ADAC Supercross Cup: Maxime Desprey (Yamaha) is the ‘King of Germany’

Following the withdrawal of French riders Gregory Aranda and Cedric Soubeyras, as well as Jordi Tixier’s early exit due to injury after a crash in the first Friday practice session of the top-class SX1, their compatriot Maxime Desprey was considered the hot favourite for the 42nd ADAC Supercross Stuttgart. The 33-year-old from the Sturm Racing Team added further credence to this now less far-fetched theory on the first evening of the new German SX winter season with a clear victory in the final.

Just as on the previous evening, he was the clear fastest in practice and once again the commanding winner of his semi-final qualifying race. Having immediately taken the lead in the final over 18 long laps, it was highly likely that he would win this race too. As the prestigious Supercross in Paris is on the programme next weekend – and this is pretty much the most important event of the year for French Supercross riders – it was hardly to be expected that he would make any silly mistakes. In any case, with a clear track ahead of him once again, he had the speed to hold onto the lead.

Whilst on Friday evening he had opened up a 14-second lead over the runner-up, Ryan Breece from the USA, this time he had to settle for a ten-second lead over his fellow countryman Brice Maylin. Third place in the final went to another Frenchman, Adrian Escoffier, ahead of Breece.

Having won the SX2 class in both the ‘Ländle’ and Germany’s premier SX venue, the Westfalenhalle, and was crowned ‘Prince of Stuttgart’ and ‘Prince of Dortmund’, he has now celebrated his first supercross title in Germany at the venerable Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle. Naturally, he was delighted, but he also admitted candidly to SPEEDWEEK.com that he would have preferred to have clinched it against the full field of competitors.

“It’s great to have won the 450 class overall for the first time and to be King of Stuttgart. I felt good all weekend. The most important thing was not to make any mistakes. Even though Aranda wasn’t here, I can’t say it was any easier to win, because there were plenty of fast riders there even without him. I always try to improve. And yes, it went well.”

With regard to the Supercross in Paris, it was also important to get through the Stuttgart weekend unscathed. On that, he said: “When I’m on the bike, I naturally give it my all. But I had everything under control. I think I was very fast, but not pushing beyond my limits. That’s my riding style, and I stuck to it once again.”

He also took this opportunity to announce that Paris would be his final race on a Yamaha. “Next year, and therefore in Dortmund too, I’ll be riding a Triumph.”

As well as Maxime Desprey’s two wins on the day, there was a repeat of events for Nico Koch – albeit in a negative sense. Once again, he set the fastest time in his Training Group B and, finishing second in his qualifying race this time, comfortably progressed to the final. Just as on the previous day, he ruined his race right at the start of the main event with a small but costly mistake. Once again, he found himself chasing the field and, alongside a spirited performance, showed impressive pace. Proof of this was that Desprey struggled to catch up with the rider from Braunschweig, who was about to be lapped. This time, he finished his comeback in a consolation seventh place.

In the SX2 on Saturday, the American Jesson Turner won the final ahead of the previous day’s winner, Jules Pietre. This meant that the young Frenchman had secured the Stuttgart Prince title, just as he had a year ago.

Noah Ludwig also struggled right from the start in the SX2 final, specifically at the ‘Sarholz-KTM bend’, which proved to be the undoing of Nico Koch and other riders from the Westerwald racing team this weekend.

SX1 Stuttgart, Saturday’s results:

1. Maxime Desprey (F), Yamaha

2. Brice Maylin (F), Yamaha

3. Adrien Escoffier (F), Yamaha

4. Ryan Breece (USA), Honda

5. Henry Miller (USA), Honda

6. Calvin Fonvieille (F), KTM

7. Nico Koch (Germany), KTM

8. Lucas Imbert (F), Honda

9. Tom Guyon (France), Triumph

10. Kyle Chisholm (USA), Kawasaki

11. Jeremy Hand (USA), KTM

12. DNS: Charles Lefrancois (F), Suzuki

Overall standings for the ‘King of Stuttgart’

1. Maxime Desprey (F), Yamaha, 1-1

2. Ryan Breece (USA), Honda, 2-4

3. Adrien Escoffier (F), Yamaha, 5-3

4. Calvin Fonvieille (F), KTM, 4-6

5. Brice Maylin (F), Yamaha, 11-2

6. Henry Miller (USA), Honda, 7-5

7. Lucas Imbert (F), Honda, 6-8

8. Nico Koch (Germany), KTM, 10-7

9. Jeremy Hand (USA), KTM, 9–11

10. Mitchell Harrison (USA), Kawasaki, 3-0

11. Marshal Weltin (USA), Kawasaki, 8-0

12. Tom Guyon (F), Triumph, 0–9

13. Kyle Chisholm (USA), Kawasaki, 0-10

14. Ludovic Macler (France), Honda, 12-0

15. Charles Lefrancois (F), Suzuki, 0-0