HOFER RUNNER-UP IN GERMANY & INCREASES EMX125 CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

Courtesy of  KTM

4th Rd. EMX125 2018 - Teutschenthal (Germany)

KTM Junior Team’s Rene Hofer enlarged his margin at the top of the EMX125 European Championship today around Teutschenthal and the Grand Prix of Germany by finishing as runner-up for the event that drew the series to the halfway stage. The teenager took his KTM 125 SX to an equal points total with winner Mattia Guadagnini at round four of eight and the closest fixture to a ‘home’ round for the Austrian but had to accept the second step of the podium with a 1-2 scorecard in comparison to the Italian’s 2-1.

Hofer, who has won two rounds of the contest already in 2018 and celebrated his first trophies in the 125cc division after an effective winter of preparation and development, attacked the familiar Talkessel terrain with the type of confidence and pace that a ‘red plate’ as championship leader will bring.  The sixteen year old seized the holeshot in a warm first moto on Saturday afternoon and built a lead of almost six seconds over his rivals until settling into a comfortable rhythm. The Teutschenthal dirt had been worked-on and zealously watered for Sunday’s EMX125 moto but the narrow layout and tough bumps and ruts (typical of the circuit) were steadfast. Rene fought from a top ten getaway to eventually reach second place and sniped the rear wheel of Guadagnini in the last two laps. He missed out on a 1-1 by just 0.3 of a second at the finish line. Hofer guards a 48 point advantage, almost a moto victory, over Thibault Benistant, in what is becoming a milestone second campaign for the former 85cc FIM Junior World Champion. Hofer: “The first race was good but I messed up the second start. The conditions were really difficult and the track had been watered a lot. We fought for the win until the last corner so I’m happy with the way I rode in the end. There is still a long way to go in this championship and we’re going race-by-race and always looking to win. It was fun this weekend. We have worked hard this winter, especially in the sand and we have two sandy races left, but I am feeling comfortable with my bike so all good.” Didi Lacher, Team Manager: “Rene is now in a situation where he can win every race so why settle down to look at the championship. He is stable and safe with his riding. In Kegums he rode very tight and we had the feeling that he was thinking about the championship so we said afterwards that we don't look to that; we look to races, wins and good riding. This is one factor I really like about this boy because you tell him something once and he takes it onboard and makes it happen. He had some sketchy moments today but on the last two laps he really went for it and that's what we said in Kegums: be free to ride how you want and go for the win. In this way the championship will come. It is ‘half time’ now but we know motocross is a crazy sport and many things can happen. We are happy with his whole process and how he is getting better and better. Second place this weekend but we are happy with his riding.” The Grand Prix of France on June 10th will bring the EMX125 European Championship together again for round five and the start of the second half of the series.  Results EMX125 Teutschenthal 2018 1. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA), Husqvarna (2-1) 2. Rene Hofer (AUT), KTM (1-2)3. Melco Vettik (EST), KTM (7-3) 4. Thibault Benistant (FRA), Yamaha (4-6) 5. Tom Guyon (FRA), KTM (5-5) Standings EMX125 2018 after 4 of 8 rounds 1. Hofer, 180 points2. Benistant, 132 3. Emil Weckman, 111 4. Petr Polak, 104 5. Tom Guyon, 104

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