MON MX2 Youth: Liam Peeters for Belgian trio

ALast Saturday, the MX2 youth lined up at the start for the eighth race in Berghem, Brabant. At Motorsportpark Nieuw Zevenbergen, Liam Peeters was once again untouchable by the competition and took the day's victory with a perfect score of 120 points.

Second place went to the Belgian Xander Vanschooren with a third and a second place in the heats. Based on the second heat, he kept compatriot Joshua Steensels behind him. The top five was completed by the Belgian Matiss Rottier and guest rider Tren van den Eijnden.

First heat

Steensels takes the holeshot, ahead of Jan Kunz, Rottier, Marselina Mertens, and Peeters. By the first lap, Peeters has already moved up to second place and Mertens has overtaken Rottier. Steensels also quickly faces Peeters and has to relinquish the lead. Mertens crashes, and Rottier also runs into trouble. Vanschooren now moves into third place, ahead of Jan Kunz and Mike De Wilde. Jan Kunz slowly but surely falls back, and halfway through the race, guest rider Nils Michielsen moves into fifth place. Michielsen then quickly runs into trouble, and it is Rottier who fights his way back to fifth. At the front, the gaps are established: Peeters wins the race ahead of Steensels and Vanschooren. Rottier closes an eleven-second gap with De Wilde and passes him on the final lap to finish fourth. De Wilde follows in fifth place.

Second heat

Vanschooren takes the holeshot, ahead of Muus, Steensels, Mertens, and Van den Eijnden. Peeters has a dramatic start but manages to ride back to eighth place in the first lap. He continues his charge and even passes in third place on the second lap. Muus has meanwhile dropped back to eleventh place. Peeters also quickly overtakes Steensels and manages to pass Vanschooren two laps later. Halfway through the heat, Mertens has to slow down. Van den Eijnden takes advantage but is in turn overtaken by Rottier. With this, the positions for the heat are set. Peeters wins ahead of Vanschooren and Steensels. Rottier finishes four seconds behind, and Van den Eijnden follows well behind.

The next race for this class is on June 6 in Emmen.

First MX2 Youth Race Berghem: 1. Peeters 20:30.979, 2. Steensels (BEL) +9.814, 3. Vanschooren (BEL) +17.360, 4. Rottier (BEL) +37.823, 5. De Wilde +41.728, 6. Van den Eijnden +50.976, 7. Jan Kunz +1:08.928, 8. Gerrits +1:14.488, 9. Woudstra +1:16.072, 10. Ivan Kunz +1:18.222.

Second MX2 Youth Race Berghem: 1. Peeters 20:29.613, 2. Vanschooren (BEL) +23.841, 3. Steensels (BEL) +32.064, 4. Rottier (BEL) +36.216, 5. Van den Eijnden +56.017, 6. Woudstra +1:10.190, 7. Jan Kunz +1:19.644, 8. Mertens +1:34.509, 9. De Wilde +1:34.881, 10. Ivan Kunz +1:39.246.

MX2 Youth Berghem Day Classification: 1. Peeters 120, 2. Vanschooren (BEL) 104, 3. Steensels (BEL) 104, 4. Rottier (BEL) 94, 5. Van den Eijnden 88, 6. Jan Kunz 82, 7. De Wilde 82, 8. Woudstra 80, 9. Gerrits 72, 10. Ivan Kunz 70.

Gross standings MX2 youth: 1. Peeters 863, 2. Steensels (BEL) 766, 3. Vanschooren (BEL) 763, 4. Ivan Kunz 726, 5. Jan Kunz 715, 6. De Wilde 654, 7. Muus 555, 8. Rottier (BEL) 478, 9. Messing 436, 10. Van Tetering 413.

Tekst: Maycel de Bruijn
Photos: mdbmxpics