Around 10,000 spectators were at the race on Sunday to see current ADAC MX Masters champion Dennis Ullrich (KTM Sarholz Racing Team) take victory on the day for the third time this season in Holzgerlingen, thus securing the title once again in Europe's most popular motocross racing series before the end of the season. Ultimately, almost exactly the same scenario was played out on the 1,845-meter Schützenbühlring circuit belonging to KfV Kalteneck eV as during last year's nerve-racking race weekend in Holzgerlingen. 'Ulle's' French team-mate Sébastien Pourcel (KTM Sarholz Racing Team) got very close to him over the final few metres, so that the Saarlouis-based rider had immense difficulty in clinging on to his lead as rain began to fall on the extremely slippery clay surface. However, not even these tough conditions could stop the MX star from realising his dream of lifting another title. "I'm overwhelmed to become champion again here on my home track, and to do it ahead of the finale in Teutschenthal, well, that's just fantastic. The fans gave me some excellent support and I really felt at ease throughout. Having two ADAC MX Masters titles makes me feel really confident in my ability. And, what makes it even more special is that it has given me an extra boost for the MX of Nations in Latvia in late September," said the delighted 21-year-old.
29-year-old Pourcel finished second overall after achieving a second and a third place on the podium in the two races. Marcus Schiffer (Team Suzuki Waldmann) was third in the daily standings. German rider Schiffer, who also has two ADAC MX Masters titles to his name just like Ullrich, congratulated his toughest opponent so far, showing magnanimity in defeat: "Dennis has had a great year, for which I warmly congratulate him. As things stand, it looks like I'll finish runner-up, which is another decent result as far as I'm concerned."
German motorcycle ace Sandro Cortese also had a lot of fun at the race weekend in Baden-Württemberg. The 24-year-old made headlines in 2012 by becoming world champion in the Moto3 class and was now using a free weekend to experience motor sport of a different kind. "I find it incredibly exciting to be here. This is pure relaxation for me. I'm a motor racing enthusiastic through and through, and it's great being here in Holzgerlingen for a change," said Cortese, who was recognised by many spectators and had to sign lots of autographs.
ADAC MX Youngster Cup
As was already the case in qualifying on Saturday, spectators experienced a thriller of a motocross race on Sunday in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup the likes of which have never been seen before. The top three in the championship standings, Thomas Kjer Olsen from Denmark (Yamaha Motor Germany, AC Motec by STC), Dutch rider Calvin Vlaanderen (KTM Bodo Schmidt Motorsports) and Henry Jacobi from Bad Sulza (KTM Sarholz Racing Team) decided the points between themselves. Olsen was particularly impressive. The 17-year-old won both races, thus securing not only victory on the day but also the lead in the championship. "Pressure is now steadily mounting in the run-up to the finale in Teutschenthal, as you would expect, but I turned it into a positive. The whole event pushed me to do even more. Lining up as front-runner in the season finale sure feels good," said the Yamaha rider. Vlaanderen finished second overall with a second and a third in both races. Jacobi had to be content with third place in the daily standings. In the end, everyone appeared visibly exhausted from the exciting scraps and tension furrowed their brows. However, Vlaanderen, the Dutchman with South African roots was the only one to be really dissatisfied, summing up his performance as follows: "I had a bad day today and would like to have won. I couldn't really keep up with Thomas and find that frustrating. I must first get my head clear for Teutschenthal." As for Jacobi, he had only one thing to say in conclusion: "We'll settle accounts in the end."
ADAC MX Junior Cup
Italian super talent Gianluca Facchetti (Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe) put everyone in an especially good mood in the ADAC MX Junior Cup. The 14-year-old made a clean sweep in class three, bagging not just victory on the day. He also lifted the Golden Tyre award, winning a set of tyres for the fastest lap, plus the Red Bull Holeshot with a Red Bull surprise award for the best start. "I got away well and then tried not to get too tense. I really find racing in front of a huge crowd a lot of fun," said the delighted Suzuki rider. That he wowed the fans with his performance was made abundantly clear later when Facchetti threw his glasses into the roaring crowd, strutting his stuff. Danish rider Bastian Boegh Damm (KMP Racing Repsol Honda) finished second overall ahead of fellow Dane and current leader in the standings Mikkel Haarup (MEFO Sport Racing Team, KTM). Haarup appeared quite relaxed about the upcoming season finale, saying: "Pressure doesn't bother me at all. I try not to think about it and concentrate solely on my abilities." While Chemnitz-based rider Jeremy Sydow (Falcon Motorsports / ADAC Sachsen), currently placed second in the championship, also shares this approach, he was not really able to successfully put it into practice at the Schützenbühlring . He finished the day in fourth place. Motorcycling pro rider Sandro Cortese presented the honours at the award ceremony.
MX of Nations
One week before the prestigious FIM Motocross of Nations takes place on the weekend of September 27th-28th at the Kegums circuit in Latvia, Team Germany will train together for the event in Teutschenthal for the first time this year. In the run-up to the eighth and final ADAC MX Masters race weekend, motorcycle enthusiasts and journalists are invited to spectate and take photos at a show training session with Marcus Schiffer, Max Nagl and Dennis Ullrich to be held in Teutschenthal's 'basins' on Friday, 19th September at 16:30.
16-year-old Leon Ast is especially looking forward to the ADAC MX Masters grand finale in Teutschenthal. The ADAC MX Youngster Cup rider will line up as a local boy at the track in Eastern Germany on September 20th-21st, as the final event of the season in Europe's most popular motocross racing series gets under way. He will have only one thing on his mind, to qualify for Sunday's race, proving his skill in front of parents, Andrew and Kathleen and his girlfriend Elisa. "The field of riders in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup is extremely strong and I've only been a regular rider in the Masters since earlier this year, so I try to set small goals in order not to put unnecessary pressure on myself," said the rider from nearby Blankenburg, which is about a one and a half-hour drive from the racetrack of his club, MSC Teutschenthal eV. The ADAC MX Masters last guested at the basins in 2006 when Max Nagl took his maiden win in the race series. He will be lining up this year as a guest driver.
Championship standings, ADAC MX Masters
1. Dennis Ullrich, 292 points
2. Marcus Schiffer, 241 points
3. Pascal Rauchenecker, 193 points
Championship standings, ADAC MX Youngster Cup
1. Thomas Kjer Olsen, 240 points
2. Calvin Vlaanderen, 236 points
3. Henry Jacobi, 233 points
Championship standings, ADAC MX Junior Cup
1. Mikkel Haarup, 213 points
2. Jeremy Sydow, 176 points
3. Martin Winter, 150 points
Privateer standings in the ADAC MX Masters class
1. Maik Schaller (GER/KTM Kosak Racing), 104 points
2. Dario Gianni Dapor (GER/ADAC Hessen-Thüringen), 39 points
3. Tim Münchhofen (GER), 20 Points
Manufacturers' standings in the ADAC MX Masters class (after 7 of 8 events)
1. KTM, 317 points 2. Suzuki, 263 points 3. Kawasaki, 226 points 4. Honda, 189 points 5. Yamaha, 83 points 6. Husqvarna, 45 points