Racing Report EN by Motorex

Racing Report NO. 2/12 I DECEMBER 2012 I www.motorex.com

MOTOREX doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make just products. But also world champions. Motocross

Italy: Pasta, Amore and Motocross

ROAD RACING1

15 podium finishes in 17 races

BIKE

World Champion at the premiere

EDITORIAL

A phenomenal season has ended Dear Readers, At the beginning of the year it is always difficult to predict what a season will be like. It was even more difficult to predict what would happen in the 2012 season, because so many innovations and changes were being introduced. For example, there was a new rule in the MotoGP class with the Claiming Rule Bikes. Has this change created more excitement in the class? Or will the introduction of the Moto3 class bring similar battles and exciting races as Moto2, which was premiered in 2010? New teams joined the Superbike world championship and some existing ones changed their manufacturer. Also, how would our partners’ new riders get on and how would familiar riders cope with the challenges of new classes and series? Now, it is the end of the season and we know what happened. There are so many successes to record – more than ever before!

10 World Champions, 2 European Championships and at least 8 National Champions »

We are sure you will enjoy this new format for the Racing Report and, above all, the more detailed background reporting – so much more than just the final results of the individual series. But before you start reading, I would like to mention a few highlights. Some MOTOREX riders have managed to get their names in the history books!

• • • • • •

Ryan Dungey achieved the first podium finish and victory for KTM in the US Supercross Championship Ryan Dungey won the very first US Motocross Championship for the Austrian marque KTM won all Motocross World Championship titles Sandro Cortese became the world’s first ever Moto3 World Champion The Enduro Teams from Mattighofen, KTM and Husaberg have all (!) won Enduro World Championship titles For the Motocross of the Nations (MXON), with Max Nagl and Ken Roczen, two out of three riders on the podium were sponsored by MOTOREX. Furthermore, all races and all classes were won by riders who ride for Motorex.

Close co-operation with the teams, which also includes intensive product development work, has produced exceptional new products and experiences. New racing oils for Motocross and road racing, which are considered to be genuine milestones, have been developed as a result of intensive tests and evaluation with KTM in Austria and the USA as well as Suzuki and Yoshimura in Japan. On this solid basis and with good, successful partners we are expecting that this success will continue in the future. I hope that you will enjoy reading the Racing Report and that it will tide you over the period when there is no motorsport.

With best regards,

Ronald Kabella Director Powersports

MOTOCROSS

DOMINANT IN MX1 FOR FOUR YEARS:

ANTONIO CAIROLI In contrast to the previous year, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Rider Cairoli started the 2012 season with the red shield on his KTM after the first race and he kept it firmly in his grasp until the ninth race in Uddevalla (Sweden). He started the Swedish GP in pole position but he then had to retire from both races and sit on the sidelines as he watched his lead, which had taken so much effort to establish, evaporate into nothing. The GP in Sweden was a turning point in his season.

The 26-year-old rider from Sicily has now won six titles during his career. He has won the MX1 crown for each of the last four years but, before this, the former Yamaha rider triumphed in the MX2 World Championship.

Cairoli: “Something changed in Sweden. My normal racing style is cautious – good speed but without taking too many risks. After Uddevalle I said to myself: I’ll win every race from now and we’ll see what happens.”

In the all-time rankings only the immortal Stefan Everts put Cairoli in the shade. Cairoli has won six World Championship titles, which gives him equal status with Joel Robert. Everts has won ten.

« I’ll win every race from now and we’ll

see what happens. »

His strategy was successful! The Italian from the KTM Factory Team actually won eleven of the last twelve races and, by the time of the Faenza GP – three races before the end of the season – nobody could catch him.

MOTOCROSS

Italy:

Pasta, Amore and Motocross For nearly three decades now, it is impossible to envisage Motocross without Italy. And it is not World Champion Antonio Cairoli alone who is responsible for this. It started in 1984, when Michele Rinaldi triumphed in the 125 cc World Championship. Six years later, another Italian took the World Championship title in the 250 cc class: Alex Puzar, who also won the 125 cc World Championship in 1995. His compatriot, Alessio Chiodi, won the 125 cc World Championship twice (in 1998 and 1999) and another Italian won the 500 cc World Championship in 1999 – Andrea Bartolini. The same year saw an Italian triumph for the first time in the Motocross of the Nations.

