An astonishing ride from Paolo Casoli propelled him to his first race win of the year at the tenth round of the Supersport World Championship in Germany. Starting from the third row of the grid, and no lover of flat and tight circuits like Oschersleben, Casoli clung onto the leading group of nine in the first laps. In the rear ranks of this leading pack for long periods, Casoli joined the subsequent breakaway front group under his own steam and led for most of the last seven laps. A penultimate lap crash from temporary leader Fabien Foret (Honda) allowed Casoli a clear track to hold off his old Supersport rival Stephane Chambon (Suzuki) and Chambon's team-mate Katsuaki Fujiwara.

Casoli's outstanding triumph was in marked contrast to the fortunes experienced by his peer group of factory-supported Yamaha riders. Jörg Teuchert (Yamaha Motor Germany) suffered his usual unwelcome dose of Oschersleben misfortune, falling on the first lap after tangling with another rider and ruling himself out of his home event. His team-mate, Christian Kellner, eventually fell on lap 21, having put up a great show in the leading group and looking like a good bet for a podium finish.

With James Whitham (Yamaha Belgarda) proving unable to race due to the lingering effects of a high-speed crash at Brands Hatch five weeks ago, the second Belgarda machine was taken over for the weekend by Gianluigi Scalvini. However a high-side crash in final qualifying broke the Italian rider's wrist, ruling him out of the race, reducing the Belgarda effort to a single rider albeit eventual winner Casoli. Whitham is hoping to be fit for Assen on September 8. The World Championship standings have changed greatly after the Oschersleben event, with Foret on 148, Fujiwara on 145, Chambon 135, Andrew Pitt (Kawasaki) on 126 and Casoli on 112.

Paolo Casoli - Yamaha Belgarda - First
"There were no tactics for me this race, on the first lap I was ninth but after two or three laps the feeling I had with the bike was good. On Friday and Saturday the set-up of the bike was not so good but we made some changes in this morning's warm-up and it was much better. At half distance I thought that it was maybe possible to win but I tried step-by-step to avoid making any mistakes. At this circuit it is very difficult to pass but for me today it has been perfect. The championship is out of my reach so I want to win each race from now on."

Christian Kellner - Yamaha Motor Germany - DNF
"I was pushing too hard on the brakes, because I was worried about the other riders getting away. I have taken the top off my left little finger and I also landed heavily on my hip, so this race result was painful for me in more than one way."

Jörg Teuchert - Yamaha Motor Germany - DNF "I was very late on the brakes but it was OK - until I saw MacPherson who was slow into the turn. I saw him too late, we touched and I fell down. I don't know what to do, at Brands Hatch I was not aggressive enough in the opening lap and lost many positions, here I am maybe too aggressive and have crashed. " Teuchert is currently testing a Yamaha Motor France supported YZF-R1 for his first major endurance race, the 24hrs of Bol d'Or, which takes place next month (September 14th-15th).

Casoli's victory in Germany coincides with confirmation from Yamaha Motor Europe NV that all four factory-supported riders have resigned for the 2003 season.