Hockenheim: Reiterberger wins and Lukas Tulovic secures the title

Markus Reiterberger was able to storm off from pole position in his BMW, having set a new record. However, after the start, it was Marcel Schrötter who got off to the fastest start on race day and was first into the first corner. Lukas Tulovic was under noticeable pressure after having to start from ninth place following a grid penalty for exceeding the maximum permitted revs. For Reiterberger’s team-mate, it was all over after just a few metres. Milan Merckelbagh ended his race in the pits shortly after the start. The next rider to be flagged down by the marshals was guest rider Bálint Kovács. Things were just as turbulent in the first corner for Hannes Soomer and Kevin Orgis. Both had crashed, and race control reviewed the footage of the incident afterwards.

The top two positions remained firmly in the hands of the BMW duo Schrötter and Reiterberger, but the chasing pack, led by Florian Alt, were hot on their heels. Alt set the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:24.726. Also in the mix were Toni Finsterbusch, Jan-Ole Jähnig and Leon Orgis. Tulovic took a measured approach, cruising one second behind Jähnig and three seconds behind the leader, Schrötter. Behind the Ducati rider, BMW guest rider Martin Vugrinec was making his move. Jan Mohr and Lorenzo Zanetti were locked in a battle for ninth place. With Marco Fetz in 11th place, the depleted field was already complete.

A series of crashes

After nine of 18 laps, Vugrinec ended up in the air fences and trudged away in disappointment. The next rider to end up at the side of the track was Kevin Orgis in the Querspange section. Yet the BMW rider was still chasing the field. At least tenth place was still up for grabs. Schrötter was peacefully completing his laps until the 12th lap. That’s when Reiterberger launched his attack in the Querspange. Schrötter tried to counter, but Reiterberger stayed ahead and was five tenths faster than Schrötter. Alt had lost contact with the leading duo and was already two seconds off the pace. Finsterbusch got tangled up in a battle with Alt, but was able to carry on.

Tulovic took no risks. He was three seconds off the lead and had a four-second cushion behind him. In doing so, Finsterbusch had, rather unwittingly, crowned Tulovic champion. For with Schrötter in second and Tulovic in fifth, the Ducati rider would be one point clear at the top, with the lead now unassailable. Schrötter was still close behind, but there were two laps left to turn the tide. Without a win, the title would be out of Schrötter’s reach. Reitberger began the final lap with a 0.7-second lead, with Schrötter just behind him. But nothing changed. Reiterberger took the win, with Marcel Schrötter crossing the line 0.2 seconds behind his Bavarian compatriot. Florian Alt finished third, 4.8 seconds further back.