Cairoli among the elite group of Motocross riders, which also includes legendary World Champions such as Roger De Coster, Eric Geboers, Georges Jobé and Joel Smets. Just out of interest, in 2008, the year in which – for once – Cairoli did not take top spot, the title was won by another Italian David Philippaerts. Antonio Cairoli is very conscious of Italy’s importance in Motocross Sport and, in spite of his young years, knows the Italian riders of the last 30 years well. “I like Alex Puzar’s riding style. He was one of my heroes when I was small. Although I know Michele Rinaldi more as the manager of the Yamaha Team, I was riding in the same team as Alessio Chiodi when he won the World Championship

« I like Alex Puzar’s riding style.

He was my favourite rider when I was small. »

A couple of years later, another Azzurro demonstrated his talent: Antonio Cairoli won his first MX2 World Championship in 2005 and collected another four World Championship titles for the MX1 category in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Still only 26 years old, this brilliant series has put

Tony Cairoli

title. Andrea Bartolini also had a very good year in 1999. He won the World Championship title and contributed to our Motocross of the Nations win. The fact that David Philippaerts is another strong rider is ideal for Italian Motocross Sport. This makes it even more popular.”

MOTOCROSS

MX2

Herlings wins his first World Championship title By the last but one round of the MX2 World Championship it was already clear that Jeffrey Herlings would be the new World Champion. It was not surprising that a big, boozy party was immediately organised in his home town of Gemert in Holland to celebrate the 19year old’s first World Championship title. And there is even more good news for Herlings’ fans. At the last meeting of the FIM Motocross Commission before the Motocross of Nations in Lommel, the members passed a proposal to change Paragraph 01.2.2032 of the FIM rules. This states that an MX2 World Champion is only allowed to defend his title once – in the year after he won the championship. This additional clause is now going to be abolished. “That would naturally be great,” was Jeffrey Herlings’ opinion, feeling confident. “This would even give me an opportunity of achieving the first MX2 hat trick, before I move up to a more powerful class.” There were two reasons for introducing an age limit in 2010. Firstly, they wanted to prevent older riders from

reducing the opportunities for younger riders to enter the sport and, secondly, the clause was supposed to ensure that the champions change to the King’s Class as soon as possible. However, because this class filled up with top riders more quickly as a result of this, talent was migrating to America. This was why the World Championship lost riders such as Marvin Musquin and Ken Roczen, both of whom pursued opportunities in the US. When confronted with the current rule during the summer, Herlings view was: “Perhaps I’ll have to emigrate to America in 2014.” The ultimate decision about the change to Paragraph 01.2.2032 will be taken by the GP Permanent Bureau, which consists of the Chairman of the FIM Cross Commission Wolfgang Srb, FIM President Vito Ippolito and Youthstream President Giuseppe Luongo. However, passing the rule change is likely to be just a formality, because Commission President Srb has already spoken out clearly in its favour and series promoter Luongo acknowledges the marketing advantages.

MOTOCROSS KRT KAWASAKI

Rookie of the year: Gautier Paulin in third place With third place in the MX1 class, the 22-year-old Frenchman achieved the best Kawasaki result for years. Paulin confirmed that he had signed to stay with the Kawasaki Factory Team for another two years. Jeremy van Horebeek is also delighted to have joined the KRT Team. This year the Belgian rode for the Red Bull KTM Factory Team and came third in the MX2 World Championship behind Herlings and Searle. Van Horebeek left the CLS-Kawasaki Team at the end of 2010 to move to the KTM works team. He is now moving back to the Japanese team to earn his first laurels in the MX1 class. van Horebeek concedes: “It will definitely not be easy in the MX1 class. However, I am confident that Kawasaki is one of the best motorcycles in the field and can make my dream of being one of the top five riders come true.”

further RACE RESULTS » The Belgian Ken de Dycker of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team and a team colleague of World Champion Cairoli in

the MX1 class finished the season in a creditable fifth position. The 28-year-old Belgian extended his contract with KTM. Pit Beirer: “Ken integrated into the team well and proved to be an excellent team player. He can achieve a podium position with the new 450 cc and for us it was important to have a rider who did not jeopardise the harmony of the team. We see Toni as the rider to beat in the next few years and we didn’t want to put someone next to him who continually wanted to challenge him.” Jake Nicolls from the HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK Team was unfortunate to miss out on a podium place in the MX 2 class, finishing in fourth position. In the Swiss Motocross Championship for the MX Junior 125 cc class, Patric Schnegg from the MX-Team Schnegg secured the title of Vice-Champion. Philippe Dupasquier finished second in the Supermoto Prestige Class of the Swiss Championship. Marcel Götz from Team Emil Weber was third. The Pascal Geiser of the Monnin Trial Team took the title of Swiss Champion. Team colleague Cédric Robert was Vice-Champion.

