Hope, Heartbreak & the Emergence of New Talent at Moody German Grand Prix
Another dark, wet and moody Grand Prix is in the books as the MXGP series leaves Germany, round eight of the FIM Motocross World Championship, with stories of both hope and heartbreak.
Despite initial forecasts of storms, the Grand Prix managed to evade the rain for the most part of the weekend, with only one major downpour on Saturday afternoon that eventually eased up in time for the MXGP Qualifier before a night of heavy rain.
Following the weather challenges, the track was groomed overnight, presenting the riders with a faster yet still challenging circuit. Teutschenthal's old-school layout, featuring demanding uphill climbs and steep downhill descents, pushed the riders to their limits. The increased speed, ruts, and bumps amplified the physical demands, making it particularly challenging for injured riders.
Monster Energy's main MXGP title contender, Romain Febvre, battled through the pain of a bruised and swollen thumb to qualify third on Saturday. Unfortunately, the physical strain was too much for the Frenchman on Sunday, and he withdrew from the event on the opening lap of Race One. It is uncertain whether he will take to the gate at the upcoming Grand Prix rounds in Latvia and Italy.
In the challenging conditions, and with the absence of Febvre, riders like Glenn Coldenhoff and Calvin Vlaanderen took advantage. The Hoff took his first Fox Holeshot of the season but suffered from arm-pump and faded back to sixth, while Vlaanderen's charge from outside the top-five to second place in Race One was a highlight, although, the result was spoiled when he tucked the front three laps from the finish.
Although there were less fireworks in Race Two, Coldenhoff and Vlaanderen maintained their consistency, finishing fourth and fifth overall, respectively.
While some riders faced setbacks, others shined. Sixteen-year-old Lotte van Drunen powered through the muddy mess of Teutschenthal, despite feeling under the weather, to secure her fourth consecutive podium. Her mind-blowing grit keeps her at the top of the WMX World Championship standings by eight points, with just three rounds to go.
In the European Championship, a new star has emerged. Hailing from the USA, Gavin Towers made an amazing debut on a new Yamaha YZ250F just days after arriving in France. Few Americans come to Europe, maybe because of language barriers, cultural differences, unfamiliar tracks, and logistical challenges. However, Towers took the plunge, and his first ever Grand Prix was incredible. The twenty-year-old finished 6-2, coming in fourth place overall, just missing the podium by a single point.
From the hard-pack hills of eastern Germany, the MXGP series will make a 1400km journey to the Baltic region north, with the ninth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship taking place in the sand of Kegums, Latvia.