Herlings stays perfect at German GP with 13th straight win this season. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ARCHER
Fittingly the red-hot KTM pairing of Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings battled hot temperatures and high humidity to again record victories in the German Motocross Grand Prix at Lausitzring on Sunday.
Although Cairoli came away with his ninth overall win of the season, it was Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Clement Desalle who, despite a poor start, was able to open up a gap on the rest of the field and win the first moto. But in the second moto it was all Cairoli, the Italian star grabbing the holeshot and never looking back. Desalle tried to chase down Cairoli after he shook off the challenges of Tommy Searle, but was unable to catch the defending World Champion.
Cairoli’s teammate Ken de Dycker ended up third overall with a 4-3 tally. De Dycker took advantage of rookie Searle’s mistake in moto two when he lost the front costing him a shot at his first overall podium. Searle had a solid third-place finish in moto one and finished fourth overall.
Finishing fifth in both motos was Kevin Stribjos on the Rockstar Energy Suzuki, earning him fifth overall.
Absent in the results was Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Gauthier Paulin, who crashed hard in the beginning of moto one and had to be airlifted due to a head injury. The Frenchman sustained a concussion and was kept overnight for observation. He was scheduled to be examined upon his return home to France, but will likely miss next weekend’s Czech Republic GP.
For Herlings it could not have been a more perfect weekend was he dominated qualifying and won both motos, keeping his perfect overall record intact and getting himself one step closer to clinching the MX2 title. Herlings hopes to do just that next weekend in Loket.
Herling’s teammate Jordi Tixier capitalized on Dean Ferris’ crash in the first moto to finish third and then came back to finish second in the second moto to take second overall.
An emotional Chris Coldenhoff received his first podium after a hard-fought third-place finish in both motos.
Following Coldenhoff was Jose Butron, the KTM Silver Action rider finished sixth and fourth, respectively, in the two motos. Max Antsie, meanwhile, had his best outing of the season and finished fifth overall with his 4-9 tally.
2013 Lausitzring MX1 Results:
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 2-1
2. Clement Desalle (Suzuki) 1-2
3. Ken de Dycker (KTM) 4-3
4. Tommy Searle (Kawasaki) 3-4
5. Kevin Strijbos (Suzuki) 5-5
6. David Philippaerts (Honda) 8-6
7. Joel Roelants (Yamaha) 6-9
8. Jeremy van Horebeek (Kawasaki) 7-13
9. Milko Potisek (Yamaha) 10-11
10. Matiss Karro (KTM) 16-7
2013 Lausitzring MX2 Results:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 1-1
2. Jordi Tixier (KTM) 3-2
3. Glenn Coldenhoff (KTM) 5-3
4. Jose Butron (KTM) 6-4
5. Max Anstie (Suzuki) 4-9
6. Dean Ferris (Yamaha) 9-5
7. Jake Nicholls (KTM) 8-8
8. Christophe Charlier (Yamaha) 2-DNF
9. Mel Pocock (Yamaha) 16-6
10. Harri Kullas (KTM) 12-11
