEL 0'11.243
4. Ken De Dycker - Honda - BEL 0'13.949
5. David Philippaerts - KTM - ITA 0'14.865
6. Kevin Strijbos - Suzuki - BEL 0'17.440
7. Gordon Crockard - Honda - IRL 0'26.508
8. James Noble - Honda - GBR 0'29.096
9. Maximilian Nagl - KTM - GER 0'34.254
10. Manuel Priem - TM - BEL 0'45.676
11. Bradley Anderson - Yamaha - GBR 0'46.596
12. Mike Brown - Honda - USA 0'49.656
13.T anel Leok - Kawasaki - EST 0'51.164
14. Jonathan Barragan - KTM - ESP 0'53.206
15. Clement Desalle - Suzuki - BEL 1'1.365
16. Sébastien Pourcel - Kawasaki - FRA 1'5.529
17. Alex Salvini - Yamaha - ITA 1'7.947
18. Pierre A. Renet - Honda - FRA 1'9.753
19. Kornel Nemeth - Suzuki - HUN 1'13.081
20. Aigar Leok - Yamaha - EST 1'31.115
Race 2 - 19 Laps:
1. David Philippaerts - KTM - ITA 39'49.343
2. Sébastien Pourcel - Kawasaki - FRA 0'2.008
3. Steve Ramon - Suzuki - BEL 0'3.729
4. Kevin Strijbos - Suzuki - BEL 0'4.221
5. Gordon Crockard - Honda - IRL 0'7.718
6. Joshua Coppins - Yamaha - NZL 0'11.974
7. Jonathan Barragan - KTM - ESP 0'24.821
8. Marc De Reuver - Yamaha - NED 0'29.354
9. Billy MacKenzie - Kawasaki - GBR 0'31.323
10. Aigar Leok - Yamaha - EST 0'34.459
11. Mike Brown - Honda - USA 0'36.376
12. Pierre A. Renet - Honda - FRA 0'40.458
13. Thomas Allier - Kawasaki - FRA 0'50.129
14. Ken De Dycker - Honda - BEL 0'53.742
15. Tanel Leok - Kawasaki- EST 0'55.388
16. Maximilian Nagl - KTM- GER 0'56.356
17. Marvin Van Daele - Honda - BEL 0'57.910
18. Julien Vanni - Honda - FRA 0'58.589
19. Kornel Nemeth - Suzuki - HUN 1'1.208
20. Bradley Anderson - Yamaha - GBR 1'5.050
Rider Standings:
1. Joshua Coppins - Yamaha - NZL 234
2. Kevin Strijbos - Suzuki - BEL 191
3. Steve Ramon - Suzuki - BEL 156
4. Ken De Dycker - Honda - BEL 131
5. Sébastien Pourcel - Kawasaki - FRA 130
6. Jonathan Barragan - KTM - ESP 121
7. Marc De Reuver - Yamaha - NED 115
8. David Philippaerts - KTM - ITA 115
9. Tanel Leok - Kawasaki - EST 112
10. James Noble - Honda - GBR 104
11. Mike Brown - Honda - USA 100
12. Manuel Priem - TM - BEL 81
13. Maximilian Nagl - KTM - GER 80
14. Billy MacKenzie - Kawasaki - GBR 73
15. Kornel Nemeth -Suzuki - HUN 66
16. Gordon Crockard - Honda - IRL 62
17. Aigar Leok - Yamaha - EST 57
18. Marvin Van Daele - Honda - BEL 49
19. Thomas Allier - Kawasaki - FRA 43
20. Pierre A. Renet - Honda - FRA 38
Manufacturer Standings:
1. Yamaha 234
2. Suzuki 205
3. KTM 181
4. Honda 163
5. Kawasaki 157
6. TM 81
7. Aprilia 2
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