Van den Bosch steals overall win

From KTM Racing

KTM factory rider Bernd Hiemer shared the glory and the points in the World Supermoto Championship S1 Grand Prix of Europe on Sunday but had to settle for second place after rival Thierry van den Bosch stole victory in the second moto in the closing stages.

The German racer won the first moto virtually from start to finish and looked set to take the second. Hiemer led the way through nine of the 12 laps in heat two and with a two-second lead looked set to take the coveted red number plate as championship leader.

But van den Bosch made his move in the ninth lap when the track was slippery and covered in mud from earlier rain, conditions that Hiemer said made it impossible to hold onto the front slot.

"We started in the rain and that was OK, but when it had almost stopped there was a lot of mud on the track and it go incredibly slippery," Hiemer said. "We had a perfect setup for the rain but when it got so slippery, I had to ease back and had no chance to go on and win the race."

The final result for the race held in Italy's Castelletto di Branduzzo Motodromo was a first and second for Hiemer and a second and first for the Belgian leader, who although each now has 94 championship points, retains the red number plate and the lead in the standings on the basis of his second race result.

Results GP Overall
1. Thierry van den Bosch, France, Aprilia; 2. Bernd Hiemer, Germany, KTM; 3. Matthew Winstanley, Britain, KTM; 4. Boris Chambon, France, TM; 5. Christian Ravaglia, Italy, Yamaha

Championship Standings
1. Thierry van den Bosch, 94 points; 2. Bernd Hiemer, 94; 3. Matthew Winstanley, 76; 4. Thomas Chareyre, 63 5. Boris Chambon, 57