Maxime Grau scores maximum points in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup in Bielstein. Ryan Oppliger takes the lead in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 with victory at the Waldkurs. KTM Sarholz Racing Team wins the team competition in Bielstein.
The two junior classes in the ADAC MX Masters also produced some thrilling racing at the iconic “Waldkurs” track in Bielstein. Maxime Grau (F/WZ-Racing KTM) dominated proceedings in ADAC MX Youngster Cup with three race wins. Dave Kooiker (NL/Schmicker Racing) continues to lead the championship. In the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85, three races were held for the first time this season. After some exciting battles, it was Ryan Oppliger (CH/Oppliger Racing Sàrl) who emerged as the overall winner and moved to the top of the table. In the team competition, the KTM Sarholz Racing Team took victory after a correction to the results.
ADAC MX Youngster Cup: Maxime Grau is unstoppable
Maxime Grau made his mark on the ADAC MX Youngster Cup in Bielstein. Of his three race wins, the opening race on Saturday proved to be the most exciting for the Frenchman. Grau soon passed Red Bull Holeshot winner Bence Pergel (HU/HTS KTM) to take the lead, but then crashed through nobody’s fault but his own. However, he was back at the head of the field just a few laps later and went on to take victory ahead of Pergel and the LS2 Best Qualifier Tom Schröder (D/Team #254). Sunday’s two races then saw Grau flex his muscles with two lights-to-flag victories on the technically demanding track, although he had to fend off the attentions of the runner-up right down to the finish in both races. Nico Greutmann (CH/Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna) finished second in race two, having come home fifth in race one. He started back in the pack in the final race, and eventually had to settle for eighth place. However, those results were enough for him to take second place in Bielstein, ahead of Dave Kooiker, who improved as the weekend progressed. Having finished eleventh on Saturday, he upped his game on Sunday to take fifth place in race two and third in the final race. That was sufficient for Kooiker to defend his championship lead ahead of Greutmann and Grau, who climbed three places in the table. Jan Krug (D/Sixty Seven Husqvarna Racing) narrowly missed out on the podium by one point, after finishing an excellent third in race two.
“I knew before the event that I was good on hard ground. As such, I focussed on getting off to a good start and then tried to find my rhythm. I made life difficult for myself with the crash on Saturday, but controlled the races from the front on Sunday. The battles with Nico and Dave were very enjoyable,” said Grau after his triumph.
“To be honest, I am surprised to make it onto the podium after a weekend like that. The track was difficult and my starts were not so good. Only in race three did things come together. However, I am still happy with the Red Plate and the podium here in Bielstein,” said Kooiker.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 85: Ryan Oppliger is the new championship leader
The third event of the season for the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 featured three races for the first time this year. Ryan Oppliger was the most consistent performer, taking two race wins and a second place in race two on his way to overall victory in Bielstein, ahead of Lucas Leok (EST/Team #111) and Ricardo Bauer (A/MSC Imbach Racing Team). That saw him replace Leok at the top of the table. Leok finished third in Saturday’s opening race, before leading from start to finish to win race two. He then came home fourth in the third and final race. Bauer endured a tricky start to the season, finishing eighth in the opening race. However, he then improved with third and second place. Moritz Ernecker (A/HSV Ried Racing Team) failed to finish race two, but was runner-up in the other two races. Raphael Hellmuth (D/ADAC Hessen-Thüringen MX Rookie Team/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) impressed with third place in race three, which put him fifth overall in Bielstein behind Matyas Vyleta (CZ/KRTZ Motorsport s.r.o.). In the championship, Leok, Bauer, Vyleta and Ernecker complete the top five behind Oppliger.
“The track is not easy, but I love hard ground. On Saturday, I worked my way into the leading group after a disappointing start, and then took the lead with three laps remaining. Overall victory, the Red Plate, good races: I am very happy with this weekend,” said a smiling Oppliger, summing up his event.
Team competition: KTM Sarholz Racing Team produces best team performance in Bielstein
A team’s best result in each class counts towards the team competition, with the result from the ADAC MX Masters class counting double. In Bielstein, KTM Sarholz Racing Team was the top outfit for the first time this season, followed by Schmicker Racing and the KMP-Honda-Racing Team powered by Krettek. The result announced in Bielstein, which named Schmicker Racing as the winner, had to be corrected. The KMP-Honda-Racing Team powered by Krettek continues to top the table in the team competition, ahead of Schmicker Racing, Kosak Racing Team, KTM Sarholz Racing Team and WZ-Racing KTM.
All the races from both days of the event can be watched as a full replay of Saturday and Sunday, or as individual races, free of charge on the ADAC MX Masters playlist on the ADAC Motorsport YouTube channel.
