The German Cross Country Championship 2010 didn't start particularly well for Team BMW Husqvarna Motorsport. Reigning European champ Simo Kirssi came into the series as one of the top favourites, but couldn't show his full potential during the opener at Sonneberg. The likeable Finn only made headway after re-fuelling his BMW 450 X around the halfway mark. He ended the two-hour race in fourth position.
Following the familiar Le Mans-style start procedure, Kirssi led the field around the first corner. But the former series champion failed to come to terms with the deep and slippery conditions, got tense and, to make things worse, struggled with his goggles. Rain and snow the night before had turned the scenery Sonneberg track into a rutted quagmire. The sun would only show later in the afternoon when the pro moto was underway.
Kirssi fell back to seventh after 30 minutes before regaining ground in the second half of the race. But it was too late to attack a podium position. The long-time BMW factory rider ultimately clocked the quickest lap times in the closing stages.
Simo Kirssi: "This was not my day. I rode tense and suffered from armpump. Maybe because it was a bit of a mess with my googles. Things became better after the pit stop, the track dried up and I found my usual speed. Suddenly it was fun, just way too late to battle with the leaders."
German Cross Country Championship 2010, Rd.1, Sonneberg
1. Stefan Svitko (SVK), KTM, 23 laps, 2:04,56 hrs
2. Samuli Aro (FIN), KTM, 23, 2:06,08
3. Antoine Letellier (FRA), Beta, 23, 2:06,46
4. Simo Kirssi (FIN), BMW Husqvarna Motorsport, 23, 2:07,58
5. Marco Straubel (GER), KTM, 23, 2:08,59
6. Steffen Albrecht (GER), Yamaha, 23, 2:09,31
7. Chris Weiß (GER), TM, 22, 2:05,49
8. Erik Müller (GER), Kawasaki, 22, 2:06,34
9. Andy Boller (GER), KTM, 22, 2:07,48
10. Gerhard Forster (GER), BMW, 21, 2:08,28
Following the familiar Le Mans-style start procedure, Kirssi led the field around the first corner. But the former series champion failed to come to terms with the deep and slippery conditions, got tense and, to make things worse, struggled with his goggles. Rain and snow the night before had turned the scenery Sonneberg track into a rutted quagmire. The sun would only show later in the afternoon when the pro moto was underway.
Kirssi fell back to seventh after 30 minutes before regaining ground in the second half of the race. But it was too late to attack a podium position. The long-time BMW factory rider ultimately clocked the quickest lap times in the closing stages.
Simo Kirssi: "This was not my day. I rode tense and suffered from armpump. Maybe because it was a bit of a mess with my googles. Things became better after the pit stop, the track dried up and I found my usual speed. Suddenly it was fun, just way too late to battle with the leaders."
German Cross Country Championship 2010, Rd.1, Sonneberg
1. Stefan Svitko (SVK), KTM, 23 laps, 2:04,56 hrs
2. Samuli Aro (FIN), KTM, 23, 2:06,08
3. Antoine Letellier (FRA), Beta, 23, 2:06,46
4. Simo Kirssi (FIN), BMW Husqvarna Motorsport, 23, 2:07,58
5. Marco Straubel (GER), KTM, 23, 2:08,59
6. Steffen Albrecht (GER), Yamaha, 23, 2:09,31
7. Chris Weiß (GER), TM, 22, 2:05,49
8. Erik Müller (GER), Kawasaki, 22, 2:06,34
9. Andy Boller (GER), KTM, 22, 2:07,48
10. Gerhard Forster (GER), BMW, 21, 2:08,28
