Rookie Maximilian Spies claims his first pole position and maiden race win. Oriol Oliver wins the opening race in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup in Tensfeld. Dean Gregoire beats world champion Dani Heitink in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85.
Class newcomer Maximilian Spies (D/Kosak Racing Team) shone in ideal conditions with his first race victory in the ADAC MX Masters in Tensfeld. In the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, meanwhile, Oriol Oliver (E/WZ-Racing) took his tenth race win of the season. The first of three races in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 treated the many fans at the track to a thrilling battle at the head of the field, with Dean Gregoire (NL/Schmicker Racing) eventually emerging victorious.
ADAC MX Masters: Maximilian Spies takes it to the next level
Maximilian Spies laid the foundations for his subsequent race win with his maiden pole position in qualifying. Noah Ludwig (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) took the Red Bull Holeshot in the opening race. Max Nagl (D/KMP Honda Racing powered by Krettek) also made it through the first corner well, but was then forced out of the race on the third straight with a broken rear wheel. Jakub Teresak (CZ/Enduro Koch Racing), Spies and brothers Tim Koch (D/VisuAlz Production) and Tom Koch (D/Kosak Racing Team) slotted in behind Ludwig at the head of the field. Spies raced to the front and took the lead on lap three. One lap later, Teresak and Tom Koch also passed Ludwig. Shortly before the halfway point, Teresak slipped back to fourth behind Koch and Ludwig, while Spies set about opening a gap at the front. Koch attempted to catch Spies, while Teresak dropped out of the race after ten laps. The beneficiaries of Teresak’s misfortune were Adam Sterry (GB/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) and his team-mate Lukas Platt (D), who moved into the top five. One lap later, however, Jordi Tixier (F/KMP Honda Racing powered by Krettek) overtook Platt to take fifth place. Rookie Spies held his nerve and went on to win his first ADAC MX Masters, followed by Koch, Ludwig, Sterry and Tixier. Nagl’s DNF meant his lead over Koch at the top of the table was cut to nine points.
“After a good start, I applied a lot of pressure early on in the race and soon found my rhythm. After the successful move on Noah, I tried to quickly open a lead, and managed to do so. The track is very demanding, and the bumps were already deep today,” said a happy Spies after his successful opening race.
ADAC MX Youngster Cup: Oriol Oliver lives up to his billing as favourite
Jan Krug (D/Sixty Seven) was the first to sprint over the Red Bull Holeshot line, but had conceded the lead to Rasmus Pedersen (DK/Filten Racing) by the end of the opening lap. One lap later, championship leader Oriol Oliver and Edvards Bidzans (LVA/Sixty Seven) also moved ahead of the young German. Pedersen and Oliver soon pulled clear at the front. Oliver took the lead on lap five and slowly but steadily eased away from his Danish rival. Bidzans had a lonely race in third place, while Krug came under increasing pressure from Scott Smulders (NL/KMP Honda Racing powered by Krettek) in the second half of the race. The Dutchman passed Krug to take fourth place with three laps remaining. Oliver rode a controlled race to take victory ahead of Pedersen, Bidzans, Smulders and Krug.
“After the Grand Prix last weekend, I took a break and did not train on the bike during the week. That meant it took me a bit longer to find my momentum, and I was struggling with stiff forearms at first, before I managed to find my rhythm. The track is very difficult, which I like,” said a delighted Oliver.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 85: thrilling duel at the front
The ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 is holding three races on one race weekend for the first time this season in Tensfeld. In the opening race, fans enjoyed an exciting battle at the head of the field between reigning junior world champion Dani Heitink (NL/DH-MX) and his compatriot Dean Gregoire. Heitink was fastest out of the gate and took the lead at the start, with Gregoire hot on his heels. This duo soon distanced themselves from the rest of the field and continued their duel right through to the finish. Meanwhile, one of the other favourites, Áron Katona (HU/HTS KTM), had to fight back after an early crash. Travis Leok (EST/MX-HANDEL Racing) overtook Michal Psiuk (PL/Mefo Sport Racing Team) to take third place early on in the race, but a crash then saw him drop back behind both the Pole and Finn Lange (D/KTM GST Berlin/ADAC Hansa MX Junior Team). Gregoire passed Heitink and moved to the front around the halfway point of the race. One lap later, Leok and Oliver Hald (DK) overtook Lange, who dropped out of the top five. Heitink went on the attack again with the finish in sight, but Gregoire was able to hold onto the lead to take victory. They were followed home by Psiuk, Leok and Hald. Katona managed to recover to finish ninth.
“When I found myself second after the start, I tried to stay with Dani. With five minutes remaining, I knew I had to attack. Once I was in the lead, I focussed on riding my own race, but Dani closed right in on me again towards the end. I am happy to have won,” said a beaming Gregoire at the finish.
The full replay of the opening race day can be found on the ADAC Motorsport YouTube channel at youtube.com. The livestream with all of Sunday’s races begins at 10:50 at youtube.com. The digital programme, itineraries and starter lists can be downloaded at adac.de/mx-masters.
