Login | Password dimenticata? | Registrati

Hiemer fourth in Andorra; retains Red Plate as S1 championship leader

In Supermoto

22 settembre 2008

KTM's Bernd Hiemer may have missed the podium in the mountains of Andorra on Sunday but he came back strong in the second S1 race to hold onto the red number plate as championship leader.
Hiemer had an event filled weekend, crashing in Saturday's training where he suffered nasty bruising and grazes. Then on race day he went out hard and fast on the twisty, 13-corner circuit almost on the border of Andorra and France in race one. He was in the front of the pack when he crashed in the difficult offroad section of the course, dropping right back in the field. A huge effort by the German rider saw him push his way back to fifth but the pack closed in around him and he was unable to break free. He eventually crossed the finish in seventh place. "After the crash I lost my rhythm and I made some mistakes," Hiemer said. "I was pushing too much."

All out attack in race two
There were no doubt about Hiemer's intentions in the second race, even though he said after the race he had felt tired and had some pain in his arms. He got away well and immediately went on the attack, leading in the opening laps and recording times that he later said were "quite okay". This time he stayed out of trouble in the tricky offroad corners. Hiemer's second place in race two for overall fourth in the GP meant he sacrificed four points in the battle for the title and he now leads Thierry van den Bosch of France by 234 - 220. Bernd will now prepare for the penultimate round in Italy in two weeks time and will spend some of that time concentrating on motocross. With two more GPs before the close of the 2008 season and still another 100 points up for grabs, his bid for the title is still very much alive.

GP Results (seven of nine)
1. Thomas Chareyre, France, Husqvarna, 25-25—50
2. Ivan Lazzarini, Italy, Aprilia, 20-20—40
3. Thierry van den Bosch, France, Aprilia, 22-18—40
4. Bernd Hiemer, Germany, KTM, 14-22—36
5. Jerome Giraudo, France, Honda16-16—32

Championship standings (after seven of nine)
1. Bernd Hiemer, Germany, KTM 234
2. Thierry van den Bosch, France, Aprilia, 220
3. Ivan Lazzarini, Italy, Aprilia, 198
4. Thomas Chareyre, France, Husqvarna, 196
5. Matthew Winstanley, Britain, KTM, 155