Overnight showers in Latvia, where the fourth and penultimate round of the 2025 European Quadcross Championship was held, would result in the Madano circuit being a difficult item to master, but Patrick Turrini had shown clear pace in the qualifying race and would look to carry forward the momentum into the Sunday races.
Harry Walker would have his work cut out in his defence of the championship lead, with local riders Reinis Bicans, Jordi Niclas Neija and Lizanders all hoping to put on a good show for the local crowd.
Race 1
Patrick Turrini stormed into the race lead from his first-gate pick, which was ideal as the track conditions after the showers on Saturday night would result in him having clear track in front. Reigning champion Harry Walker was playing chase to Bicans and Gieler and would complete the opening lap in fourth position. It transpired that a puncture in the qualifying race meant he was unable to unleash his full potential.
With Walker having to work overtime and try and find a way through on Gieler, Turrini would open his leading margin in the early stages of the race. Trying the option line on lap two would result in him losing precious seconds, and briefly falling into the clutches of Volkavicius. In the meantime, home rider Reinis Bicans would once again hound Turrini for the race lead, in a similar display to the qualifying race on Saturday, only this time Bicans would sneak through and take the lead of the race away from the title hopeful. This would be good news for Walker, as this would mean he would lose less points in the championship fight, if it was to remain this way.
Bicans, frustratingly, would lose the lead to Turrini as the race approached half-race distance, but he would not go down without a fight as he regained the lead of the race, almost locking wheels in the process – a move that Turrini is familiar with, as he almost fell victim to a similar move in Gdansk. On the same lap, Turrini would better the Latvian as he would take the advantage in the argument of the race lead, with Jordi Niclas Gieler stretching his lead over Walker for third position at this stage, with Walker, in turn, holding firm in a rapidly developing secure fourth position.
Onto the penultimate lap, and Turrini held a slim advantage, but it proved to be enough as he was unchallenged to the line to take victory, and the lead in the championship charge away from the Briton. Walker, incidentally, had lost touch with Gieler who was pushing hard to reduce the gap to Bicans for second position and looked set for fourth position when Gieler stopped on the face of a jump on the final lap! This would promote Walker into the podium positions, and those extra two points could prove vital for the championship.
Turrini would bring home 25 points from race one, with the home hero Reinis Bicans taking second position and Harry Walker claiming third position, inherited from Jordi Niclas Gieler. Gieler would not complete the final lap but would be credited with 12th position.
Race 2
With a race win in the bag already, Turrini knew that all he had to do was repeat his earlier performance. This, of course, would not go down well with Bicans and Walker, as both had great incentive to topple Turrini.
Yet another holeshot for Turrini, making it three from three over the course of the weekend, would see him lead the field but a fantastic start from Karlis Neija and Reinis Bicans would see them follow suit in third and fourth position, chasing after Gieler, would was certainly looking to make amendments after his earlier misfortune. Harry Walker did not make the best of starts and would complete the opening lap in sixth position. Karlis Lizanders would put himself inside the top-10 positions, to make it three Latvian riders inside the top-10, at their home round.
Gieler would lap quickly in his efforts of pursuing the leader of Turrini, but this could not be sustained as the gap opened with every passing lap. Neija was having a superb race holding into third position as the race approached race distance, with Bicans riding pillion, such was his proximity to his fellow countryman. Walker was only a couple of seconds behind the fighting trio, too, and if he could just find a way through then he would reduce the damage in the championship being inflicted by Turrini. A slight mistake from Bicans at half-race distance would see him drop a couple of seconds, and right into the clutches of the reigning champion.
Gieler was having a great ride once more, but yet another mechanical issue would see his Yamaha cut-out on the face of a jump and would see him lose his podium placing once more – very much a case of déjà vu. This would be a weekend to forget for Gieler, whose results do no justice to his efforts and performance. This would bump both Neija and Bicans into the podium spots, with Walker on the cusp once more.
Into the closing couple of laps, and Neija had broken the gap between himself and Bicans, who had Walker for very close company, with both riders dearly wanting to be on the podium for their own reasons – Bicans at home, and Walker for the title.
An immaculate ride from Turrini would see him go 1-1, and take the overall victory and take control of the championship. It’s one of those weekend that dreams are made of for the Italian. Karlis Neija would hold firm in second position for a 4-2 finish, with Reinis Bicans coming home with a 2-3 finish, meaning both Latvian’s would complete the overall podium, with Walker losing the red-plate, but somewhat limiting the damage with a 3-4 finish.
Words by EMX Quads – Images courtesy of Maris Stiprais