AMA MOTOCROSS + SUPERCROSS

The heroes of the American SX and MX series History was made in the 2012 Supercross series. Ryan Dungey won KTM’s first race in the King’s Class and finished in third position overall at the end of the series. The KTM works team and Ryan Dungey already started to conduct extensive pre-season tests at the end of 2011. At the same time, MOTOREX worked closely with the team to press on with the development of innovative racing oils, thus putting down a milestone for 2012. Two MX2 World Champions enhanced the SX Lites Class in East and West Coast races – Ken Roczen and Marvin Musquin. In these classes, too, KTM saw a

successful end of season, with Roczen in second position (SX Lites East) and Musquin in third position (SX Lites West). As soon as the SX season finished, the Outdoor National Motocross Series started. Here the races are not held in stadiums or halls but instead on normal Motocross tracks in a natural environment. Ryan Dungey turned out to be the truly dominant force here. He won ten out of twelve race weekends, 18 out of 24 races, ten of which were in succession. It is interesting to note that all twelve race weekends were won by Motorex drivers! James Stewart, who has been riding for Yoshimura Suzuki since the summer of 2012, which is also a Motorex Team, won the first two events. These two riders have therefore been able to achieve the best possible result for Motorex and both riders relied on the new Racing Pro 4T 5W30 Multi Esther FS oil.

How to make a name for yourself in America! When not training, sleeping or racing, Ken Roczen watched Supercross videos. He wanted to be able to ride like the best American crossers. The 18-year-old German is now well on the way to achieving this – in the USA. The answer from GOAT was short and clear: “Ken who? Sorry, I never heard that name.” GOAT stands for “Greatest Of All Time” – the honorary title of Ricky Carmichael, the most successful Motocross rider of all time. He said what he did in 2005, when Ken Roczen was in the USA for the first time. Although he was only 11, at the time he was streets ahead of all his competitors and it was hoped that a German rider would – finally – be able to celebrate international success again. Paul Friedrichs, the last and also the only German Motocross World Champion, won his title in 1968 and, what’s more, he came from a part of Germany that no longer exists – East Germany. Roczen appeared to have the calibre to end this famine, and he is well on the way to achieving this. However, this will not be in Germany, which is regrettably still considered to be a developing country as far as Motocross is concerned. In-

stead, it will be in the USA. The American Motocross Championship consists of the Nationals, a summer series that comprises twelve races, which is roughly equivalent to the MX1 and MX2 World Championships but with outdoor tracks. In addition to this, there are sixteen races in the Supercross series, which starts at the beginning of January and holds races all over the USA. Its races are held every weekend and, what’s more, in baseball and football stadiums of cities with millions of inhabitants. This is because Motocross has become so popular in the USA over the last 40 years that it is quite common for over 60,000 fans to attend races. TV broadcasts and worldwide media interest ensure that motorcycle and accessories manufacturers are increasing their investment in the sport – and, of course, this also reaches talented Motocross riders such as Ken Roczen, who is on the point of establishing himself in the USA after his first victory of the season in Houston. However, the German’s victory was because his rival, Justin Barcia, crashed out of the race, so Roczen still has to prove that he is no one-hit wonder. The preparations for this started last spring. Even during the Outdoor season, the teams arrange for tracks to be built that comply with the SX season, which starts in January. Parallel to

this, weeks are spent optimising engines, tyres, chassis settings and exhaust systems. Here what is termed the “production rule” is intended to ensure that privateers have the same chance. It governs which parts of a motorcycle must be seriesproduced and which are allowed to be changed. However, if one looks at the $100,000 motorcycle of a top team, you soon realise that the expensively modified parts of these bikes simply makes them unassailable for privateers. As for the World Championships, in the USA there is a 450 cc and a 250 cc class, which is also called “lites”. Two-stroke engines are only allowed to have half the cylinder capacity. However, they are hardly developed further, because they have no chance at all today. In the 450 cc field, even KTM’s 350 cc loses valuable tenths of seconds between the start and the first bend and, as the races only last around 14 to 16 minutes, there is not really enough time for overtaking manoeuvres. So, it is not possible to have too much horsepower during the start phase. There is chaos before a race starts. Buses and 40-tonne road trains roll up from everywhere and specialist companies come with 500trucks loaded with earth to build cross tracks in baseball and football stadiums, which – when compared with European tracks – are bigger, more difficult and also more dangerous. However, the riders’ hunger for success has no boundaries. What was actually planned as a triple-double-triple section is jumped as a quad-quad combination. And that is not always successful. Participants who can still move after they fall, end up losing a few teeth. The others are carried away quickly. It’s not a very nice thought but, as they say: “The show must go on,” – but what a show it is! A Motocross spectacle is offered in XXL in just over two hours, with a sideshow, four preliminary rounds, two repechages and one final each for the 250 cc and the 450 cc riders. No sooner is the winners’ ceremony over than huge crawler bulldozers arrive to remove the cross track and the road trains drive off to the next conurbation. To survive in this entertainment machine, you have to be in top form. Preparation for the season is also important, because nothing much can be optimised during the series, which involves 16 races in 16 weeks and they come in quick succession. So that private riders, who are still at the start of their careers, are not put under too much financial pressure, the 250 cc championship is divided into a West and East series. This allows them to concentrate on one region instead of having to travel thousands of kilometres to the next race. Ken Roczen was originally supposed to ride in the West series, because he lived in southern California (incidentally, in

