Marcel Conijn wins the final and the title
Marcel Conijn won the final of the KNMV Open Dutch Championship 500cc on a sunny track in Lichtenvoorde. The 23-year-old rider won the competition with a second and first place. He also secured the title! Sven van der Mierden (2-1) and Youri van 't Ende (4-3) were allowed to climb onto the podium together with the new champion.
1e some
Conijn was the fastest in training, but the sprint to the first corner was won by Youri van 't Ende. He takes the lead for Van der Mierden and he quickly manages to take over. Van 't Ende is able to hold second place for the first ten minutes, but then Conijn comes up to operating temperature. The Yamaha rider passes Leerkes for third place and not much later he also overtakes Van 't Ende. The gap to leader Van der Mierden is already nine seconds, but in the final phase the leader seems to have a problem. The pace slows down and that ensures that Conijn comes even closer. He has to because Leerkes has also passed Van 't Ende and the Husqvarna rider is putting everything on Conijn's second place. It is still exciting until the finish, but Van der Mierden wins ahead of Conijn and Leerkes, who crashes just before the finish but still finishes third. After a long absence, Van 't Ende impresses with fourth place, ahead of Joel van Mechelen, who rides a lonely race in fifth place.
2e some
Van 't Ende also takes the best start in the second round, now ahead of Van Mechelen, while Van der Mierden briefly loses balance but manages to avoid a crash. In the first lap Van Mechelen takes the lead while Conijn enters the top three. A problem in the first lap for Van der Mierden who crashes and therefore drops to ninth place. The top three then distance themselves and the pressure on the leader increases. Van Mechelen carries the pressure in the first half of the race, but then the spring breaks and he loses three places in one lap time. After all, Van der Mierden has also passed by and after he has dealt with Van 't Ende, Conijn is the next prey. However, the new champion cannot be outdone, in fact he sets faster lap times, gaining some distance from his pursuer. This is not just about winning the heat, but also about winning the day. Conijn can no longer be found out and he wins the last heat and with it the race. Van der Mierden comes second ahead of Van 't Ende and Leerkes. Van Mechelen once again completes the top five, just like during the first heat.
With only ten (10) riders in action, it is time for the winter break. A lot of work will have to be done in the coming months to upgrade the ONK. Of course, the question must also be asked whether the decline in participants is due to the competitions or the efforts of the riders.
Results KNMV Open Dutch Championship 500cc; Lichtenvoorde, NL:
1e some
1. Sven van der Mierden NL GasGas
2. Marcel Conijn NL Yamaha
3. Nick Leerkes NL Husqvarna
4. Youri van 't Ende NL KTM
5. Joel van Mechelen NL KTM
2e some
1. Marcel Conijn NL Yamaha
2. Sven van der Mierden NL GasGas
3. Youri van 't Ende NL KTM
4. Nick Leerkes NL Husqvarna
5. Joel van Mechelen NL KTM
Daily ranking:
1. Marcel Conijn NL Yamaha 2-1
2. Sven van der Mierden NL GasGas 1-2
3. Youri van 't Ende NL KTM 4-3
4. Nick Leerkes NL Husqvarna 3-4
5. Joel van Mechelen NL KTM 5-5
Standings KNMV ONK500:
1. Marcel Conijn NL Yamaha 1026
2. Joel van Mechelen NL KTM 923
3. Nick Leerkes NL Husqvarna 897
4. Rene de Jong NL GasGas 796
5. Dimitri from the Sande B Yamaha 788
All results are HERE to find.
By: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Gallery: #HenryDunnewind
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