Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 sampled the full range of emotions at a sunny Bellpuig for the Grand Prix of Catalunya and the fifth round of 15 in the FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship.
Ken Roczen rode superbly on the RM-Z250 to take his first chequered flag of the season in the first moto and was set for the overall victory while holding second place in the second race but a mechanical problem forced his retirement with less than 10 minutes to go until the finish.
17,000 spectators were able to fully appreciate the skills of this startling 16-year-old German once again after his thrilling introduction to Spanish fans in 2009 as he fought for the win in just his second Grand Prix. Older, wiser and stronger this year, Roczen stalked and passed both Steven Frossard and World Champion Marvin Musquin to confidently sweep across the rough, bumpy and quick Bellpuig course for his first triumph of the year and first since the Czech Republic - round 13 - in 2009.
The teenager and Musquin escaped to duel in the second moto and entering the crucial phase of the race Roczen suffered an electrical problem and stopped in one of the slowest corners of the track. The DNF meant 10th place overall and sadly saw the end of his 100% podium record.
Team-mate Arnaud Tonus had an eventful day: A first lap incident with Loic Larrieu left him at the back of the pack in the first moto but he enjoyed an entertaining scrap with Zach Osborne through the remaining laps as the duo worked up to the fringes of the top 10. Tonus finished with 13th. Several crashes, one blameless on the first corner, meant a disappointing second moto and 15th place for 14th in the final classification.
In the series standings, Roczen has a deficit of 26 points to Musquin and is eight ahead of Jeffrey Herlings, who also failed to complete the second race. Tonus is sixth and eight points from the top five.
With two third positions, Larissa Papenmeier was able to celebrate her first podium of the season with the same ranking overall in the third round of seven in the FIM Women's World Championship. The German guided her RM-Z250 to 40 points and is now just 3 away from third spot in the series standings.
Round six of the MX2 world championship will happen at Glen Helen in California for the Grand Prix of USA in two weeks time and will represent the team's first competitive North American outing.
Ken Roczen:
"It should have been a great day but I can also look at it in another way because I leave here without any injuries, I rode well and was fast. Both of my starts were pretty good. It was good to be in second place in the second moto. I was just waiting. I knew I could go faster and I was not at 100%. I had a really good feeling and I knew I could pass Marvin, but then we had some problems with the bike. I will remember the first race. I was really happy to have closed up to within one point of Marvin in the Championship but then we ended up losing some ground. Still, nothing is over yet."
Arnaud Tonus:
"I had a lot of crashes today and it was really hard. In the first moto I tangled on the first lap with Larrieu and I pushed a lot to come back from last to 13th. I had a good, clean fight with Osborne and it was fun. My lap-times were good but he just passed me on the last lap which was a bit of a shame.
"In the second moto I crashed with the mess on the first corner and it was harder to come through this time. I was a bit too excited and after making two more crashes I lost my way. It was not a good race. My speed was alright but it did not pay-off today."
Larissa Papenmeier:
"For sure this was way better than Portugal where I crashed too many times. I was happy to make the podium and come closer to the top three in the championship. My fitness is good and I was able to make my fastest lap towards the end so I am feeling strong and good on the bike; I just need to find a better rhythm at the start of the races."
MX2 Moto1: 1. Ken Roczen (GER, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), 38:57.864; 2. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:02.124; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:34.476; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:49.908; 5. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:51.333; 6. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:53.492; 7. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), +0:53.624; 8. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:00.660; 9. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +1:27.533; 10. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +1:34.574; 13. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), +1:36.907.
MX2 Moto2: 1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 40:54.002; 2. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:18.932; 3. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Yamaha), +0:23.692; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:31.630; 5. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +0:33.720; 6. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +0:35.570; 7. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:38.942; 8. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KTM), +0:50.779; 9. Dennis Verbruggen (BEL, KTM), +0:52.780; 10. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:55.014; 15. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), +1:28.21. 30. Ken Roczen (GER, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2).
MX2 Overall Result: 1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 39 points; 2. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 38 p.; 3. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 33 p.; 4. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 32 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 29 p.; 6. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), 27 p.; 8. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 26 p.; 9. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Yamaha), 25 p.; 10. Ken Roczen (GER, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), 25 p. 14. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), 14 p.
MX2 World Championship standings (after 5 of 15 rounds): 1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 218 points; 2. Ken Roczen (GER, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), 192 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 184 p.; 4. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 165 p.; 5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 138 p.; 6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), 130 p.; 7. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), 128 p.; 8. Zach Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 123 p.; 9. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 118 p.; 10. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 109 p.
Women's World Championship overall result: 1. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 50 points; 2. Livia Lancelot (FRA, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), 40 p.; 4. Natalie Kane (GBR, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Elien De Winter (BEL, KTM), 29 p.
Women's World Championship standings (after 3 of 7 rounds): 1. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 145 points; 2. Livia Lancelot (FRA, KTM), 120 p.; 3. Maria Franke (GER, KTM), 103 p.; 4. Natalie Kane (GBR, KTM), 102 p.; 5. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2), 99 p.