a dream house). Here he was tipped as a favourite by the media, after his victory in the last race of 2011. However, all the trouble he took to prepare was wasted within a fraction of a

« Ken is not only exceptionally talented:

he is also a fast learner. »

second. A tiny error caused him to skid and the result was a broken arm. Because the East championship races start later, Roczen changed over to this series. However, he was understandably not so fit as before his accident. On top of this came further crashes, botched starts, a flu infection and just bad luck. When Roczen finally led the field in Indianapolis, the race was halted and restarted. Then he took the lead again but fell once more and in the end came down the finishing straight in 19th place. However, it takes a true champion to put this behind them. Everyone who takes part in the night shows can accelerate

but to finish the race at the top of the podium steps takes more. And it would appear that Roczen has what it takes. “Ken is not only exceptionally talented: he is also a fast learner. He is a young man with a tremendous zest for life,” says Roger de Coster, KTM’s team leader in North America and himself a five times Motocross World Champion. “If he has a weakness, it is that he lacks a bit of focus. On the day of the race, he goes around shaking hands and the start almost comes as a surprise to him. But he’s still young and also still has time to learn how to win.” By the way, when commentating for the television even GOAT recently had nothing but praise for the German. “Ken who?” – that was then.

ENDURO

Winner of all four titles

MOTOREX RULES THE ENDURO WORLD! The year 2012 will go down as one of the most successful in MOTOREX’s history of Enduro racing. Either KTM or Husaberg riders won the World Championship titles in all classes. Even junior World Championship titles went to MOTOREX riders. Here is some detailed information on this: In the E1 Class, Antoine Meo from the KTM Enduro Factory Racing Team won his second E1 World Championship title, his third title overall. In the French Grand Prix, Pierre Alexandre Renet was way ahead of his competitors and took the World Championship title in the E2 class. It was also Husaberg’s first title in a major class for 14 years. Christobal Guerrero from the KTM Enduro Factory Team was Vice-Champion.

In the E3 category the KTM rider Christophe Nambotin was unbeatable for the whole season and was a worthy winner of the World Championship title. The success was complete when the Swede Joakim Ljunggren from the Husaberg Factory Team was Vice-Champion. After coming third the previous year, this season Ljunggren was able to move up one place with the TE 300 and thus achieve the best result of his career! Mathias Bellino’s title in the junior World Championship is further proof of Husaberg’s long tradition of nurturing young talent. At the last event of the season, he won on both days and therefore increased the number of day victories in this EWC season to 12.

MISCELLANEOUS » Twenty-two-year-old Kailub Russell from the FMF KTM OffRoad Racing Team took the honours in the AMA GNCC X1 series. » Russell’s team mate, Baylor Stewart, won in the X2 class, followed by Jason Thomas (also KTM) in second place. » Russell Bobbitt from the FMF KTM OffRoad Racing Team won the AMA Enduro National. » The American Kurt Caselli (FMF KTM OffRoad Racing Team) was victorious in the AMA Hare & Hound series. His team mate, David Pearson, finished in second place. » Taddy Blazusiak from the Red Bull KTM OffRoad Racing Team won in the AMA Enduro Cross » This year’s Dakar Rally winner was Cyril Despres (KTM Red Bull Factory). The 2013 Dakar rally will take place from 5 – 19 January 2013.

