Simo Kirssi of Team BMW Husqvarna Motorsport kicked off the Austrian Cross Country Championship (ACC) with a dominating win in Launsdorf. Held on a difficult and fast track, almost 400 riders provided a record number of entries.
Kirssi, who carried number sixteen, didn't have the best start position. The Finn had decided rather late to take part as a training measure for the German Cross Country series and therefore had to begin from the back of the pack. But the reigning European champ quickly moved into fifth place and would eventually manage to own the race for the better part of the two-hour distance. Kirssi was never headed once in the lead, taking the win from Austrian riders Seppi Fally and Mario Hirschmugl.
Simo Kirssi: "I had a decent start and was able to watch the leaders while sitting in fifth place. It was good to study their lines and wait for their mistakes. I started to attack after a quarter of the race and quickly got in front. At one point I had to slow down while lapping and Seppi Fally got closer. But I was able to get on the gas again and bring home the win.
"Surprisingly, the level is pretty high in the ACC. I don't get to race a lot in Austria and it's really impressive how much they stepped it up. The layout of the track with its flowing nature favoured my style, I guess. There was plenty of room to make passes. It was a highly enjoyable race and what Cross Country racing is all about. I'd love to return soon."
Results ACC Launsdorf, XC-Pro Class
1. Simo Kirssi (FIN), BMW Husqvarna Motorsport
2. Seppi Fally (AUT), Kawasaki
3. Mario Hirschmugl (AUT), KTM
4. Werner Müller (AUT), GasGas
5. Daniel Stocker (AUT), KTM
Kirssi, who carried number sixteen, didn't have the best start position. The Finn had decided rather late to take part as a training measure for the German Cross Country series and therefore had to begin from the back of the pack. But the reigning European champ quickly moved into fifth place and would eventually manage to own the race for the better part of the two-hour distance. Kirssi was never headed once in the lead, taking the win from Austrian riders Seppi Fally and Mario Hirschmugl.
Simo Kirssi: "I had a decent start and was able to watch the leaders while sitting in fifth place. It was good to study their lines and wait for their mistakes. I started to attack after a quarter of the race and quickly got in front. At one point I had to slow down while lapping and Seppi Fally got closer. But I was able to get on the gas again and bring home the win.
"Surprisingly, the level is pretty high in the ACC. I don't get to race a lot in Austria and it's really impressive how much they stepped it up. The layout of the track with its flowing nature favoured my style, I guess. There was plenty of room to make passes. It was a highly enjoyable race and what Cross Country racing is all about. I'd love to return soon."
Results ACC Launsdorf, XC-Pro Class
1. Simo Kirssi (FIN), BMW Husqvarna Motorsport
2. Seppi Fally (AUT), Kawasaki
3. Mario Hirschmugl (AUT), KTM
4. Werner Müller (AUT), GasGas
5. Daniel Stocker (AUT), KTM
