Nico Greutmann extends his lead in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup with a hat-trick of wins. Gyan Doensen shines with two victories on his guest start in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125. Ryan Oppliger dominates with two wins in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85.
The junior classes in the ADAC MX Masters also served up a feast of exciting racing in Gaildorf at the weekend. Nico Greutmann (CH/Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna) significantly extended his lead at the top of the table with three race wins in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. In the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125, guest starter Gyan Doensen (Racestore KTM Factory Junior Team) bagged a brace of victories. Maximilian Ernecker (A/F4E Gasgas Junior Racing) remains the championship leader, despite twice failing to finish. Ryan Oppliger (CH/Oppliger Racing Sàrl) pulled further clear of the chasing pack with two race wins in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85. The Team competition was won by the Kosak Racing Team in Gaildorf.
ADAC MX Youngster Cup: Hat-trick for Nico Greutmann
The weekend in Gaildorf could hardly have gone better for Nico Greutmann: the Swiss rider was victorious in all three races. On Saturday, he won the Red Bull Holeshot before going on to take the chequered flag ahead of Valentin Kees (D/Kosak Racing Team) and Leon Rudolph (D/Enduro Koch Racing). Greutmann again led from start to finish to take victory in race two, crossing the line ahead of Jan Krug (D/Sixty Seven Racing Husqvarna) and Bradley Mesters (NL/Kosak Racing Team). Race three initially saw Rudolph take the lead, before Mesters took over at the front of the field after the first third of the race. Greutmann made his move with five laps remaining and claimed win number three ahead of Mesters and Rudolph. At the end of the race weekend, the same three riders took their place on the event podium, Rudolph for the first time in this class. With Dave Kooiker (NL/Schmicker Racing) recording two DNFs and Maxime Grau (F/WZ-Racing KTM) missing through injury, Greutmann saw his lead stretch out to 60 points. Mesters climbed to second place in the table, followed by Kooiker, Bence Pergel (HU/HTS KTM) and Rasmus Pedersen (S/Rhino Racing Team).
“I am very happy. I used the same strategy in all three races, and it really worked out for me. Although I now have a healthy lead at the top of the table, you saw just how quickly you can have an issue or crash, so I definitely won’t be lulled into a false sense of security. I am just focussing on continuing to train as I have been doing and am looking ahead,” said a happy Greutmann.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 125: Two wins for Doensen, two DNFs for Ernecker
2022 ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 champion, Gyan Doensen, was the strongest rider in the class in Gaildorf. As the LS2 Best Qualifier, he started the two race from pole position and went on to take victory in both. Doensen led the opening race from start to finish and crossed the finish line with a comfortable lead ahead of Aron Katona (HU/HTS KTM) and Mick Kennedy (NL/GripMesser Racing Team), who were second and third after the start.
In race two, Arona Katona took the lead after Brando Rispoli (I/TM) had won the Red Bull Holeshot. Doensen repeatedly attacked Katona in the second half of the race and briefly took the lead, before immediately losing it again. Four laps from the finish, Katona crashed through nobody’s fault but his own, leaving the way clear for Doensen to take win number two. After the race, Katona was handed a time penalty for a breach of the rules, which saw Markuss Ozolins (LVA/Gasgas) promoted to second place ahead of Vaclav Janout (CZ/KTM). In the event standings, Doensen triumphed ahead of Ozolins and Katona. Maximilian Ernecker struggled with technical issues with his bike in Gaildorf and failed to finish both races. Despite this, he still leads the championship, followed by Katona, Raivo Laicans (LVA/Sturm STC Racing), Kennedy and Tomass Saicans (LVA/MX Magnum).
“I am pleased to have made such a successful return to the ADAC. The battle in race two was a lot of fun, Aron really rode very well. I am very happy with the two wins,” said a beaming Doensen.
“That was a bad weekend with two zero points for me. However, I am pleased to still be in possession of the Red Plate. I am looking ahead and will continue to work hard,” said a visibly disappointed Maximilian Ernecker.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 85: Ryan Oppliger wins in style
Championship leader Ryan Oppliger soon wrested the lead from double Red Bull Holeshot winner Moritz Ernecker (A/HSV Ried Racing Team) in both races, and then controlled proceedings through to the finish. In Saturday’s opening race, Ernecker crashed on lap one and eventually had to settle for fourth place behind Leo Diss-Fenard (F/KTM) and Lucas Leok (EST/Team #111). Ernecker held it together in race two on Sunday, finishing runner-up ahead of Leok and Diss-Fenard. Ernecker, Leok and Diss-Fenard all scored the same number of points over the course of the weekend. A better result in race two saw Ernecker awarded second place behind event winner Oppliger, with Leok third. Oppliger extended his lead over Leok at the top of the table. Ricardo Bauer (MSV Imbach Racing Team) remains third in the championship, but was racing in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125 in Gaildorf. Ernecker and Matyas Vyleta (CZ/KRTZ Motorsport s.r.o.) complete the top five.
“I really liked the track and picking up maximum points is good for the championship. I will continue to concentrate on scoring as many points as possible in every race, and will not give too much thought to my chances in the title race,” said Oppliger.
Team competition: Kosak Racing Team comes out on top again in Gaildorf
The Team competition takes into account a team’s best result in each class, with the result of the ADAC MX Masters class counting double. In Gaildorf, the Kosak Racing Team was the top outfit for the second time in a row, followed by KMP-Honda-Racing Team powered by Krettek and the KTM Sarholz Racing Team. KMP-Honda-Racing Team powered by Krettek continues to lead the Team competition. The Kosak Racing Team has climbed into second place, ahead of Schmicker Racing, the KTM Sarholz Racing Team and WZ-Racing KTM.
All the races from both days of the event can be seen as full replays of Saturday and Sunday or as individual races via the ADAC MX Masters playlist on the ADAC Motorsport YouTube channel.
