Max Nagl wins to extend his lead in the ADAC MX Masters. Bidzans takes victory in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, Ernecker in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125. Dani Heitink is crowned ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 champion after race win.
Large crowds enjoyed glorious weather and some captivating battles in the four races on the opening day of the ADAC MX Masters in Dreetz. Max Nagl (D/KMP Honda Racing powered by Krettek) claimed a lights-to-flag victory to extend his lead at the top of the table in the ADAC MX Masters. In the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, victory went to Edvards Bidzans (LVA/Sixty Seven). Moritz Ernecker (A/AMX Racing) just held on to take the win in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125. Dani Heitink (NL/DH-MX) won the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 race to wrap up the title with one race still to come.
ADAC MX Masters: Dominant lights-to-flag victory for Nagl
After Gert Krestinov (EST/Motoextreme Honda) secured pole position in qualifying, it was Max Nagl who sprinted over the Red Bull Holeshot line in first place in the opening ADAC MX Masters race. Over the following few laps, the championship leader quickly pulled clear of Adam Sterry (GB/KTM Sarholz Racing Team), Lars Van Berkel (NL/KMP Honda Racing powered by Krettek), Tom Koch (D/Kosak Racing Team) and new ADAC MX Youngster Cup champion Oriol Oliver (E/WZ-Racing). Nagl’s rival in the title race, Koch, struggled to get past Van Berkel and dropped back to fifth place behind Oliver after making a mistake. By the middle of the race, Koch had made his way back to third place. Nagl hit the deck of his own accord in the second half of the race. However, he was far enough in front to hang on to the lead. Koch consistently closed the gap to Sterry and put the Welshman under pressure towards the end of the race. With two laps remaining, Koch took second place. Tixier overtook Van Berkel on the final lap to finish fifth. Nagl’s lights-to-flag victory saw him extend his lead in the table by three points, ahead of Koch, Sterry, Tixier and Van Berkel.
“That was not an easy race. I risked everything going into turn one at the start, and emerged in first place. However, it was difficult to find the balance between applying pressure and avoiding taking too many risks. I actually hit the deck briefly later in the race. That should not happen. However, I was still able to take the win and extend my lead in the championship a little. I cannot afford to think too much about tactics tomorrow, I need to go flat out from the word go in both races,” said a happy Max Nagl at the finish.
ADAC MX Youngster Cup: Bidzans snatches victory from Gwerder
In the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, Mike Gwerder (CH/WZ-Racing) was the fastest out of the start gate. Following a crash involving Roberts Lusis (LVA/Sturm STC Racing), Edvards Bidzans slotted into second place at the end of the opening lap. Martin Michelis (EST/Schmicker Racing) manoeuvred his way into third place. On the fourth lap, Lusis an Joosep Pärn (EST/Pol Motors) climbed into fourth. Bidzans closed the gap to Gwerder in the second half of the race, setting up a thrilling battle for the win. With just two laps remaining, Bidzans overtook the Swiss and went on to claim his first race win of the season, followed by Gwerder and Michelis. Jens Walvoort (NL/KTM SB Racing) passed Lusis to take fourth place shortly before the finish.
“That was a really tiring race. I hoped the whole time that I could force Mike into a mistake by putting him under pressure. However, he avoided doing so until just before the finish. I am very happy with the way I rode and to finally stand on the very top step of the podium,” beamed Bidzans.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 125: Lights-to-flag victory for Ernecker
In the opening race of the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125 class, Maximilian Ernecker took the Red Bull Holeshot ahead of Gyan Doensen (NL/WZ-Racing) and Jayson Van Drunen (NL/SHR Motorsports). When Van Drunens crashed, it left Kasimir Hindersson (FIN/Motovation Motorsports), Maximilian Werner (D/Fantic Factory Team Maddii) and championship leader Mads Fredsøe (DK/STC Sturm Racing) to complete the top five at the end of lap one. Four laps into the race, Vitezslav Marek (CZ/Cermen KTM Racing Team) passed his rival in the title race, Fredsøe, who had dropped back to seventh place by the finish. Ernecker was put under some serious pressure by Doensen in the closing stages, but the Dutchman was unable to pull off a successful overtake. Ernecker took the victory, ahead of Doensen, Hindersson, Werner and Marek.
“I won the start and quickly found my rhythm. Gyan got pretty close again towards the end, but I was able to get the win. All the training in the sand in Belgium this year definitely paid dividends today,” said Ernecker after his first race win of the season.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 85: Heitink wraps up the title
Michal Psiuk (PL/Mefo Sport Racing Team) took the first Red Bull Holeshot in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85, followed by Dean Gregoire (NL/Schmicker Racing) and Dani Heitink. Gregoire attacked Psiuk at the end of the opening lap, but fell immediately afterwards and rejoined the action in third place. However, he was soon stuck to the back wheel of Heitink’s bike. The two title rivals overtook Psiuk together to move to the head of the field on lap three. Gregoire kept the pressure on Heitink, but he was able to hold his nerve and take the race win with a lead of three seconds over Gregoire. That means Heitink has an unassailable lead going into the final race on Sunday, when he will be crowned the new ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 champion. Áaron Katona (HU/HTS KTM) crossed the finish line in third place almost a minute behind the leading duo. Psiuk come home fourth, ahead of Lucas Leok (EST/MX-HANDEL Racing) in fifth.
“Despite contact with another rider, I exited turn one well after the start. I found myself second after Dean’s crash and soon found my rhythm. Once I had taken the lead, I just rode my own race and wrapped up the championship with a win. It has been a very good year for me: after the junior world championship and the Dutch Masters, this is my third title this season,” said Dani Heitink, celebrating winning the championship.
The full replay of the opening race day is available on the ADAC Motorsport YouTube channel at youtube.com/live/L8fPMTi7fVc. The livestream with all of Sunday’s races begins at 10:00 and can be found at youtube.com/live/zcp3q5wDOyU. The digital programme, schedules and starter lists are available to download at adac.de/mx-masters.
