Sunday's ADAC MX Masters races on the 1700-metre long mud track in Jauer had everything. 7,000 spectators in total this weekend watched on as KMP Honda Racing Team's Max Nagl took first place in both races. Securing an overall victory in the process, Nagl could not have wished for a better comeback after being forced to sit out due to illness. "It was important for me to win here," said the 26-year-old after his victory. "Although I was having problems with my concentration from the midway point on in both races, I've proven that I'm back to full fitness. If that hadn't been the case, I would not have made my return." Former World Championship rider Sébastian Pourcel of France (KTM Sarholz Racing) Team) was second, whilst Slovenian Tim Gajser (Marchetti Racing, KTM) finished the day third overall.
Since the track contains many jumps and is therefore technically demanding, the riders needed to concentrate on racing as flawlessly as possible. At this penultimate ADAC MX Masters event of the season, the top riders were primarily focused on collecting a good number of points in order to get one step closer towards realising their dream of winning the title. The championship leader Dennis Ullrich (KTM Sarholz Racing Team) had problems with focusing on the race shortly before the final weekend. In the first race, the 20-year-old German was demoted five places for overtaking under the yellow flag. Two falls in the second race then dashed his chances of any success. As a result, the KTM rider has had to surrender his lead in the overall standings to Pourcel. The Frenchman now sits top of the leader board on 230 points, followed by Ullrich on 220 and Nagl on 180 points.
ADAC MX Youngster Cup
Spaniard Jorge Zaragoza of Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe dominated proceedings at the ADAC MX Youngster Cup event. As on Saturday, the 17-year-old was the best in his class, claiming an overall victory after the day's two races. "I'm really proud to have managed the win on my favourite German track," said the Suzuki rider proudly. "In addition, this has given me a real boost in confidence, since the best riders are fighting for important points ahead of the championship grand finale." Frenchman Boris Maillard of Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil could also be happy with today's outcome. The current leader in the standings changed his strategy from qualifying and concentrated solely on producing a fast and flawless ride in Jauer. And his plan paid off: Maillard finished second and now holds a 39-point advantage in the overall standings over his team-mate Dominique Thury (Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil), who is followed by Lars Reuther of the KTM Sarholz Racing Team a further eleven points behind. "When I realised that I was getting better, I developed an enormous will to win that won't go away easily," said the 20-year-old. "I want to win the championship and know that it is possible. That's why even a broken spring during the first race could not stop me." ADAC MX Masters champion Ken Roczen was particularly interested in how his fellow riders performed this weekend. The racing ace is currently preparing for the MX of Nations in Teutschenthal and came to this event incognito. The 19-year-old kept a keen eye on how is good friend Tim Koch of BRC Johannes-Bikes Suzuki was doing.
The weekend ended in frustration and disappointment for KTM Sarholz Racing Team's Lars Reuther, who now sits second in the standings. Although the German rider had set his sights on making the last two ADAC MX Masters events his own, he had to settle for an unlucky 16th place in the first race. His second race was ended prematurely when a stone became lodged in the brakes of his front wheel. With that, his dreams of an ADAC MX Youngster Cup win are now over.
ADAC MX Junior Cup
The start of Sunday's race in the ADAC MX Junior Cup did not go entirely to plan for championship leader Glen Meier (Kosak Racing Team, KTM). The 14-year-old Dane could do nothing, as his Spanish rival Jorge Prado (KTM Factory Red Bull), also 14, was two positions better off and 30 seconds quicker than him. "My back brake stopped working during the third lap," said Meier. "Therefore, I couldn't brake as much out there and had to ride a lot more carefully. That's really annoying." Fourth place was also the best the Danish junior rider could achieve in the second race. Kim Savaste of KTM Motorsport Finland finished first to become the day's overall winner; the young Finn now has 178 points in the overall standings. "I was able to overtake Jorge which was a tough challenge in itself," said the 13-year-old. "Therefore, I'm very happy with my victory." Jorge Prado took second, whilst Czech rider Jakub Teresak (Mefo Sport Racing Team, KTM) finished third. There are no changes in the overall standings after this weekend's racing action in Jauer, so Meier remains top of the leader board. With 204 points to his name, the Dane is 15 points ahead of Teresak (189), who himself holds an 11-point advantage over Savaste (178).
The eighth and final ADAC MX Masters will be taking place in Holzgerlingen from the 21st to 22nd September. The ADAC MX Masters, ADAC MX Youngster Cup and ADAC MX Junior Cup will be staged there. The title race is still open in all classes, ensuring a nail-biting finish.