Max Nagl wins the first race of the ADAC MX Masters in Bielstein. Maxime Grau wins the ADAC MX Youngster Cup despite a fall. Ryan Oppliger wins the opening race on the forest course in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85.

Max Nagl (D/KMP-Honda-Racing powered by Krettek) continued his winning streak on Saturday at the ADAC MX Masters in Bielstein in good but challenging racing conditions. In the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, victory in the first race went to Maxime Grau (F/WZ-Racing KTM). Ryan Oppliger (CH/Oppliger Racing Sàrl) fought his way to victory in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 after a thrilling four-way battle.

Once again, Max Nagl laid the foundation for the following race win with the Red Bull Holeshot. The championship leader said that he initially found it difficult to find the best tracks on the demanding “forest course” in Bielstein, but he steadily increased his lead over his opponents until the finish to claim his ninth of ten possible race wins this season.

Halfway through the race, Jordi Tixier (F/KMP-Honda-Racing powered by Krettek) pushed the excellently-performing Jakub Teresak (CZ/Enduro Koch Racing) out of second place, after having previously worked his way past Adam Sterry (GB/Schmicker Racing) and Petr Polak (PL/SHR Motorsports by Hartje). In the penultimate lap, Noah Ludwig (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) pushed past the Pole to round out the top five behind Nagl, Tixier, Teresak and Sterry.

“I’m in good shape at the moment and feel good. The race was still very exhausting, not so much in terms of fitness, but mentally. At first I found it difficult to find good tracks. After 20 minutes my concentration dropped and I made a few mistakes. The rain beforehand unfortunately washed away the good soil that was laid last year, but the club is doing a good job and I'm sure the conditions will be even better tomorrow," said a beaming Nagl after his victory.

Maxime Grau took the lead from Red Bull Holeshot winner Bence Pergel (HU/HTS KTM) in the third lap, but fell five laps later. Pergel inherited the lead, but just two laps later Grau took the lead again, which he did not give up until the finish. Behind Pergel, Tom Schröder (D/Team #254), who started from pole position as LS2 Best Qualifier, crossed the finish line in third place. In the last third of the race, Jan Krug (D/Sixty Seven Husqvarna Racing) took fourth place after a mistake by Collin Wohnhas (D/OneForOne Production powered by EHS), followed by Nico Greutmann (CH/Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna).

"It was a difficult race, I made life more difficult for myself by falling. But I found good lines afterwards and was able to take the lead again. I have already won here in the past, and that is also my goal for tomorrow," said Grau after crossing the finish line.

Matyas Vyleta (CZ/KRTZ Motorsport s.r.o.) started the race with the Red Bull Holeshot, but gave up the lead to Moritz Ernecker (A/HSV Ried Racing Team) in the first lap. A group of three quickly broke away at the front, consisting of Ernecker, Raphael Hellmuth (D/ADAC Hessen-Thüringen MX Rookie Team) and championship leader Lucas Leok (EST/Team #111). Ryan Oppliger followed at a distance in fourth place, having worked his way up from seventh place after the start.

Oppliger worked his way up to the leading group until the last third of the race. Three laps before the end, Hellmuth slipped during an attack and three corners later, Oppliger pushed past Leok into second place. Shortly before the end of the lap, he then passed Ernecker and secured the race win ahead of the Austrian and Leok. Vyleta crossed the finish line in fourth place ahead of Storm Maymann (DK/Maymann Motorsports).

“It was a good four-way battle in between! My start wasn't so good, but then I calmly worked my way up to the leading group and was able to take the lead three laps before the end. The track is not easy to drive, but I love hard ground and am already looking forward to tomorrow," said Oppliger happily in the winner's interview.

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