by Jason Thomas
250 Words: A Crazy Night in Germany
Wednesday, December 26, 2012 | 10:15 AM
GYTR (Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) is Yamaha’s performance and racing accessory brand. GYTR products are developed and tested to the highest standards by Yamaha’s in-house factory engineers. Used extensively by the Yamaha Race Teams, these factory parts are readily available to every Yamaha rider.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintMunich and Christmas go together like peanut butter and jelly. The Bavarian capital is famous for its beautiful Christmas markets, snow covered streets and the ever popular drink, Gluhwein. It is also one of the most competitive races in Europe, as it doesn’t conflict with any other races on the schedule. The influx of French riders as well as appearances by American stars like Mike Alessi make it an all out dogfight.
With 20-25 capable riders, making the 12 man final each night was tough. The common phrase throughout the pits was that this was the deepest field ever seen at a German SX. After the smoke cleared and the final was set for Friday, it was time to get down to business. Cedric Soubeyras grabbed the holeshot followed by series points leader Florent Richier, German favorite Dennis Ullrich and then your narrator, Jason Thomas. Soubeyras pulled a three second lead early, and I made a few moves and got into 2nd by the fourth lap and set out after the Frenchman Soubeyras. Privateer hero Weston Peick had also moved forward into third by halfway. It looked as if this would be the podium order until I made a big mistake and went down. That moved Richier back to the podium and relegated me to a disappointing 8th. Rounding out the top five were Arenacross champ Tyler Bowers and multi-time Portuguese champion Joaquim Rodrigues.
Not only did we get JT$ to write the story, but JT got fellow privateer Ben LaMay to shoot some pics! No action stuff, though. They were kind of busy racing.
Ben LaMay photo
Saturday night was sheer chaos. With three red flags thrown in five starts, obviously things were going awry. Rodrigues was involved in one of the biggest crashes I have ever seen, ending up with his bike being launched into the stands. The next red flag was the result of Mike Alessi jumping into another lane and hitting the entire field head on while they were mid whoop section. Luckily no one was hurt, but I am sure Mike needed a clean pair of Freeguns for the restart. The last red flag occurred when nine out of ten riders crashed in one rhythm section together with only the leader left unscathed. The track looked like a dirt bike junkyard for ten minutes while they re-united man and machine! Once the main event finally rolled around, six out of the twelve riders were new from the previous night’s final. Soubeyras, however, was not to be denied and once again ran away with the win. Czech rider Filip Neugebauer rode to a strong 2nd with the consistent Richier once again on the podium.
With one weekend left in Dortmund, Richier has the title all but sewn up. It is also the same weekend as the Phoenix SX, leaving many riders with a difficult decision to make. Many of the French contingent will venture to America to try their hand on the world’s biggest stage. Others like myself, Cole Siebler and PJ Larsen will once again cross the pond in search of international fortune. Dortmund is considered the prize jewel of the series and there are big bonuses on the line for the series as well. Hopefully I have good news when I check in after Dortmund!
We should ask LaMay what's on the track there. Snow? Dirt drying agent? Magic dust? Use your imagination.
Ben LaMay photo
Share this article:
Did you like this article?
Check out BAD BOY CLUB
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
One of Europe’s fastest young racers, 18-year-old Dutch Red Bull KTM rider Jeffrey Herlings talks about his life, his career ... and his occasional outbursts. Page 160.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
I want to see some film of Alessie's start.
i found this video of alessi crash... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h5jfuHAb08
@ Fred. He didn't win one start the whole night, and besides winning the last chance to get into the semi's, he got his sorry backside handed to him all nite long. He even had the audacity to complain that 18 year old Dennis Ullrich, who is the holeshot king and smoked him every time on his 250 two stroke, was cheating. LOL.
Regarding his jumping into the wrong lane, he had enough time to get out of the way, but knew he needed a restart to get into the semi finals. Then he complained of a broken finger and withdrew for the rest of the evening, and that was AFTER his last chance win. Jeez I thought Jeff was a dick, but his big brother beats him hands down in that department. What an idiot.
@ Fred where are the tart pils when we need them? Now I have only whatched the MA thing 2times My first thougth would be to get mmy bike and myself out of the way so the race can go on????? But hey what do I know I only raced once and got a 4th place holeshot just like Mike did!
@ Fred I meant tard pills for allessi
Oh yes I gotta GET A NEW KEYBORD i ALSO MEANT 40TH PLACE START, NEED TO PROFread and quit hitting the caps key! Wy did they put thecaps key so close to the "A" key?
It's lime on the dirt.
Why is Joaquim Rodrigues only related to the Portuguese Championships (multi-time), he is a former rider from Factory Connection and he has experience with the AMA Supercross Series and have same podiums on his belt. And i think that JT don't remember that.
Just watched that vid of 800. what a b-hole, he just sat there and waited for them to run into him then threw his hands up like "im a superstar watch out for me!!! What an joke! Get a life mike ur a dootch
@jgbvr - Might have worded it a bit different, but I was thinking the same thing. I wasn't sure if he was throwing up his hands to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd in his head, or if it was a "What else could I do? The race is supposed to stop if I have a problem." gesture. He easily had enough time to push the bike off the track.
It's kind of weird that he was even there.
And on a total different topic, is that a remote control dirt-packer-downer in those first photos? Those Germans and their efficiency.
So where is the link to watch the video?
Anyone that survied the carnage will be coming home with scortched lungs....... LOL !!! Looking at this map reminds me when I go vote at an elementary school by my home. While standing in line usually 1 hour or more you snake thru the halls of the school as you proceed to eventually make to a voting registrar ! On the walls are world maps and what is interesting from the maps of the day versus 1970"s
Half these dam countries were not even thought of back then !!!! LOL
mike a is not a sportsman, total selfish move and should have be banned from the race after that typicle allessi move. Europe this punk does not represent us !!
mike a is not a sportsman, total selfish move and should have be banned from the race after that typicle allessi move. Europe this punk does not represent us !!
@Davidl, we know he doesn't represent you guys. There are others who come over, guys like the Jason Thomas, Bowers and Jake Canada. All of them are true gentlemen you can be proud of. And man, Jake Canada is red hot at the moment. He won 3 of the 4 lites finals in Munchen and would have made it a shut out except he made a slight mistake when lapping a rider which cost him the race. He's gonna be in the mix this year in American SX. Interestingly, 450 Alessi couldn't get within .3 of Jakes best 250 time.
Euromike, Thanks man, 95% of the guys that come here and race from other countries are really classy sportsmen and its so embarassing to me when one of our guys acts like that over there. We are really enjoying a great cross section of racers from all over the world.
Don't think mike had much time to get up and out of the way. It didn't look intentional. Jealous ppl love to hate.
He had enough time to kick it a few times to try to start it. He could have used that time to push it out of the way. I think that's what people are saying. I'm not sure that makes him "The Ugly American", but it didn't look like he really cared about the race or anyone else in it.
Stop hating on him dumbs, standing on the track in one place was safer than moving around trying back on the track or trying push it out of the way. Everyone blame alessi but no one see that some racers forgotten about respecting yellow flag. And I'm not the biggest fan of Alessi, but I have respect to all pro racers for what they do it. And I would like to see you Bob on Alessi place, kicking your moto on whops and getting back on the track in 5seconds. Sorry for my english but it makes me angry when im reading such a stupid things from a fat rednecks.