The ADAC MX Masters season opener held on the famous sandy track known as 'Rund um den Mühlberg' just outside Fürstlich Drehna in Brandenburg could hardly have been a more pulsating occasion. Tight overtaking manoeuvres and constant changes of position kept the 12,500 spectators well entertained in Europe's most popular motocross series. Three-time ADAC MX Masters champion Max Nagl (Red Bull Iceone Husqvarna Factory Team) from Hohenpeissenberg claimed victory ahead of 24-year-old Dutchman Glenn Coldenhoff (Team Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe) and Christian Brockel (KTM GST Berlin Racing) who, as a member of the organising club MSC Fürstlich Drehna, ranked as the local favourite.
Nagl sealed the overall win on the day by finishing first in the second moto. His time of 34:51.530 minutes was enough to see off the challenge of fellow world championship rider Coldenhoff (34:55.761 minutes). "That was a tactical ride from me, and I stamped my authority on the race right from the start," said the 25-year-old. "If you go into Turn 1 in the lead, you gain valuable seconds." Although Coldenhoff prevailed in the first of Sunday's two motos, which means that both world championship riders have scored the same number of points, the rules dictate that the second race is decisive in the event of a tie for overall winner of the weekend. Local hero Brockel from Herzberg was jubilant after crossing the finish line: "I wasn't expecting to take third place. A result as good as this in front of my home fans makes me very proud. My preparations for the race were different than usual, and I cut myself off mentally from the outside world. This gave me the strength I needed."
ADAC MX Youngster Cup
Arminas Jasikonis (Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil) from Lithuania had a productive weekend in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. The 17-year-old won the first of the two 25-minute races on Sunday. Runner-up spot in the second moto clinched overall victory on the day. "I didn't get off to a good start and was then unable to challenge for the lead," he said. 19-year-old Stefan Ekerold (Bodo Schmidt Motorsports) from Weiskirchen took second place, and Freiburg-born Brian Hsu (16, Team Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe) came third.
ADAC MX Junior Cup
Sunday in the ADAC MX Junior Cup was dominated by Denmark's Mikkel Haarup (KTM Kosak Racing Team). As on Saturday, last year's ADAC MX Junior Champion was the best in his class, winning one race and coming second in the other. Following the podium ceremony, the 13-year-old revealed the secret of his success: "I'm always back on my bike again on Monday morning so I can put in plenty of practice for the next race weekend. It's a great feeling to have notched up that first win, but I'm not going to let up in any way. The defence of my title is the priority." In the class specifically for the youngest motocross riders, he beat Raivo Dankers (13, NL, HSF Logistics Motorsport) into second place and Jeremy Sydow (14, Chemnitz, Falcon Motorsports) into third.
The next race weekend in the ADAC MX Masters series takes place on 2nd/3rd May at Jauer (Saxony), and there will be the usual three classes: ADAC MX Masters, ADAC MX Youngster Cup and ADAC MX Junior Cup.
Fürstlich Drehna: Independents' trophy in the ADAC MX Masters class
1. Manuel Engel Gundermann (Möckmühl)
2. Skatty Bihlmaier (Gaildorf)
3. Tim Münchhofen (Düsseldorf)
Fürstlich Drehna: Manufacturers' championship in the ADAC MX Masters class
1. Husqvarna, 47 points
2. Suzuki, 47
3. KTM, 36
4. Kawasaki, 24
5. Honda, 21