Report from Strassbessenbach GP 11th July

Conditions for round eight of the 2010 world championship held at Strassbessenbach near Frankfurt in Germany were extremely hot and humid for the two days. With temperatures soaring into the high thirties it was going to be survival of the fittest for the crews and an uphill struggle for the organisers to put sufficient water down to control the dust.

Saturday’s quali races were delayed for just over one hour when the group A race was red flagged because of a nasty incident at the end of the start straight. It was very reminiscent of the incident in the mid 90s involving the late Ottmar Konigsdorfer when he crashed in similar circumstances and was left paralysed from the waist down. This time the rider was the German veteran Jo Brustmann who crashed and ended up under two bikes. When the bikes were removed he complained that he had no feeling in his legs and feet. Because of this the air ambulance was called in and Jo was taken to the local hospital where it was found that he had broken his femur and possibly dislocated his hip joint but feeling had returned to his lower limbs.

When racing did recommence the A race was led from the gate by Joris Hendrickx / Kaspars Liepins from Steegmans / Verbrugge with Bax / v.de Bogaart third. Bax was passed on lap two by Jan Hendrickx / Tim Smeuninx but it too them another three laps to take Bax. Apart from Watson / Sabbe all the Brits in this race were outside the twelve qualifying places.

The B race was not surprisingly led from gate to flag by Willemsen / Eggink with the Daiders brothers second throughout. Happich / Betschart held third for the first five laps until Brown / Peters closed them down and passed on lap 6. The Millards started in eighth place and finally got up to sixth by the end.
In the last chance Wilkinson / Keane finished second with Hyde / Kirwin taking the first reserve position. The Breachers failed to make the cut.

On Sunday morning it was as hot as Saturday but there were more clouds and a light breeze to cool things a bit.

At exactly 13.30 hrs the riders blasted off the line up the long hill to turn one. Willemsen took the holeshot from Steegmans with Daiders in 3rd. Brown and Millard were in mid pack with Watson and Wilkinson nearer the back. Jo Hendrickx started in fifth place and slowly worked his way up to second after just over 10 minutes. On the same lap Jan Hendrickx dropped from fifth to eleventh when his chain came off. On the next lap Wilkinson pulled out. Steegmans held onto third place for the rest of the race although it was obvious he was holding up Daiders and later Bax. Bax passed Daiders with four laps to go but could not make it past Steegmans.

Willemsen went on to win but at the flag he was under two seconds in front of Hendrickx. Brown came home in 12th with Millard seventeenth and Watson twentieth.

Before the second leg started Watson was stopped from going to the line by the international jury president. In the second race Bax led the charge up the hill with Willemsen second and Jo Hendrickx third. Halfway round the first lap there was a multi bike pile which unfortunately involved Brown dropping him to near the back of the field. Bax held the lead for the first few laps from Willemsen with Steegmans now holding third. Millard was in 11th with Brown at the back. After three laps Jo Hendrickx passed Steegmans.

On lap eight Willemsen got past Bax who soon came under attack from Hendrickx. On lap twelve he was past but although he closed on Willemsen he couldn’t catch him. Willemsen took the win from Hendrickx with Bax 3rd. Millard rode well to finish tenth and Brown came home in 18th but was promoted one place when Rodionov was disqualified for outside assistance.

Willemsen now leads the championship by five points from Jo Hendrickx. Brown is the best placed Brit in 11th with Millard 13th.

The next round is at St Mamet in France next weekend.




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