The KTM Factory Rookies experienced a weekend of mixed fortunes during the EMX125 round in Águeda, Portugal. Ricardo Bauer secured an impressive overall victory, while championship leader Moritz Ernecker lost valuable points after a weekend plagued by bad luck.
Bauer began the weekend by qualifying eighth fastest but demonstrated his true pace once the racing got underway. The Austrian delivered a strong ride in the opening moto to finish second before completing the job on Sunday with a commanding victory in Race 2. His 2-1 scorecard earned him the overall win in Águeda.
For teammate Ernecker, the weekend proved far more challenging. The Austrian topped the qualifying session, once again underlining his speed, and spent much of the opening moto battling inside the leading group. However, a crash dropped him back to eighth place at the finish.
Race 2 brought even more misfortune. Ernecker crashed on the opening lap and was forced to restart from the back of the field. Despite an impressive charge through the pack, he could recover no higher than 16th position. Those results placed him 14th overall for the weekend.
Despite the setback, Ernecker retains the lead in the EMX125 Championship standings, holding a 19-point advantage over Bauer. The team will be back in action next weekend when the FIM 125cc Motocross World Championship heads to Jinín, Czech Republic.
Photocredits – Juan Pablo Acevedo
