Kevin Strijbos will enter the gate in ninth place for the Grand Prix of Germany and the 10th round of the 2015 FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship after qualifying at a chilly and windy Teutschenthal.
The Talkessel circuit was dry, hard-packed and slick despite light and brief showers and a stiff breeze that meant the skies were changeable at the venue close to the city of Halle.
Strijbos took his Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP machine to the fifth fastest lap in Timed Practice earlier in the day and left the setting of his works RM-Z450 largely unchanged after his second moto victory in Italy last weekend.
The 29 year old could not make a good getaway from the line in the 20-minute and two lap Qualification Heat and circulated in the first phase of the sprint behind World Champion Tony Cairoli who is struggling with an injured left arm. The Belgian then worked on a gap of several seconds to Christophe Charlier but could not demote the Frenchman from eighth place.
Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff went down on the first lap but fought back to classify 16th as team-mate Jeremy Seewer took his RM-Z250 to seventh position in the MX2 chase.
Kevin Strijbos:
“Not many changes to the bike today, just a different rear sprocket. The track wasn't good at all. It is not a GP track. It is wet on top, then hard underneath and also dusty. There was a lot of dust during the race. It is something we all have to handle but it was not easy. The start was difficult. I think Simpson went too early and I lost my concentration. I hit Febvre on the straight and a few others in the first corner. I was almost last. I put my head down and my riding was quite good in the beginning but I could not pass Tony. I was following his rhythm until he made a mistake and I got through. I really hope they can make some changes to the track tomorrow and we can make some better starts for the races. I don't think my speed is too bad. I just need to get out there and ride smooth…hopefully for another podium!”
MXGP Qualification Heat result: 1. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 24:05.340; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:06.104; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:26.819; 4. Dean Ferris (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:30.909; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:34.020; 6. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:40.438; 7. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:41.001; 8. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Honda), +0:43.188; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +0:49.309; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), +0:52.929; 11. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +1:01.374; 12. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +1:02.533; 13. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:04.472; 14. Lukas Neurauter (AUT, KTM), +1:06.500; 15. Jeremy Delince (BEL, Honda), +1:06.771; 16. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +1:10.104.
