A chilly morning would soon turn into a beautiful autumn day, but the track would be a tough challenge for the competitors taking to the circuit to contest the 2025 Quadcross of Nations.
Race – Group A + B
There was a distinct buzz and energy around the 1.65km Heerde circuit, as the 30 competitors took to the gate in the opening race of the day.
A lightning start from Joel Hetrick would see him claim the holeshot ahead of Christopher Tvaraen as they raced through the Dutch countryside with Frenchman Romain Colleatte momentarily in third position before a slight mistake saw Karl Robin Rillo capitalise and claim this spot. Holding the number 1 plate this weekend is Bryce Ford, but a poor start would result in Ford dropping to 17th position at the end of the opening lap on a circuit which has been described as very difficult to overtake on – it would be a restless race for the American.
Mark Mclernon would show impressive speed in the opening couple of laps for Team Ireland, but it would prove to be to no avail as his Yamaha cried enough and he was forced to retired from the race. This opening event would be one to forget for Team Ireland, with Kyle Murphy also returning from the race on lap two.
Bryce Ford would quickly make his speed and presence felt, as he climbed up the leaderboard every lap, most notably with a stunning move around the outside of Team Belgium’s Jurgen Nouwen to put himself inside the top-five positions but, with a 34-second deficit to his fellow countryman leading the way, it would be a tall order to make further progression. Home-country hopeful, Julian Veldman, found himself in a great fight for track position in sixth place and, willed on by the local crowd, would be relentless in his pursuit of the podium.
Into the final five minutes and a mistake from Joel Hetrick handed the race lead to Christopher Tvaraen but Hetrick soon hit his stride to reclaim the lead from the Norwegian man and it appeared that the superior speed of Hetrick would see him extend his lead once more, however, a crash on the following lap resulted in Hetrick losing over a minute on his rivals, and would eventually complete the race in 13th position. This would promote Tvaraen into the race lead once more, with Bryce Ford in second position and Karl Robin Rillo in third but, in a final twist, the podium would still not be set.
Onto the final lap and Karl Robin Rillo looked secure in third position, but an issue with the fuel pump would certainly put a spanner in the works. He would do enough to claim third over a hard-charging Julian Veldman, who clambered his way into fourth position at the chequered flag.
Results
- Christopher Tveraen (NOR)
- Bryce Ford (USA)
- Karl Robin Rillo (EST)
- Julian Veldman (NED)
- Romain Colleatte (FRA)
Race – Group B + C
Despite the incident in the opening race, it was great to see Joel Hetrick take to the starting gate, albeit battered and bruised.
A superb launch from the gate would see Team USA’s Chad Wienen lead the pack into the first jump, with Kevin Saar and Manfred Zienecker playing chase in the early stages. A brilliant start from Frenchman Romain Colleatte would place him into fourth ahead of Joel Hetrick who was undoubtedly gritting his teeth through the pain, with 25 minutes and two laps to go.
Immediately from the gate-drop, Wienen was being pressured by Saar and Zienecker, and it would be the German rider who would strike first by finding his way through on the Estonian to promote himself into second position, and into prime position to take the fight to Wienen. Zienecker, of course, looking to make amends after his retirement from the qualifying race yesterday. Mike van Grinsven and Joel Hetrick would relegate Colleatte from fourth position, with Hetrick putting on a brilliant display while not being 100%. In these opening laps, Mike van Grinsven sat in a great fourth place, with Mike Verboven caught in the pack and forced to experiment with his lines to put himself higher than his current 20th place.
Zienecker saw the opportunity and took advantage to lead the pack, deposing Wienen at the head of the race. The target would not be removed from his back as Kevin Saar then found his way through on the American but could not quite keep tabs on Zienecker who had increased his leading advantage.
Mike van Grinsven soon hit his stride and closed the deficit between himself and Wienen, who would quickly be passed by Hetrick, too. Saar would be the next man in the sights of van Grinsven and the pass was soon made, to the delight and applause of the onlookers. Jan Vlaeymans was putting in a brilliant ride as he held onto seventh position and attempted to reduce the gap between him and Wienen. The track conditions were proving very difficult for the competitors, but it was Zienecker who used them to his advantage as he increased his lead with every passing lap.
The chequered flag was thrown into the air to welcome the arrival of Manfred Zienecker, who had most definitely set the record straight after the issue experienced in the qualifying race. Mike van Grinsven claimed second position to put himself and Team Netherlands in prime position going into the final race of the event, and Kevin Saar completed the podium.
Results
- Manfred Zienecker (GER)
- Mike van Grinsven (NED)
- Kevin Saar (EST)
- Joel Hetrick (USA)
- Jan Vlaeymans (BEL)
Race – Group A + C
Team USA held a slim lead over Team Netherlands in the overall classification prior to the final race of the 2025 Quadcross of Nations, with both teams having great incentive to perform.
For the final time, the gate dropped, and it would be a lightning start yet again for Manfred Zienecker as he led the pack from Kevin Saar. Bryce Ford would find himself outside of the top five positions as the weight of a potential seventh QXoN title sat heavy on his, and Chad Wienen’s shoulders. Mike van Grinsven would also be in close contention as he looked to bring himself and Team Netherlands to the top of the standings. Julian Veldman sat in 14th position at the end of lap one but would find his groove and move further up the order as the laps ticked by.
The difficult, deep sand would not work in favour of Bryce Ford who had recovered to third position, as Mike van Grinsven seized the opportunity to put himself ahead of the American. Jan Vlaeymans was having another brilliant ride inside the top five, to bring himself and Team Belgium into the picture. Karl Robin Rillo, on his second Yamaha after his issues in race one, could not find the same speed as he did earlier in the weekend and would find himself in a rapidly developing lonely, but secure, sixth position.
Saar was stalking Zienecker for the race lead but just could not find a way through, and he knew that he would need to get past as van Grinsven was almost riding pillion, such was his proximity to the Estonian. In the meantime, Vlaeymans sneaked by Ford to relegate Ford to fifth place, ahead of Rillo and Wienen.
Into the latter half of the event and van Grinsven decided that now was the right time to make a challenge. He took the reins on the race in front of the home supporters and would not relinquish this lead throughout the remainder of the race. Throughout this time, the lap times of Bryce Ford would suggest that he was finding the conditions too difficult to overcome, as he slowly faded away towards the end of the race.
The chequered flag beckoned Mike van Grinsven who took victory ahead of Kevin Saar, who had found his way past Zienecker. All attention was then firmly fixed onto Julian Veldman, who needed a top-eight position for The Netherlands to claim the QXoN title, and when Veldman appeared in sixth position, the air was filled with much fanfare and cheering.
Results
- Mike van Grinsven (NED)
- Kevin Saar (EST)
- Manfred Zienecker (GER)
- Jan Vlaeymans (BEL)
- Bryce Ford (USA)
Overall Results
- Netherlands 22
- USA 24
- Estonia 31
- Belgium 49
- France 52
This has been a brilliant weekend yet again for the Quadcross of Nations, and one that shall go down in the history books. Team USA, for their first time, will leave Heerde without the crown, as it is proudly handed over to the home country, the Netherlands, for their third success.
You can catch up with all of the highlights of the 2025 QxoN on fim-moto.tv, as well as keep up to date with all of the most recent news from the EMX Quadcross championship, on www.emxquad.com
By Bradley Hix
