Action-packed weekend for the EMX65 / EMX85 and EMX Women’s European Championships, featuring the third round of the EMX65 / EMX85 European Championship Central Europe zone, the EMX65 / EMX85 European Championship South West zone and the fourth round of the EMX Women’s European Championship.
Words and Images by FIM Europe
Following exciting rounds in the Netherlands and Denmark, the EMX65 / EMX85 European Championship Central Europe zone made its third and final stop in the picturesque town of Westerhausen, Germany. Nestled in the heart of Saxony-Anhalt near the scenic Harz Mountains, Westerhausen offered a stunning natural backdrop for a decisive and action-packed weekend of racing. Adding to the excitement, the event also hosted the fourth round of the EMX Women’s European Championship, bringing together top female talent alongside the rising stars of the EMX65 and EMX85 classes.
This final round marked a high-stakes culmination of the zone series, as top riders battled not only for victory but also for coveted spots in the upcoming Semi-Finals between the Central and North Europe zones.
What unfolded was an electrifying showcase of endurance, skill, and adaptability across two dramatically different days. Day 1 delivered perfect racing conditions, with dry terrain and sunshine setting the stage for high-speed duels, technical precision, and crowd-pleasing performances. In stark contrast, Day 2 brought torrential overnight rain that turned the circuit into a muddy gauntlet. Riders faced treacherous ruts, reduced visibility, and relentless challenges, pushing their limits in a true test of motocross grit.
This unforgettable round in Westerhausen will be remembered as one of the most demanding and thrilling events in recent Central Europe zone history, an inspiring testament to the resilience and passion of the motocross community.
EMX85
Once again, the EMX85 class delivered spectacular racing, driven by the fierce battle between Harry Dale (KTM) and Maxim Zimmerman (Husqvarna). The British rider dominated Race 1, but a fourth-place finish in Race 2 cost him the overall win. Taking full advantage was Slovakia’s Zimmerman, who claimed a brilliant victory in the second moto to secure the overall win for the round. Simon Hahn (KTM) completed the podium with a strong and consistent performance, finishing fourth and third in the two motos.
British riders filled the slots from 8th to 12th with Arthur Moore in 8th followed by Joel Winstanley-Dawson, Olly Waters, Harley Marczak and Archie Stapeley. Casey Lister and Archie Butterfield also got into the points in 19th and 21st. Brian Gyles also raced.
EMX65
The EMX65 class was packed with drama and standout performances from rising stars. Jett Gardiner (KTM) took the win in Race 1, ahead of Haakon Rønning (KTM) and Matej Masár (KTM). It was the Slovakian Masár, however, who claimed the overall victory, thanks to an excellent second-place finish in Race 2.
Haakon Rønning secured second overall with a solid fourth in the second moto, maintaining consistent form across the day. The big surprise came from Jesko Loberenz (Husqvarna), who stormed back from a 12th place in Race 1 to take an incredible win in Race 2, earning him a well-deserved spot on the overall podium. Gardiner, despite collecting just one point in Race 2, still managed to close the day inside the top five.
Also notching up a top ten finish for the Brits were Alfie Cotter in 6th, Jack Clark in 7th and Tommy Wood in 8th. Cameron Berry and Austin Edwards also racked up some points with 18th & 23rd.
EMX Women’s
In the Women’s category, Larissa Papenmeier (Honda) was in a league of her own, controlling both races from start to finish for a commanding double victory and confirming her exceptional form. In Race 1, she outpaced fellow German Tanja Schlosser (Triumph), while in Race 2, she held off championship leader Lucy Barker (KTM), who had to settle for second place.
Third place was contested between Elena Kapsamer (GasGas) and Danee Gelissen (Yamaha), who each delivered strong, competitive performances and showcased impressive determination throughout the weekend.
