Red Bull KTM MX1 factory rider Max Nagl of Germany was fast out of the gates and tough on the weathered and torn up track in Lierop, the Netherlands, on Sunday to finish third in the GP of Benelux.
Nagl was fifth in race one and second across the line in a viciously fought, wet second race at the end of a heavy race programme that left the track torn up and ready to snatch any errant rider with the slightest slip of concentration out of the reckoning.
Confident on sand "I was very confident today," Nagl said. "I've been living in Belgium for three years so I like riding in the sand. It's no problem for me. I took the holeshot in the first race and I was really pushing but I got tired in the end and finished in fifth." Nagl showed superb control in the wet second race even after he had trouble with his goggles. "I broke the roll off mechanism so I couldn't see in the rain and mud so I had to throw away my giggles." That Nagl was to be able to cross the line in race two in second place was a tribute to his riding skill and determination.
Bad luck for Barragan Regrettably one of the victims of the difficult conditions was KTM factory rider Jonathan Barragan of Team Silver Action. Second in the first race and looking a real challenge in race two, Jonathan, who has just signed as a KTM factory rider for the team for 2009, found himself splayed on the edge of the muddy circuit. Eventual GP winner Marc De Reuver was unable to avoid crashing into the luckless Barragan in a tangle of man and machinery. De Reuver got away first and Barragan was able to finish the race but back at thirteenth place.
Nagl, who has had a strong second half of the season and who continues to shine on the sandy surfaces was making his fourth visit to the podium. The young German rider said he was hopeful of being able to win some more points in the final two races next weekend at Faenza, Italy, to move up one more place in the season's standings. At sixth place, Nagl trails fifth placed Josh Coppins of New Zealand by 21 points.
GP Classification 1. Marc De Reuver, Netherlands, Honda, 25-20—45
2. Ken de Dyker, Belgium, Suzuki, 13-25—38
3. Max Nagl, Germany, KTM, 16-22—38
4. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha, 20-16—36
5. Josh Coppins New Zealand, Yamaha, 18-15—33
6. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM, 22-8—30
MX1 Championship standings (after 14 of 15 GPs) 1. David Philippaerts, Italy, 477
2. Steve Ramon, Belgium, 463
3. Ken de Dyker, Belgium, 452
4. Jonathan Barragan, Spain, KTM, 419
5. Josh Coppins, New Zealand, 415
6. Max Nagl, Germany, 394
