
The event started on Saturday with qualifying, followed by the classic two-hour enduro race on Sunday.
From the very first timed lap, it was clear that the fight at the front would be extremely close. The top four riders were separated by just over two seconds, showing how high the pace was from the beginning.
Valentino Hutter put in a strong qualifying performance and secured second place in ÖM Open, giving himself a solid starting position for Sunday’s main race.
The 5.5-kilometre course, unchanged for several years, was already deeply worn and heavily rutted by race day. Starting from second position, Vale immediately latched onto the rear wheel of the current ÖM championship leader, and in the opening laps the two riders quickly opened a gap over the rest of the field.
As the race went on, the track became even rougher, the ruts deeper, and the margin for error smaller. With the pace high and the risk increasing, Vale made the smart decision to slightly back off rather than risk a crash or injury.
After two intense hours of racing, Valentino Hutter crossed the finish line in second place in the ÖM Open class, finishing more than one minute ahead of his closest rival.
It was another solid podium finish for the X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team, and a result that confirms Hutter’s speed, maturity and consistency.
The team now turns its focus to one of the biggest races of the season: Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2026. After another strong performance at Roots of Türnitz, X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team heads toward the Iron Giant with confidence.