MOTOGP MotoGP - Karel Abraham

On the road with aprilia in 2013 The start of the season was difficult for Karel Abraham and he suffered a number of falls, some serious. From Laguna Seca onwards, stability finally returned and some races ended successfully. Over the course of the season, Ducati had to devote more effort than expected to the further development of the works machines for Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden. Consequently, they lost sight of the semi-works teams such as AB Cardion and these increasingly lost ground. This meant that Karel Abraham rode through the 2012 season without any further developments on the motorcycle and was only able to achieve more positive results in the second half of the year through extremely personal commitment. For 2013 he has been able to come to an agreement with another manufacturer and he hopes to obtain more support from them.

Moto2

Lühi misses the podium by three points At the beginning of the season the Swiss rider was one of the hot tips for the title and the weight of expectations on Lüthi were correspondingly high, particularly after the good pre-season testing. After five races Lüthi was leading his World Championship class. However, ultimately, he did not have a chance against the high-flier Marc Marquez. Team boss Daniel Epp makes some relevant observations: “Marquez is an exceptional rider – you only find one like him every ten years. When it came down to it, none of the riders could keep pace with him. Leaving the young Spaniard aside – and he will now move up to the MotoGP class in 2013 – we are in fairly close contention. Essentially, around four riders each year have the potential to take the World Championship title. We hope we will be the ones to win next year.” In terms of the number of points gained, 2012 was Lüthis’ best season since he won the World Championship title in the 125 cc class seven years ago.

The team supporting Tom Lüthi for the coming season is well armed. The aim is to try to finish making the further developments to the Suter in March/ April and so eliminate the need to do any updating in the middle of the season, thus avoiding unrest and uncertainty in the team. Also, the team is concentrating on continuity – the same rider, the same team and the same motorbike manufacturer. We wish Tom every success for 2013 and hope that he has that little bit of luck he needs.

Sandro Cortese - Moto3 World Champion

15 podium finishes in 17 races The German Sandro Cortese gave the Red Bull KTM Ajo Team its first Moto3 title in the road World Championship. Cortese’s riding was in another league and he secured the desired title in Malaysia with three races to go. The friendly man from Berkheim rode a brilliant race, overtaking Zulfahmi Khairuddin (KTM) on the last lap, thus winning both the race and the World Championship. He only needed to come third to secure the World Championship title. The race was a huge success for KTM CEO Stefan Pierer: “These are incredible and wonderful days for KTM and all KTM Racing Fans. Sandro is the first rider to win a World Championship for KTM on asphalt and this event is an unforgettable milestone in the company’s history.” Cortese crossed the chequered flag for every race of this phenomenal 2012 season. He was on the top step of the podium five times, second five times and third five times. In the two other races he was sixth both times. The season was rounded off by KTM winning the constructors’ title.

Cortese in the Moto2 class in 2013 Cortese has now ridden in the smallest GP class for eight years, so he has now achieved the promotion he was craving. He will be riding for the Intact Team in 2013. KTM is only letting him go with a heavy heart and wanted him to sign with them for another year. “However, we understand that he, as World Champion, must seize the opportunity to progress. We are sad, because Sandro will always remain one of us,” said Pit Beirer. To date, KTM is only active in the Moto3 class. This will remain the position, as long as the rules dictate that a manufacturer cannot install its own engines in the Moto2 class.

Superbike World Championship

Cautious start with promising ending

The Briton Leon Camier, who is very committed to the sport, was really unlucky this season and was knocked out of races several times through adverse circumstances. Consequently, he was unable to demonstrate his tremendous potential and had to be satisfied with 14th position at the end of the season. In spite of everything, the FIXI Crescent Suzuki Team ended the season on a positive note. At the start of the season, Camier was at a disadvantage in terms of engine power with his Suzuki GSX-R. However, Camier praised its fantastic chassis! The Briton believed in the potential of his machine and therefore never gave up and always gave his all. The racing speed was acceptable for the whole of the season and he could catch up or even overtake competitors in the bends. It was only on the straights that he had no chance against competitors.

The team worked hard throughout the season to improve the bike. The first fruits of this work could be seen in Brünn. The electronics were improved at the same time as they worked on the engine with Yoshimura to obtain more power. The result was a third place at the Nürnburgring. The fact that the motorcycle was running better than ever before at the end of the season left the whole team optimistic about the coming season. This was also confirmed by the good test in Aragon. In order to improve the performance further MOTOREX cooperated closely with Crescent Suzuki and Yoshimura Japan to develop a new MOTOREX Racing oil, thus boosting performance yet again.