Results
EMX85
| Pos | Competitor | Total | ||
| 1 | Maxim ZIMMERMAN | 47 | 22 | 25 |
| 2 | Harry DALE | 41 | 25 | 16 |
| 3 | Simon HAHN | 36 | 16 | 20 |
| 4 | Torre VAN MECHGELEN | 34 | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Kenzo JASPERS | 33 | 15 | 18 |
| 6 | Jaggar TOWNLEY | 31 | 18 | 13 |
| 7 | John KRANHOLD | 26 | 20 | 6 |
| 8 | Arthur MOORE | 25 | 14 | 11 |
| 9 | Joel WINSTANLEY-DAWSON | 24 | 9 | 15 |
| 10 | Olly WATERS | 23 | 13 | 10 |
| 11 | Harley MARCZAK | 22 | 10 | 12 |
| 12 | Archie STAPLEY | 19 | 11 | 8 |
| 13 | Hugo BRANT | 17 | 8 | 9 |
| 14 | Neo NINDELT | 16 | 2 | 14 |
| 15 | Timeo MOHRING | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| 16 | Samuel ROLIGHED | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 17 | Kash VAN HAMOND | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 18 | Mads DISSING | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 19 | Casey LISTER | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 20 | Jamiro PETERS | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 21 | Archie BUTTERFIELD | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 22 | Matto VERTONGEN | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 23 | Bela ULRICH | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | Liam GAASBEEK | 1 | 0 | 1 |
EMX65
| Pos | Competitor | Total | Westerhausen | |
| 1 | Matej MASÁR | 42 | 20 | 22 |
| 2 | Haakon RØNNING | 38 | 22 | 16 |
| 3 | Jesko LOBERENZ | 34 | 9 | 25 |
| 4 | Tobe VANDENEYNDE | 31 | 11 | 20 |
| 5 | Jett GARDINER | 26 | 25 | 1 |
| 6 | Alfie COTTER | 25 | 12 | 13 |
| 7 | Jack CLARK | 24 | 15 | 9 |
| 8 | Tommy WOOD | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| 9 | Milan RUBES | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| 10 | Vojtech ZENDULKA | 19 | 7 | 12 |
| 11 | Bas VERSPAANDONK | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Cedric FLEERACKERS | 18 | 4 | 14 |
| 13 | Marlo RACH | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 14 | Oskar WALTER | 16 | 14 | 2 |
| 15 | Max JONES | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 16 | Jann HUISMAN | 15 | 15 | |
| 17 | Oscar GOBLET | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| 18 | Cameron BERRY | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 19 | Timothy VAN KILSDONK JR | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 20 | Luca VLASSAK | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 21 | Cas KLEIN KROMHOF | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| 22 | Viggo ALHEDE | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 23 | Austin EDWARDS | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 24 | Joshua GOBLET | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 25 | Demy HERMES | 2 | 2 | 0 |
EMX Womens
| Pos | Competitor | Total | ||
| 1 | Larissa PAPENMEIER | 50 | 25 | 25 |
| 2 | Lucy BARKER | 40 | 18 | 22 |
| 3 | Elena KAPSAMER | 38 | 20 | 18 |
| 4 | Danee GELISSEN | 36 | 16 | 20 |
| 5 | Demi VERPLOEGH | 23 | 14 | 9 |
| 6 | Jenny ENGELAND | 22 | 9 | 13 |
| 7 | Tanja SCHLOSSER | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 8 | Jana BOHLE | 21 | 7 | 14 |
| 9 | Laura RAUNKJÆR | 21 | 11 | 10 |
| 10 | Katharina SCHULTZ | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| 11 | Kim IRMGARTZ | 18 | 10 | 8 |
| 12 | Anna LEGAARD | 18 | 13 | 5 |
| 13 | Adrija SKUDUTYTE | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 14 | Aneta ČEPELAKOVA | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 15 | Hilda SJÖBERG | 15 | 15 | |
| 16 | Elsa ANDERSSON LÖF | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 17 | Kyshara DAS | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| 18 | Theodora Ioana GUMENIUC | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 19 | Patricija BERZINA | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| 20 | Wiktoria KUPCZYK | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 21 | Vanessa ZIMMERMANOVÁ | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 22 | Joela FREUDENTHALER | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 23 | Bibi Finnja BESTMANN | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | Wilma HANSSON | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 25 | Lexi PACHMANN | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | Daniella SCHJØNNING-LARSEN | 1 | 1 |
