Victory for BMW at the first Cross Country Race of the year!
 When
the checkered flag dropped in front of the Finnish BMW factory
rider Simo Kirssi at the finish line of the GCC-Race in the
Sandpit of Tollwitz the whole team of BMW Motorrad Motorsport
was overcome by a wave of relief. After the hard work of the
last months they could celebrate a victory at the first race
of the German Cross Country Championship which is the off
road series with the most participants in Europe.
It was hard work in Tollwitz for the 28 year old Kirssi on
his BMW G 450 X. The competition was international and tough,
riders like the multiple times Le Touquet champion Arnaud
Demester and the French cross star Cyrill Coulon were at the
start line. The track was sandy and nearly non existent after
the heavy rain showers that had poured down before the race.
Nevertheless, Simo never lost grip and controlled his opponents
throughout the whole race.
The Le-Mans-Start did not work perfectly for Simo. He started
off in fourth position and had a small crash in the first
lap which however did not have any consequences. After that
he made his way to the front quite quickly and had to give
up his leading position only for a short time when he stopped
for refueling. After three successful World Championship races
the Enduro newcomer proved that he is capable of becoming
this season’s number one in the European Cross Country
Sport.
Bert Meyer, the Youngster in the BMW Motorrad Motorsport
team also had a great performance. The 21-old Saxon was leading
the field in the first lap, but then he had to give in and
let the first three bikes go. He fought an exciting battle
to the end for fourth position with Arnaud Demester which
he lost when the French sand specialist crossed the finish
line five meters in front of him.
Simo Kirssi: „I did not feel so well
today. I am having a cold and was feeling weak. In the first
lap I had a small crash together with Steffen Albrecht. But
nothing serious, we both could continue straight away. I also
got stuck in a stone field. Consequently my speed was not
satisfactory today, but of course I am happy for my victory.
I see it as a reward for the team’s hard work of the
last months."
Berti Hauser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director):
„This was a start into the Cross-Country season we could
only wish for. We worked hard all winter because we knew that
we need a bike which works if we want to be competitive and
fight for top positions. Simo was also well prepared. He won
this race in an impressive manner which was anything else
but easy considering the strong competition in the field.
I am happy for the team, the mechanics, the riders and the
team manager Wolfgang Fischer. It’s the reward for our
hard team work and we are simply enjoying it now."
German Cross Country, Rnd 1, Tollwitzer Sandkessel
1. Simo Kirssi (FIN), BMW Motorrad Motorsport, 15 laps; 2.
Cyrille Coulon (FRA), Yamaha, 15 laps; 3. Steffen Albrecht
(GER), Yamaha, 15 laps, 4. Arnaud Demeester (FRA), Yamaha,
15 laps; 5. Bert Meyer (GER), BMW Motorrad Motorsport, 15
laps; 6. Andy Boller (GER), KTM, 14 laps; 7. Jonas Karlsson
(SWE), KTM, 14 laps; 8. Thomas Günther (GER), Husaberg,
14 laps; 9. Jörg Haustein (GER), KTM, 14 laps; 10. Falko
Karbautzki (GER), KTM, 14 laps.
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