MIX »

Moto3: Danny Kent, who rides for the KTM Red Bull Team, will move up to the Moto 2 class in 2013. This means that, with his new Tech3 team, he will no longer be a team mate of Sandro Cortese and instead will be a direct competitor. The Kiefer Racing pilot Max Neukirchner withdrew from the Moto 2 circuit for the rest of the season after being injured in the Brünn race. He also decided to terminate his collaboration with Kiefer Racing prematurely and by mutual agreement. He is now concentrating fully and completely on the 2013 season, when he will ride in the Superbike World Championship. Neukirchner is the most successful German in the Superbike World Championship. To date, the 29-year-old from Stollberg has achieved two victories and ten podium finishes. John Hopkins (Fixi Crescent Suzuki) can be said to be a tragic figure in the motorsport business. The Briton has been almost continuously injured for three years. In 2012 one of his fingers was amputated and he was unable to take part in the race at Magny-Cours because of an old hip injury. Hopkins has now announced that he will take a break in 2013 to recuperate from his injuries. It is uncertain whether he will ever race again.

AMA Superbike

AMA Superbike: In the American Superbike Championship Motorex has worked with Team Yoshimura Suzuki since 1999. Over the years they won nine Championship titles together, with well-known riders such as Mat Mladin and Ben Spies. Since the rule change for the 2011 season, the motorcycles are close to series production standard. The term used is the stock rule. The scope for tuning is limited and this means the right racing oil is even more important. In 2012 the rider Blake Young won the Vice-Championship for Yoshimura Suzuki. In addition to this, the privately financed Team HMC-KTM led by Mitch Hansen gained the championship with two riders. The KTM RC 8 R has been developed to meet the rules, with help from Europe, and became increasingly competitive towards the end of the season. Apart from a respectable 11th place for Chris Fillmore, KTM definitely won the unofficial “Sound ranking” this year.

Team change during the season – in spite of 7th place

During the 2012 season Sylvain Guintoli moved from Team Effenbert Liberty Racing to Pata Ducati Team. Although the Frenchman was the best Liberty-Racing rider, according to a statement he was fired because of his poor results. The 30-year-old won his first race at Silverstone, which was his first race for Pata-Farben! By the end of the season he had notched up another victory and achieved several podium

Endurance

30 years of Endurance Team Bolliger, Switzerland This year Hämpu Bolliger’s team will have been involved in endurance racing for 30 years. The successful team boss made his debut in 1982 with long-distance racing in Imola. To date, he has been Vice-World Champion twice. The two main sponsors – MOTOREX and Fibag AG Kawasaki – presented Hämpu and his wife Barbara with a voucher for a long weekend in a beautiful hotel. As Hämpu has a full-time job as a vehicle mechanic and sacrifices all his holidays for his endurance team and racing, this voucher is especially appropriate. Once again, we congratulate Hämpu on this special anniversary and look forward to another three decades with Hämpu’s team! In spite of missing two races, Team Bolliger Switzerland managed to end the season with a 7th place in the race at Le Mans.

finishes. This is how Guintoli finished the SBK season in seventh place. From 2004 to 2008 Guintoli rode in the MotoGP series. He achieved his best result in 2006, when he finished 9th. Since 2010 the 30-yearold has only ridden in the World Superbike Championship. It is still not known which team Sylvain Guintoli will sign for in 2013.

IDM Superbike, Michael Randseder, Team Technogym BMW by Fritze Tuning

Always second Michael Ranseder was unlucky again. The Austrian had a brilliant season, scored points, triumphed and, race after race, the team put in perfect performances. As a result, Ranseder had a lead of eight points before the final race in Hockenheim, eight points ahead of Erwan Nigon in pursuit. In Hockenheim each race was worth 25 points and so even Jörg Teuchert in third place still had a chance of winning the title. During the formation lap, Ranseder’s engine started to smoke badly. The team decided to change over to the replacement machine, which was ready for action. As the steward ruled against this decision, the race started without Ranseder! His closest competitor Nigon won the first race, so instead of being in the lead by 8 points he was now trailing by 17 points. Even a protest by Technogym Racing Austria could not change anything. Absolutely furious, Ranseder on his replacement bike left all his rivals behind him. In the end, he won – a superb 6.1 seconds ahead of everyone. It was a small consolation prize for the Austrian, because – in spite of his blazing second race – he was no longer able to win the title. This was the third Vice-Champion’s title in a row for Ranseder. In 2013 Ranseder is competing in the IDM Superbike event for the HRP Holzhauer Team and is therefore still one of the MOTOREX riders.

