BMW Motorrad BoxerCUP race summary

Panichi Wins Race Hinterreiter Wins 2004 Title

Austrian Thomas Hinterreiter today at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic wrapped up the BMW Motorrad BoxerCup 2004 after a string of six podiums from seven races that included two wins on his BMW R 1100 S. Coming home in 6th position in front of over 68,000 fans was t enough to take the title with one race at Valencia, Spain still remaining on the calendar on October 31s . The No.7 rider will be presented with a BMW M3 Coupe in Spain but immediately after today's race he exclaimed, "I would like the car in black please!" Italian Roberto Panichi won the race his second of the season after a race long tussle with Belgian Stephane Mertens, but unfortunately for Mertens he faded on the very last half a lap with a gearbox problem that saw him get beaten to the line by American Brian Parriott for second.

Panichi started from pole position and soon ran away into the distance after agreeing with Mertens that they will have their own race at in front. Such was their pace that they had over an incredible 12 second lead over the rest of the field until the last lap when Mertens' bike stuck in third gear leaving the chasing pack rof Brian Parriott, Markus Barth and Gwen Giabbani to swamp the Belgian right on the line demoting him to 3 d place. Panichi ran an uncontested last lap to therefore win by over 10 seconds.

Hinterreiter dropped back a little but crossed the line in 6th place to be sure of the valuable points to win the 2004 title. Parriott can still equal Hinterreiter's tally of 132 points with a victory in Valencia, but the American would only just cruelly lose out on a count back of second places. It is worth remembering that Parriott started the season without the full budget to get beyond the season's opening round at Daytona, but his win there rightly propelled him into Europe and into his current second place, but it is still a close run battle "I'm going testing at Valencia beforehand as the team is based there so I'm going give it my all to get that new BMW Z4 for second place!" Said Parriott after the podium.

However, back at the BMW Motorrad BoxerCup paddock, the celebrations were in full swing for the BMW Motorrad Austria Team Hinterreiter squad with their rider saying, "I'm so very very happy. I was a little nervous at the start and kept telling myself not to push too hard even though I knew I could go faster. Once I crossed the line in 6th and then was told that I have enough of a lead going into the final race and therefore the champion this season, I'm just so happy for everyone in the team. We've all worked so very hard for this and that has been shown by six podiums from the first six races, so now we can celebrate this over the end of the summer."

BMW Motorrad Ambassador Randy Mamola said, "I said at the start of the year that consistency would win this title and that is exactly what Thomas has done. He deserves this title. Well done to Thomas and all his team. I hope he enjoys his new BMW M3 Coupe!"

The final race on October 31st at Valencia will see the outcome for the second and third places in the BMW Motorrad BoxerCup 2004 as well as the YoungStar Rider Award for under 21 riders, which is currently being lead by Richard Cooper.

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