The Global Champions Tour stage in Mexico went to Piergiorgio Bucci
Piergiorgio Bucci’s finest hour in Mexico, Eckermann tops the list again
from Dominique Wehrmann 
What a weekend for Piergiorgio Bucci and Pallieter in Mexico! After the Global Champions League stage, they also won the Grand Prix. Photo: GCT/Ljuba Buzzola Eleven pairs had reached the jump-off in the Grand Prix of the Global Champions Tour stage in Mexico, including Katrin Eckermann and her Miami winner Dialou Blue as the only one under the German flag.
The pair were fourth in the jump-off and crossed the finish line in a penalty-free 45.04 seconds, three seconds faster than the leading pair to date, Duarte Seabra (POR) with Dourados. However, Christian Kukuk, who had missed the jump-off with Checker after a knockdown, was pretty sure that this time was beatable. In his opinion, Eckermann had allowed himself to be carried a little too far away from the ideal line on the long lines between the obstacles after obstacle three. He was proved right, as the next but one pair showed.
It was the Italian Piergiorgio Bucci and his eleven-year-old Cornet Obolensky son Pallieter. The two of them had a great moment in this jump-off. Always in rhythm, always in flow, they broke through the light barrier at the finish line after 43.68 seconds. New lead, Eckermann second.
There were a few more pairs, including Eugenio Garza Perez and his Contago, also by Cornet Obolensky, one under the Mexican flag. But none were to be better than Bucci and Eckermann. Garza Perez’s time would have been enough for second place. But the last pole fell. The disappointment in the stands was huge – and for the rider too. Understandable.
It was a completely different story in the Italian camp. With this victory, Piergiorgio Bucci has secured himself a starting place in the Super Grand Prix at the end of the season – in addition to 144,276 euros in prize money. And this after he had already been part of the victorious Global Champions League team on Friday. It was certainly one of the best weekends of his life for the 50-year-old Italian.
And Katrin Eckermann was delighted with second place. In third place was Simon Delestre on Golden Boy, who needed 45.95 seconds – with plenty of motivational help from his rider.
You can find all the results here.