IDM Superbike

Muggeridge announces retirement Karl Muggeridge, the 38-year-old Australian who lives in Switzerland, announced his retirement at the end of the season. Muggeridge: “Every career has to end sometime. The decision to go now is linked to the fact that my children at home in Switzerland will soon have to start school. If we do not move now, it will be difficult – even impossible – in the future. Honda and Holzhauer would like me to continue, yet I cannot imagine my family being in Australia with me remaining in Germany to race. My wife and my two boys are too important to me to do that. It has been decided: on 15 December I will fly back to Australia with my family.” In his last season as an IDM Superbike rider for HRP Holzhauer, Muggeridge finished in 6th position. His greatest triumphs include the Supersport World Championship title in 2004 and the IDM Superbike Champion’s title in 2010.

MOUNTAINBIKE - ELIMINATOR

Ralph N채f

World Champion at the premiere At an advanced stage of his career Ralph N채f, the Marathon World Champion of 2006, once again pulled on the rainbow-coloured jersey of UCI. The rider from the Multivan Merida Biking Team, now 32, won the title races in the Cross Country Eliminator, a discipline which was in the World Championship programme for the first time in Saalfelden. In the final N채f was able to prevail against the Slovenian Miha Halzer, who was the best rider in qualification. For the Cross-Country Eliminator race, four riders raced against each other in every heat. In this discipline a combination of elements from both the Four Cross (4X) and the Cross Country (XCO) area are applied. The two fastest go forward to the next round before the World Champion is decided in the final. This is the first time that medals have been awarded for this discipline. Endurance and assertiveness are needed to be the fastest over the 600-metre-long course through the centre of Saalfelden. Jostling for position through winding lanes, jumps over steps and the man-to-man competition are the key features of this spectacle. Congratulations, Ralph, for a tremendous performance!

Team Trek World Racing

THE FLÜCKIGER BROTHERS WRITE HISTORY The very good late form of the Flückiger brothers resulted in a dual triumph at the World Championship in Saalfelden-Leogang (Austria) at the race of the XC elite. The podium was shared by Lukas (2) and Matthias Flückiger (3) with their fellow countryman Nino Schurter. This fulfilled the Flückiger Brothers’ long-held dream of standing together on the podium for a World Championship. An all-Swiss podium impressively underlined the dominance of Switzerland on the mountain bike racing circuit.

Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå

DAHLE BACK TO THE WORLD ELITE Even an exceptional athlete finds it difficult to return to an elite sport. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå actually wanted to return to the top of the sport after her maternity break in 2009 and had trained hard and systematically to achieve this. However, the results were less successful than expected. Then, in 2011, the Norwegian demonstrated that she would be a force to be reckoned with in the 2012 season. Vice-World Champion in MTB Marathon, ViceWorld Champion in MTB Cross Country, European Cross Country Champion and third place in the Word Cup are excellent results for the 2012 season. Dahle is back!

The start of the race was not ideal for the brothers and became a real roller-coaster, which ultimately ended with a well-earned finish in second and third place. To do this, Lukas had to work his way forward from twelfth position in round three. This was only successful because he rode faster than the ultimate victor Schurter in rounds four, five and six. Perfect preparation by the brothers and perfect engineering of the Trek Racing Shop, which with Superfly developed the lightest and fastest 29th Race Hardtail in the world.

Aaron Gwin

Second overall World Cup winner in a row No other rider before has won so many World Cup races within one season than the young man from the USA. He was the hot favourite for this year’s MTB Downhill World Championship in Leogang. Until now, he had failed to win the title he craved and the triumph would have been all the greater, if he had been able to win the World Championship title on top of his overall victory in the World Cup. However, it was not to be – once again, Aaron Gwin was the big loser at the World Championship.

MORITZ MILATZ

Firt german mountain biker to win a european championship title The European Champion in Cross-Country, Vice-World Champion over the marathon distance and three times German Champion, Moritz Milatz is the mountain bike professional who focuses on the Olympic Cross-Country discipline. He began his sporting career in track and field athletics and was discovered by his current PR Manager in 2002. In 2005, the 30-year-old from Freiburg signed his first contract as a professional. One of the high points of his sporting career was in 2006, when he won the German Championship in cross-country for the first time. Further outstanding successes were the victory in the 2005 Marathon World Cup in Bad Goisern (Austria) and his first topten position in 2006, when he was ranked sixth at the Cross-Country World Cup in Fort William (Scotland). When he took third place in Madrid (Spain), Milatz gained his first World Cup podium finish. In 2010 he won the international MTB German national league series for the third time in succession and in 2011 he became German Champion for the third time in the Olympic Cross-Country discipline, following on from his earlier victories in 2006 and 2010, and in 2011. He also achieved the same accolade over the marathon distance. On 10 June 2012, Milatz became the first German mountain biker to win the European title. On 7 October 2012, he also became Vice-World Champion over the marathon distance.

