Challenging but good conditions for racing greeted the riders in the four classes on Saturday afternoon at the ADAC MX Masters event in Holzgerlingen. Three of those classes produced lights-to-flag victories, courtesy of Max Nagl (D/Krettek-Haas-Racing-Team) in the ADAC MX Masters, Noah Ludwig (D/Becker Racing) in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup and Gyan Doensen (NL/Husqvarna SKS-Racing NL Team) in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85. Julius Mikula (CZ) came out on top in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125.
ADAC MX Masters
The opening race of the ADAC MX Masters on Saturday saw Max Nagl take the Red Bull Holeshot and lay the foundation for a lights-to-flag victory. Valentin Guillod (CH/SHR Motorsports) was immediately hot on the heels of the championship leader, and put him under a lot of pressure. That pair soon pulled clear of third-placed Jordi Tixier, who was the LS2 Best Qualifier, at the start of the race. Behind the leading trio, Tim Koch (D/Team AB-Racing by Zweiradsport Schmitz) initially slotted into fourth place. However, he was overtaken on lap three by his brother Tom Koch (D/Kosak Racing Team), and one lap later by Kevin Brumann (CH/iXS hostettler Yamaha MXGP Team). Around the midway point of the race, the Swiss passed the younger of the Koch brothers and proceeded to pull away. Shortly after, Stefan Ekerold (D/Team Bauerschmidt MB33) overtook Tim Koch to climb into sixth place. As the race drew to a close, Nagl pulled clear of Guillod and went on to take the chequered flag with a 22-second lead over the Swiss rider. Tixier was third, ahead of Brumann and Tom Koch.
“The pace was very high at first. Valentin put me under a lot of pressure, but I withstood it. Towards the end of the race, I found new, faster lines – thanks to some lapped drivers who were blocking my lines – and was able to pull clear and save a bit of energy,” said a delighted Nagl after his good start to the weekend.
ADAC MX Youngster Cup
Noah Ludwig took the Red Bull Holeshot in the opening race of the ADAC MX Youngster Cup on his 18th birthday, getting out of the gate ahead of Marnique Appelt (D/Raths Motorsports) and Meico Vettik (EST/MX-Handel Racing). By the end of the second lap, Cato Nickel (D/WZ-Racing) had moved into second place, followed by Guillem Farres (E/Raths Motorsports) and Camden Mc Lellan (ZA/TBS Conversions KTM Racing Team). Nickel withstood the pressure from the championship leader until lap five, when he dropped to fourth place and then, one lap later, into fifth behind Mc Lellan. However, Nickel refused to give up and tried to counter – without success. Behind the German, Vettik and Victor Alonso (E/GripMesser.com Racing Team) were embroiled in a fascinating battle after the first third of the race, with positions changing hands regularly. The LS2 Best Qualifier, Maximilian Spies (D/Schmicker Racing), spent a long time stuck behind seventh-placed Paul Bloy (D/Kosak Racing Team), but managed to pass him in the final third of the race. However, Bloy fought back and regained the position on the final lap. Ludwig consistently extended his lead to over ten seconds and took victory ahead of Farres, Mc Lellan, Nickel and Vettik, who overtook Alonso on the final lap.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 125
Bence Pergel (HU/HTS Team) took the Red Bull Holeshot, ahead of Julius Mikula and Lyonel Reichl (CH/MX-Handel Racing), while LS2 Best Qualifier Janis Martins Reisulis (EST/Hamstra MX Team) and Ivano Van Erp (NL/SHR Motorsports) found themselves down in the midfield at the end of the opening lap. Mikula battled his way into the lead on lap five. One lap later, Vitaszlav Marek (CZ) overtook Reichel to climb into third place ahead of Maximilian Ernecker (A/AMX Racing), Van Erp and Reisulis. With four laps remaining, Reisulis passed championship leader Van Erp, who crashed on the penultimate lap and was unable to complete the race. Reisulis climbed ahead of Ernecker and Marek in the closing stages, before ending the race in third place behind Mikula and Pergel. Marek and Ernecker completed the top five.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 85
LS2 Best Qualifier Gyan Doensen showed his class in practice, when he qualified more than four seconds faster than the second-placed rider. The Junior World Champion took the Red Bull Holeshot in race one and cleared off into the distance. Áron Katona (HU/HTS Team) slotted into second place, ahead of Jayson Van Drunen (NL/SHR Motorsports Yamaha Motor Europe). Around the midway point of the race, Van Drunen overtook Katona for a lap, but the Hungarian soon fought back to retake second place. Championship leader Jonathan Frank (D/Schmicker Racing) and Maxime Lucas (B/Becker Racing) spent much of the race trading blows and exchanging positions. In the final third of the race, Dex Kooiker (NL/Bloody Harry Energy/RGS MX Team) climbed into third place, while Van Drunen lost fourth place to Dani Heitink (NL/heitinktransport.nl) on the penultimate lap. Victory went to Doensen, ahead of Katona, Kooiker, Heitink and Van Drunen.
