MOTOCROSS: World: South African teams German GP summary

RATTRAY IS ON TOP OF THE WORLD

South African motocross star Tyla Rattray is back on top of the world after winning the MX2 category at the German Grand Prix in Teutschental yesterday.

Rattray, on the factory Red Bull KTM, took the overall win on a count out from reigning champion Antonio Cairoli, of Italy, on a factory Yamaha. The young South African and the Italian exchanged wins in the two races with Cairoli winning the first heat and Rattray taking the second.

And, just to make it more interesting Rattray set the fastest lap in race one and Cairoli the fastest lap in race two. The result saw Rattray back on top of the world championship standings ahead of Red Bull KTM team-mate Tommy Searle, of Britain, who lost ground by finishing ninth in the second race.

Cairoli won the first moto by a six second margin with Rattray holding off Searle. Fourth was Steven Frossard, of France, on a Kawasaki, with Briton Shaun Simpson fifth on another Red Bull KTM.

With Rattray and Cairoli swapping roles in the second moto it was Portugal's Rui Concalves, on yet another Red Bull KTM, who took the remaining spot on the podium. Fourth went to Frossard -- enough to give him third overall for the day - with fellow Frenchman Martin Musquin fifth on a Honda.

Rattray, Cairoli and Searle have been playing musical chairs at the top of the championship table. Rattray now leads Searle by 11 points with Cairoli a further five points adrift in third place . Simpson, in fourth place is 101 points behind Cairoli - an indication of how the top three have dominated this season. Concalves is fifth in the standings and trails Simpson by 11 points.

In the MX1 category New Zealander Josh Coppins, on a Yamaha scored a double. Coppins won the first moto from Belgian Steve Ramon (Suzuki) and Italian David Philippaerts on a Yamaha.

In the second race Coppins came in ahead of Ken de Dycker (Suzuki) with the Belgian holding off German Max Nagle on a KTM.

The Leatt-Brace South African Grand Prix will be held at the Alkmaar circuit in Nelspruit from July 18 to 20. Tickets for the event are available via Computicket. Ticket prices will be R240.00 per person for a two day pass, R110 per person for a Saturday pass and R 210 per person for a Sunday pass and R 250.00 per day for a paddock pass with a 50 percent reduction for children under the age of 12.

-credit: msa