Cross Country

Junior World Champion The 18-year-old Anton Cooper from New Zealand rode his Superfly Ultimate (Trek World Racing Custom design) as the supreme rider in the junior class, winning the gold medal and the prestigious rainbow jersey. Anton is still at school and will finish High School this year. He is the first New Zealander to be placed and thus finish on the podium in a bike World Championship. The season as a whole for the trek junior has been flawless to date, because he won all three World Cup races in which he competed. Alongside reigning World Champion Victor Koretzky (France), Anton was clearly the favourite. The world’s fastest mountain bike combined with the fastest junior rider formed the perfect unit and could not be beaten. It will be exciting to see how his career evolves.

Cross Country

JUNIOR WORLD CUP VICTOR Victor Koretzky from Bikepark.ch won the Junior World Cup in Val d’Isère. The French rider was 29 seconds ahead of his fellow countryman Titouan Carod and a Swiss trio of Dominic Zumstein, Enea Vetsch and Andri Frischknecht. Koretzky was unsuccessful in defending his Cross-Country World Champion’s title, finishing in second place behind Anton Cooper.

CAR

Swiss drivers well to the fore in the Austria Cups The Austria Formula 3 Cup in Hockenheim started successfully. Sandro Zeller (Jo Zeller Racing) had already left no doubts about his role as a favourite in the first race of the season, winning both races. As the season progressed, the situation

three-way battle continued until the final. In the end, Thomas took the title by a margin of 24 points ahead of his brother Manuel.

Which racing car is permitted? Formula 3 racing cars manufactured until 2010 are permitted in the Austria Formula 3 Cup. The Austria Formula 3 Trophy is reserved for cars built between 1992 and 2001 exclusively. The Formula Renault is clearly defined. Formula Renault 2.0 status 2004 to 2009 come into play here. Last year Swiss drivers set the pace and all three titles went to Switzerland.

changed and he saw the ma-con driver Andre Rudersdorf overtake him. The battle for the Vice-Championship title was decided at the last race in Hockenheim. Zeller clearly won both races and with it the points he required to become ViceChampion. This year the Jo Zeller Racing Team took a twin-track approach and competed in the Austria Formula 3 Cup, as well as the Formula 3 Euroseries. In the Euroseries Sandro Zeller finished the season in 12th position. The Austria Formula 3 Trophy (Formula 3 cars from 1992 to 2001) was won by the Swiss driver Daniel Roider from the Jo Zeller Racing Team, with a generous margin of 27.5 points ahead of the second driver.

This season a number of drivers from Switzerland made the most of the opportunities to take part under reasonable financial conditions. In addition, drivers from France, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Austria, Poland and Germany also participated in both formula racing categories. “We want to create further incentives for the drivers and teams and develop new concepts for 2013,” said Franz Wöss with the coming year in mind. The new Austria Formula 1600 Cup has been well received by the teams. Cooperation with Formula LO is already a done deal. The series for young Swiss drivers will be continued in 2013 under the name Junior Formula Master and will take place at the Austria Formula 3 Cup events.

The Austria Formula Renault Cup is also dominated by Swiss drivers. Here it was the champion Thomas Amweg (Amweg Motorsport) who was being chased. His brother Manuel, also from Amweg Motorsport, and the Swiss driver Kurt Böhlen wanted to take the title from him. Nothing changed and this

MIX CAR At the end of a keenly contested season in the FIA ETCC 2012, Rickli Motorsport took the European Vice-Championship with a wafer-thin margin of one point. Team Volluz with Joel Volluz was Vice-Champion in the Swiss mountain racing championship. MOTOREX cooperates with Jenzer Motorsport on development work. Among other things, they also compete in the highly competitive GP3 races. Here Patric Niederhauser took 7th position. The good team result was enhanced with 14th overall position for Robert Visoiu and 18th position for Alex Fontana.

Jenzer Motorsport

MOTOREX RACING LAB The MOTOREX Racing Lab is responsible for the development and provision of all fluid requirements of the major racing teams that MOTOREX supports. Over recent years the MOTOREX Racing Lab has established itself as one of the most respected centres of expertise when it comes to special developments for racing teams.

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