The BMW HP2 Enduro factory rider´s plan for the weekend was to secure the season´s target - to finish in the top eight overall rankings of the professional class, in spite of one missed GCC race because of participating instead in the Pikes Peak mountain race in the USA.
Sascha Eckert wanted to put everything into showing what he is capable of on a fast motocross course - and the race proved to be sensational.
Simo was in the leading trio on the first lap, and managed to get back into the top ten after a slight fall in the early stages. After an hour he found himself battling it out near the front with the newly crowned GCC champion Arnaud Demeester.
Although visibility deteriorated due to the dust, the two HP2 riders were able to put the power of their BMW machines to maximum effect on the fast, flowing circuit. Simo finally managed a sensational sixth place, with Sascha Eckert just two places behind him.
This result also moves Simo Kirssi two places up in the series rankings, so he finishes the 2006 season as seventh overall in the German Cross Country Championship.
In addition to the honour of winning the 2006 GCC title, new champion Arnaud Demeester was able to take both a Knaus caravan and a brand new BMW HP2 Enduro home with him.
After the race he was pleased to take up the offer to ride a few extra demonstration laps on the BMW factory racing bike, and was visibly impressed by its power.
The last race of the 2006 season for the BMW off-road factory team will take place in a fortnight´s time at the European Cross Country final in Schefflenz.
