BOXERCUP BRITS HOME IN ON YOUNGSTAR PRIZE MINI
19 July 2004 - BMW Motorrad GB

Sachsenring is home tarmac for BMW Motorrad. Described by many as a “technical” circuit the famous ring has been the battleground of many a memorable racing skirmish.

Inevitably, the “thrust and parry” of the fifth round of the 2004 BMW Motorrad International BoxerCup series – once again in support of MotoGP – proved to be graphic confirmation of the German circuit’s fighting credentials. Red-hot weather – 30 degrees of blistering sunshine – set the perfect stage.

Qualifying positions are usually a good indication of who will finish the race as the biggest of the round’s big guns. On the front row, all fired up and ready to explode off the line were the experienced Continental professionals and series’ front-runners, Roberto Panichi (Italy), Gwen Giabbiani (France), and Stephane Mertens (Belgium). When the lights went out, Panichi’s early manoeuvring outflanked the cavalry charge into the first turn and the Italian powered into the lead. Alternating attacks quickly came from the rear in the hungry form of Thomas Hinterreiter (Austria) and Mertens. Not far behind was young Brit pretender Barry Burrell (17) who – despite qualifying in a not usual 22nd – had moved up to a temporary sixth place after a ballistic start. At the end of lap one, Panichi led from Mertens and Hinterreiter.

In the YoungStar category (an integrated young rider championship within the series) the two main contenders Richard Cooper (GB) and Guillaume Dietrich (France) were trying to break free from the following pack and continually locking cylinder heads. Their professional tryst is the crucial battle in the YoungStar category and each round produces epic racing from the two young stars. With the ultimate prize of a BMW Mini at the conclusion of the series, and nothing but a cigarette paper between them in terms of ability and talent, their hi-octane confrontation looks like going right to the wire.

VIP guest rider Randy Mamola had an unhappy return to the series when he crashed out of contention early in the race. Likewise Britain’s other young hopeful, Calvin Hogan (18), pushed the lean angle of the R1100 S a little too far once too often and slid ignominiously off the track to record a chastening DNF.

With uncompromising battles right through the field it was impossible to predict who would finish where. Places were being exchanged at every corner. Finally though, everything was settled in a frantic final lap. The three front-runners resolved a hard but professional squabble with Panichi claiming the win, and Hinterreiter and Mertens finishing second and third respectively.

In the YoungStar championship, Cooper, who finished ninth overall, got the better of Dietrich (14th) with Burrell slipping back to 16th. Dietrich now leads Cooper by only three points but the next round at Donington Park is the Nottingham-born young Brit’s favourite stomping ground. Things couldn’t be set up better for Team BMW Motorrad Great Britain. As Mark Fisher Team Manager said after the race: “We want that car! And Richard can do it. He’s got a slight advantage over Dietrich now and I don’t want him to let it go! Perhaps Barry and Calvin can help by getting between them. They are certainly riding well enough and I know all three of our riders can’t wait for Donington Park.”

There are now only three rounds to go and Donington Park on the 24 July could be a series watershed. A DNF there might well prove to be the end of all pretensions for any one of the main contenders. Machine preparation and set-up will be vital. And yes, Donington Park is a technical circuit.

Footnote
The 2004 BoxerCup is Richard Cooper’s third year in a series that is staged alongside the elite MotoGP championship (excluding the opening round at the Daytona 200). Richard’s impressive riding ability, while still a teenager, helped him secure a race win in his debut year at Spa. He then repeated the feat at the UK round of the 2003 series at Oulton Park. Last year Richard finished sixth overall – ahead of many world-class riders.

Barry Burrell had his first taste of international racing when he joined the BoxerCup series last year and showed his youthful ability by taking the race lead at the Oulton Park and Assen rounds. Impressively, he also set the lap record at Assen. With 14 championship points, Barry is now third in the BMW YoungStar championship for the “best rider in the series under the age of 21”. The winner will be presented with a Mini Cooper at the end of the series.

ACU Academy graduate, Calvin Hogan is the GB team’s new recruit and is excited about testing his precocious racing talent on the international stage.

www.bmw-motorrad.com/boxercup

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