Day one of the German Grand Prix at Teutschenthal was a dry one and hosted some good qualifying action both in the MX1 and MX2 classes. Ken de Dycker took the eventual pole in MX1 while archrivals Tony Cairoli and Tyla Rattray won the qualifying heats to take the best two spots on the gate of tomorrow’s MX2 Grand Prix. In the Women’s Motocross World Championship qualifying session Livia Lancelot led from home riders Maria Franke and Larissa Papenmeier.
MX1
After taking the first ever Lovemytime Pole Position Award at round one at Valkenswaard, Teka Suzuki WMX1’s Ken de Dycker came back to pole at Teutschenthal with a solid final lap. After spending the beginning of the session in the pit-lane box, the Belgian progressively moved up the time sheets to collect the eventual pole once the flag was waved. Second on tomorrow’s gate will be Lovemytime Pole Position Award standings leader Sebastien Pourcel, the GPKR rider settled into pole with seven minutes to go but he eventually saw De Dycker move past by 0.029 seconds.
After sitting on pole despite a cracked right shoulder blade, CAS Honda’s Billy Mackenzie took third ahead of Yamaha Monster Motocross’ Joshua Coppins and Honda fellow rider Julien Bill. Tanel Leok was sixth ahead of series leader David Philippaerts and Marc de Reuver, who saw the top of the time sheets for some moments in the session, like Hungarian Kornel Nemeth who clocked an eventual 12th time. Defending Champion Steve Ramon and local favourite Max Nagl rounded off the top ten.
Top five in qualifying:
1. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), 2:05.014
2. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:00.023
3. Billy Mackenzie (GBR, Honda), +0:00.152
4. Joshua Coppins (NZL, Yamaha), +0:00.259
5. Julien Bill (SUI, Honda), +0:00.618
MX2
Making it to his sixth Lovemytime Qualifying Award, Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Antonio Cairoli leads the Lovemytime standings ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tyla Rattray, who won the second qualifying heat of the day. After a positive start to heat one, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Rui Goncalves was second behind Cairoli, while Jeremy Van Horebeek completed the top three. In heat two KTM UK’s Shaun Simpson ended runner up with Marvin Musquin third. Searle crashed twice and qualifying through the last chance.
MX2 QUALIFYING RACE 1
Goncalves took a solid start to lead the four opening laps in front of Cairoli while holeshotter Searle crashed. Cairoli progressively closed the gap until he moved past Goncalves and stormed to victory. Goncalves settled for second ahead of KTM fellow rider Van Horebeek. Frossard and Monni rounded off the top five as Searle crashed again, dropping down to an eventual 14th. Guarneri crashed at the opening lap and dnf’d to qualify through the last chance.
Top five:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 26:02.073
2. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +0:07.187
3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:14.288
4. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:22.760
5. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), +0:30.486
MX2 QUALIFYING RACE 2
Rattray dominated the final qualifying heat with Simpson riding close to him only in the early stages, the Brit eventually settled for the runner up spot while Aubin was third until French countryman Musquin moved past to secure the third spot. Aubin crashed three times and dropped down to 14th while Boog and Tarroux rounded off the top five ahead of Leuret, who came back to the GP scene today.
Top five:
1. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), 26:18.662
2. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:06.949
3. Marvin Musquin (FRA, Honda), +0:10.347
4. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), +0:12.766
5. Jeremy Tarroux (FRA, KTM), +0:24.773
