Dobb: I should never be off the podium.

James Dobb arrived at Gaildorf hopeful of claiming his first 250cc podium of the season, at a venue which just one year ago saw his greatest triumph to date when he clinched the 125cc World crown.

Fortunately, the floods engulfing the rest of Europe did not affect the town of Guilder and the predicted weather conditions for the weekend looked promising. The usual two free practice sessions were followed by the late afternoon qualifying session, where the KTM rider posted the 7th fastest time.

Although by no means the end of the World, Dobb was disappointed at the repeated handling problems that have blighted his season so far.

"I am struggling with the handling again, I have the engine more how I like it but the handling still makes it difficult to go as fast as I know I can," he explained. "Frustrated is a good word to use".

Onto Sunday, and once the gate dropped Dobb found himself with nowhere to go as a fallen ridden stopped his progress.

"My start was bad but not disastrous, it would have been OK after a few corners but whoever that was that went down just left me with no where to go! I think I started out again in 25th or something," he recalled.

By the end of the first lap the Brit had worked his way up to 17th place. Clearly frustrated, as he knew the leaders already had a big gap he set about his task ofdamage limitation. By the end of the fourth lap he had moved into 13th place and was behind early leader, and friend, Alessio Chiodi. The pair were stuck behind Andrew McFarlane and as in previous races he proved a difficult rider to pass.

"McFarlane is a good rider and he makes it difficult for you to pass him," admitted Dobb. "On this circuit the problem is worse and I was stuck behind him for 5 or 6 laps, all the time I was thinking get out of the way because I knew the riders ahead of him were pulling further away."

Dobb eventually passed McFarlane on lap 9 and moved into 12th place but indeed the riders ahead of him all enjoyed comfortable gaps.

"It was a matter of just putting my head down and making up as many positions as I could," explained the Birmingham native. "Inside you are angry and your adrenalin is pumping but I still had to be careful in certain parts of the track to avoid overcooking it and going down".

As the chequered flag fell for race leader Pichon, Dobb was back in eighth place, where he finished.

"That is so frustrating, I know I have the speed to be on the podium," sighed Dobb. "I should never be off the podium and a bad day should be top 5. It was a bad start but if I had not got stuck behind that fallen rider I would have been inside the top 5 again."

Speaking of his championship position he said: "Right now it's about salvaging whatever I can. I entered the season with high expectations and while those expectations have not changed for me, the results are not showing what I am capable of doing. To most riders being 5th in the 250 championship would be awesome but for me it's a big disappointment.

"There are 2 races left then the Motocross Des Nations and I will be fighting at all of them. I won't lie down and wait for next season," Dobb proclaimed.