Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

This just in, via e-mail, from BMW North America’s Dan DeChristopher:

Interesting development this week as the BoxerCup truly lived up to its Boxer name. In qualifying on Friday, Daytona winner Roberto Panichi took out Belgian rider Eric Lejeune, unintentionally, of course.

However, Panichi didn’t acknowledge to Lejeune the problem he had in the turn and didn’t give him the sort of “hi/sorry” sign that’s common when you unintentionally knock someone down.

To make matters worse, Panichi picked his bike up and rode it back to the paddock. Which is not allowed in BoxerCup. Once you’re down, you’re down until re-tech’d.

So now we’ve got a really HOT Belgian, getting ready for his only home race in front of his home fans, knocked out of qualifying and faced with starting on the way-back grid. To stir the pot even more, Panichi shows up at Lejeuene’s paddock to talk to him, however, no Eric. So he talks to his team instead. To hear the Belgians tell it, Panichi had a smirk on his face and was pretty matter-of-fact about the incident. Lejeune returns later and his team fills him in on Panichi’s visit (I’m sure they embellished Panichi’s attitude a bit).

At any rate, Lejuene hunts Roberto down in the hospitality tent and pops him in the nose. Needless to say, Lejuene’s been booted from the rest of the series and Panichi ends up with a broken nose.

This brings a WHOLE NEW meaning to the term “BoxerCup.”