Simo Kirssi has earned title honours in this year's German Cross Country Championship with one round to go. The 30year old Team BMW Husqvarna Motorsport rider sealed yet another series win with a third place at Mühlhausen. But it didn't come without drama.
A severe thunderstorm crossed the "Airtime Area" one third into Sunday afternoon's pro race, turning the perfectly prepared track into a mud pool within minutes. Kirssi had ruled the proceedings before the rain as he dominated the early going. The downpour didn't make a difference in the race order at first, until Kirssi took a bad line and crashed. Fellow countryman Samuli Aro used the opportunity to capture the lead.
Kirssi battled back and looked set to repossess the lead just when his engine died upon riding through a waterhole. This happened only 50 meters from the finish line. At the very same moment the officials decided to redflag the race due to safety concerns. Kirssi managed to push his bike past the chequered flag, while Chris Gundermann demoted him to third place.
The new champion was satisfied with the outcome, though. He had shown once again who's the series prinicipal. At least unless something unusual happens - like a freak of nature. Regardless, his team had all reason to celebrate what is Kirssi's third German title and his second aboard the powerful BMW 450 X.
"That was pure drama. It almost felt like the end of the world," Kirssi said with a wink. "Yet this is an outdoor sport, so you have to accept the forces of nature. I was able to reel in Samuli after my crash, but had no idea that the race was about to be redflagged anyway. I attempted a pass about 50 meters from the finish line, which turned out to be a bad maneuver.
The bike fatally stopped. So I had to push it over the finish line."
German Cross Country Championship, Round 6, Mühlhausen
1. Samuli Aro (FIN), KTM, 12 laps
2. Chris Gundermann (GER), Yamaha, 12
3. Simo Kirssi (FIN), BMW Husqvarna Motorsport, 12
4. Chris Weiß (GER), TM, 12
5. Steffen Albrecht (GER), Yamaha, 12
6. Stefan Svitko (SVK), KTM, 12
7. Marco Straubel (GER), KTM, 12
8. Mickael Musquin (FRA), BMW, 12
9. Martin Schneider (GER), Yamaha, 10
10. Andreas Schulz (GER), KTM, 10
German Cross Country Championship, Point standings after round six (of seven)
1. Simo Kirssi, 162
2. Samuli Aro, 137
3. Stefan Svitko, 126
4. Steffen Albrecht, 112
5. Chris Weiß, 111
6. Marco Straubel, 111
7. Hans Vogels, 99
8. Andreas Schulz, 70
9. Mickael Musquin, 67
10. Martin Schneider, 65
A severe thunderstorm crossed the "Airtime Area" one third into Sunday afternoon's pro race, turning the perfectly prepared track into a mud pool within minutes. Kirssi had ruled the proceedings before the rain as he dominated the early going. The downpour didn't make a difference in the race order at first, until Kirssi took a bad line and crashed. Fellow countryman Samuli Aro used the opportunity to capture the lead.
Kirssi battled back and looked set to repossess the lead just when his engine died upon riding through a waterhole. This happened only 50 meters from the finish line. At the very same moment the officials decided to redflag the race due to safety concerns. Kirssi managed to push his bike past the chequered flag, while Chris Gundermann demoted him to third place.
The new champion was satisfied with the outcome, though. He had shown once again who's the series prinicipal. At least unless something unusual happens - like a freak of nature. Regardless, his team had all reason to celebrate what is Kirssi's third German title and his second aboard the powerful BMW 450 X.
"That was pure drama. It almost felt like the end of the world," Kirssi said with a wink. "Yet this is an outdoor sport, so you have to accept the forces of nature. I was able to reel in Samuli after my crash, but had no idea that the race was about to be redflagged anyway. I attempted a pass about 50 meters from the finish line, which turned out to be a bad maneuver.
The bike fatally stopped. So I had to push it over the finish line."
German Cross Country Championship, Round 6, Mühlhausen
1. Samuli Aro (FIN), KTM, 12 laps
2. Chris Gundermann (GER), Yamaha, 12
3. Simo Kirssi (FIN), BMW Husqvarna Motorsport, 12
4. Chris Weiß (GER), TM, 12
5. Steffen Albrecht (GER), Yamaha, 12
6. Stefan Svitko (SVK), KTM, 12
7. Marco Straubel (GER), KTM, 12
8. Mickael Musquin (FRA), BMW, 12
9. Martin Schneider (GER), Yamaha, 10
10. Andreas Schulz (GER), KTM, 10
German Cross Country Championship, Point standings after round six (of seven)
1. Simo Kirssi, 162
2. Samuli Aro, 137
3. Stefan Svitko, 126
4. Steffen Albrecht, 112
5. Chris Weiß, 111
6. Marco Straubel, 111
7. Hans Vogels, 99
8. Andreas Schulz, 70
9. Mickael Musquin, 67
10. Martin Schneider, 65
