Dex Kooiker wins Dutch Masters 125 in Markelo

The De Baets AIT Racing team delivered an impressive performance at the third round of the Dutch Masters of Motocross in Markelo, with Dex Kooiker emerging as the overall winner in the 125cc category. Kooiker demonstrated strong pace throughout the day, setting the fastest lap in practice and engaging in a close battle for victory in the first moto before finishing second after a crash. He then dominated the second moto, securing the holeshot and leading from start to finish to claim the race win and the overall victory. Teammate Torre van Mechgelen also showed promise, starting the day with the fourth-fastest time in practice. He led the first moto initially and finished third despite losing the lead during the race. However, van Mechgelen’s second moto was hampered by illness, which caused him to lose several positions and finish twelfth. Despite this setback, he managed to secure a respectable sixth place overall for the event. In the 250cc class, Vencislav Toshev faced a challenging day but managed to finish within the top ten. After retiring from the first moto while running around fifteenth, Toshev recovered well in the second moto to claim a solid tenth-place finish. His resilience contributed valuable points for the team and highlighted his potential moving forward. Looking ahead, both Kooiker and van Mechgelen will compete in the upcoming EMX125 round at the MXGP of France in Lacapelle-Marival. Additionally, Lotte van Drunen is set to begin her new WMX season at the same event, signalling an exciting weekend of racing for the De Baets AIT Racing squad. The team will be keen to build on their strong performances in Markelo as the season progresses.