Deniz Öncü uncatchable in stunning Race 1 for the Rookies

The young Turk was free and clear at the front for an impressive win in Germany

Deniz Öncü took his second successive Sachsenring win in Race 1 alongside the German GP, able to take off in the lead and bring it home over four seconds clear of twin brother, points leader and polesitter Can Öncü, who took second in a group fight for the podium. The rostrum was completed by Ryusei Yamanaka from P7 on the grid.

Can Öncü got the holeshot from pole as Deniz was shuffled down a couple of positions, but the bigger headline into Turn 1 was a mid-pack multi-rider pile up, riders all ok. The leaders clear of that, the fight for the front began – with Deniz Öncü fighting back through from fifth and Yamanaka getting a bit wide onto the grass to make his task a bigger one. Deniz Öncü then made his move for third, chasing down his brother and Adrian Carrasco, who took the lead at the end of Lap 1.

Next time around, Deniz Öncü struck at the penultimate corner and made a stunning move around the outside to take over – then able to pull away and take an incredible first win of the season.

The five-rider fight for the podium between Can Öncü, Yamanaka, Carrasco, Filip Salac and Steward Garcia, meanwhile, went right down to the wire as the Turk took it and Yamanaka edged Salac at the line. Carrasco just completed the top five, ahead of a sixth for Garcia.

Xavier Artigas took seventh just ahead of Max Cook at the flag, with late heartbreak for Sean Kelly as the American slid out so close to the finish line. Carlos Tatay and Adrian Huertas completed the top ten, less than half a tenth apart and with Barry Baltus for equally close company.

That’s it for a stunning Race 1, come back for more on Sunday for Race 2 from 15:30!