Joshua Coppins clocked his first pole of 2007, after a long absence ‰ÛÒhis last pole was in Desertmartin 2006.
Yamaha fellow rider Antonio Cairoli was the other pole-man of the day, as the MX2 qualification was changed to a 30 minute session, because of yesterday‰Ûªs bad weather.
Larissa Papenmeier was the fastest female racer of the day, and topped another hard fought qualifying session.
A very long Saturday ended with a press conference by KTM, with the factory announcing a new three year deal with Maximilian Nagl.
MX1
Kawasaki Europe‰Ûªs Tanel Leok and Suzuki‰Ûªs Kevin Strijbos fought hard for pole in the opening minutes of the session, while other Suzuki factory rider Steve Ramon was getting to grips with the wet Talkessel. Then he put in a storming lap, that remained unbeaten until three minutes to go.
While the Belgian was enjoying the eventual pole, Yamaha Motocross‰Ûª Joshua Coppins rounded off the top 20, but finally snatched the top spot with a flying lap of 2:04.974.
His team mate Marc De Reuver was the closest to Coppins today, as he missed the pole by just four thousandths of a second.
CAS Honda‰Ûªs Ken De Dycker rode another strong qualifying session, to clock the third fastest laptime ahead of countryman Kevin Strijbos.
Frenchman Sebastien Pourcel of GPKR team rounded off the top five, after he came back up from 19th with just a couple of minutes left.
KTM Sarholz‰Ûªs Max Nagl was impressive in this opening day of his home event. He rode to a ninth fastest laptime even with a broken collarbone, as early leaders Steve Ramon and Tanel Leok ended respectively in sixth and seventh.
MX2
GPKR‰Ûªs Christophe Pourcel was back where he won his maiden GP last year, and begun the qualifying session by clocking a flying lap.
Pascal Leuret was celebrating his debut with Team Martin Honda with the second spot on the time sheets, followed by Ricci Racing‰Ûªs representatives Nicolas Aubin and Kenneth Gundersen.
Yamaha De Carli‰Ûªs Antonio Cairoli was right out of the top five, but came back up with six minutes to go, and clocked the pole position.
With a 2:05.457 laptime, Cairoli secured the best spot on tomorrow‰Ûªs start gate, but defending Champion Christophe Pourcel came very close to the Italian, and was only 69 thousandths of a second behind.
KTM Red Bull‰Ûªs Tyla Rattray saved his fastest lap for the end of the session, when he used his secret weapon to jump from 12th fastest to 4th fastest.
In the dieing seconds of the sessions, both the two fastest riders were out chasing a new pole, but the suspense finished at the chequered flag, as no one made to improve their time.
On the other hand, Pascal Leuret held the third spot, even if Rattray tried to move in front of him several times. The South African finished fourth fastest, ahead of Nicolas Aubin, who completed the top five.
After a two podium row, KTM Red Bull‰Ûªs Tommy Searle will chase the third one by starting from seventh on the grid, behind Kenneth Gundersen.
German Marcus Schiffer of KTM Sarholz made it to the top ten, after a spectacular crash in the free practice session.
FIM WOMEN‰ÛªS MOTOCROSS WORLD CUP
German Larissa Papenmeier got ready to win the opening round of the Women‰Ûªs World Cup by topping today‰Ûªs qualifying session.
The wet weather was a bit of a worry for many female Motocrossers, but Molson Kawasaki‰Ûªs Katherine Prumm may have some surprises for tomorrow‰Ûªs race.
The Kiwi defending Champion was second fastest today, but tomorrow is the day that matters, and also KTM Germany‰Ûªs Stephanie Laier knows.
The 2005 World Cup winner clocked the third fastest laptime, ahead of countryman Maria Frank of Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil.
Kawasaki fellow rider Livia Lancelot of GPKR completed the top five, ahead of Swedish Elin Man of Catapult KTM.
