SIMON LANGENFELDER – THE RED PLATE

It doesn’t take a genius to understand that Red Bull KTM factory rider, Simon Langenfelder is very much a rider capable of becoming a World motocross champion. He already holds the red plate, is coming off a brilliant Grand Prix victory last weekend in Ernée, France and heads to his home Grand Prix with the red plate attached to his orange KTM.

The win in France wasn’t just an important moment for Langenfelder, it was an important moment for German motocross. Without a World motocross champion since Ken Roczen took glory in the MX2 class, way back in 2011, the proud motocross nation has had to wait, and wait, and wait. Now finally, as we enter the week of Teutschenthal, they have a man capable of not only winning a Grand Prix but possibly getting them a World championship.

For Langenfelder, the relief and enjoyment of France will sit with him for some time, but he knows that the job isn’t done yet and he will need to gather his thoughts and prepare for more pressure, although this time, he will have thousands of fans waiting for him to celebrate.

“It went really good,” Langenfelder said after his win. “So happy. I was sick coming into this week and took some extra power and went 1-1 and I have the championship lead. I would say the first race in France was amazing and the second one I really had to push, because Andrea (Adamo) was pushing from the back. It was difficult finding lines on this slick soil.”

So, now, it’s onto yet another Grand Prix and the three-time World number three can concentrate on one week at a time, one GP at a time and slowly build his points gap. It won’t be easy, because defending MX2 champion, Kay de Wolf will be waiting for him in Germany and you can be sure, a battle will be fought. For Langenfelder though, that red plate means a lot and he won’t want to give it up easily.

“It’s a long time since I’ve had the red plate! For sure I’m happy to have it again on the bike but it’s still early in the season and there are so many fast guys in the title fight. We’ll keep trying our best. A few weeks ago, we made a few changes that have helped with my starts and it’s working out quite good for me but there are a few KTM riders here so we can all start well! Home GP now and I’m really looking forward to it; I think the German fans will make some noise!”

Like German motocross legends, Paul Friedrichs, Adolf Weil, Pit Beirer, Max Nagl and Ken Roczen, it is now time for Langenfelder to show his steel and make the German people believe that he can join Friedrichs and Roczen as a World title winner.

Photo Credit: KTM