CEDRIC GROBBEN CLINCHES 2025 EMX OPEN EUROPEAN CROWN ON HOME SAND IN LOMMEL.
The one and only round of the European Championship EMX Open took place during the MXGP of Flanders at the legendary Lommel circuit, known worldwide as one of the most challenging sand tracks in motocross. The weekend brought intense racing as riders pushed to their limits on the demanding Belgian sand, where mistakes could prove costly.
With sunshine brightening up Sunday’s program after rainy Saturday conditions were perfect for an exciting finale that would decide the new EMX Open European Champion. It was the home rider Cedric Grobben delivered strong consistent performances across both races to secure the gold plate, showing composure and speed to clinch the title after an action-filled weekend of racing. Grobben also offered the Belgian Anthem to thousands of fans cheering him up the whole way through.
Matteo Miot’s race started in disaster, going down in the very first corner while Tom Guyon from Tech 32 capitalised to take the holeshot ahead of Brent Aerden and Cedric Grobben. Dave Kooiker and Peter Koenig from KTM Sarholz Racing Team were also in the mix early, with Koenig slotting into the top five. By the end of the opening lap, Grobben had already moved past Aerden and quickly set his sights on Guyon for the lead.
Just three laps in, Grobben made his move on Guyon, taking control at the front. Guyon’s race then took a hit when he lost the front and dropped from second to ninth, leaving Koenig, Kooiker, and Gert Krestinov to fight over podium positions. Koenig emerged from that battle in second, while Krestinov moved into third, setting his sights on bridging the seven-second gap to Grobben.
However, Krestinov’s charge ended abruptly when mechanical problems forced him out of the race. That promoted Koenig back into a comfortable second, while Sven van der Mierden, running fourth, also retired with two laps remaining. This reshuffle allowed Adrien Petit to climb into third, followed by Aerden and Guyon, who recovered from his early crash to round out the top five.
At the front, Grobben remained unchallenged, managing the gap and crossing the line 13.3 seconds clear of Koenig with Petit in third. Aerden and Guyon secured fourth and fifth places, respectively, as Grobben’s dominant ride gave him a clear advantage heading into the deciding second race.
The second and final EMX Open race got underway under bright skies and dramatically improved track conditions. But it was a chaotic start, as Guyon spun out in the first corner and tangled with Jakob Kjær, both dropping to the back. Out front, it was Mairis Pumpurs who, following a mitigated first race where he made some mistakes and finished 10th, that confidently and clearly claimed the holeshot and immediately establishing the control and pace of the race. On the other side, Koenig took a terrible start that greatly hampered his chance of getting on the podium after his great second place in race 1 as he finished 13th in the end, not enough for the podium.
Kooiker slotted into second, with Miot and Matteo Del Coco giving chase in third and fourth. Albin Gerhardsson who finished 7th in race 1, was also well placed early on but saw his podium hopes vanish when he crashed out of fourth on lap four, remounting in eighth.
As the race unfolded, race 1 winner Grobben r began carving through the field. After passing Robert Fobbe and then Kooiker, he moved into fourth on lap 5 of 14. Meanwhile, Krestinov was also on a mission, storming past the same group and emerging as Grobben’s main rival for the runner-up spot.
By lap eight, Grobben found his way past Miot and continued his charge. He eventually passed Kooiker and then moved up into second place behind Pumpurs, who had checked out at the front with a consistent pace. But the story wasn’t over yet, Krestinov pushed even harder in the second half, reeling in Grobben and passing him with three laps to go to secure second, while Grobben settled into third to preserve his overall points lead.
Further back, van der Mierden and Gerhardsson each got the better of Kooiker in the closing laps, while Petit made up ground to finish eighth, just enough for third overall with a 3-8 score.
At the flag, Pumpurs celebrated his first EMX Open race win, 22.9 seconds ahead of Krestinov, with Grobben crossing the line in third. Miot and Gerhardsson completed the top five, while an impressive Del Coco took sixth.
With a 1–3 result, Cedric Grobben was crowned 2025 EMX Open European Champion, edging out Pumpurs (10–1) and Petit (3–8) in the overall classification
Cedric Grobben: “ Unbelievable. I couldn’t even dream about this. The second race was a little bit harder, I didn’t get a good start and on the first lap I was a bit nervous because of the golden plate. After a few laps I found my flow and got back to second, but the first guy was gone and then Krestinov passed me. He was just a little bit too fast and, at the end, I was dead, physically done. It’s just unbelievable that I won the championship; it’s really a dream come true!“
EMXOpen – Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Cedric Grobben (BEL, GASGAS), 29:42.768; 2. Peter Koenig (GER, KTM), +0:13.357; 3. Adrien Petit (FRA, Yamaha), +0:15.658; 4. Brent Aerden (BEL, KTM), +0:29.804; 5. Tom Guyon (FRA, Triumph), +0:30.243; 6. Dave Kooiker (NED, KTM), +0:32.230; 7. Albin Gerhardsson (SWE, Husqvarna), +0:32.755; 8. Jakob Kjær (DEN, KTM), +0:39.111; 9. Joel Van Mechelen (NED, KTM), +1:03.127; 10. Mairis Pumpurs (LAT, Husqvarna), +1:05.880
EMXOpen – Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Mairis Pumpurs (LAT, Husqvarna), 30:51.785; 2. Gert Krestinov (EST, Honda), +0:22.961; 3. Cedric Grobben (BEL, GASGAS), +0:35.878; 4. Matheo Miot (FRA, KTM), +0:39.626; 5. Albin Gerhardsson (SWE, Husqvarna), +0:40.644; 6. Matteo del Coco (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:42.605; 7. Sven Van der Mierden (NED, Kawasaki), +0:44.029; 8. Adrien Petit (FRA, Yamaha), +0:45.288; 9. Robert Fobbe (NED, Kawasaki), +0:54.926; 10. Dave Kooiker (NED, KTM), +1:10.790
EMXOpen Overall – Top 10 Classification: . 1. Cedric Grobben (BEL, GAS), 45 points; 2. Mairis Pumpurs (LAT, HUS), 36 p.; 3. Adrien Petit (FRA, YAM), 33 p.; 4. Albin Gerhardsson (SWE, HUS), 30 p.; 5. Peter Koenig (GER, KTM), 30 p.; 6. Brent Aerden (BEL, KTM), 27 p.; 7. Matheo Miot (FRA, KTM), 26 p.; 8. Dave Kooiker (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Matteo del Coco (ITA, HUS), 25 p.; 10. Gert Krestinov (EST, HON), 22 p.
EMXOpen Championship – Top 10 Classification: 1. Cedric Grobben (BEL, GAS), 45 points; 2. Mairis Pumpurs (LAT, HUS), 36 p.; 3. Adrien Petit (FRA, YAM), 33 p.; 4. Albin Gerhardsson (SWE, HUS), 30 p.; 5. Peter Koenig (GER, KTM), 30 p.; 6. Brent Aerden (BEL, KTM), 27 p.; 7. Matheo Miot (FRA, KTM), 26 p.; 8. Dave Kooiker (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Matteo del Coco (ITA, HUS), 25 p.; 10. Gert Krestinov (EST, HON), 22 p.;
EMXOpen Manufacturers – Top 10 Classification: 1. GASGAS, 45 points; 2. KTM, 40 p.; 3. Husqvarna, 39 p.; 4. Yamaha, 33 p.; 5. Honda, 25 p.; 6. Kawasaki, 23 p.; 7. Triumph, 22 p.;
Bild/Text: Infront