Source: Supplied.

KTM has claimed a convincing victory at the inaugural 2016 Monster Energy SMX Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Cup in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

The Austrian manufacturer secured the category win with their three-rider squad of Ryan Dungey (Red Bull KTM), Jeffrey Herlings (Red Bull KTM) and Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM), while Honda’s Tim Gajser (Gariboldi Honda), Gautier Paulin (Team HRC) and Evgeny Bobyrshev (Team HRC) trailed them by a distant 25 points.

Kawasaki edged out Husqvarna for the final spot on the podium with Jordi Tixier (Monster Energy Kawasaki), Tommy Searle (Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki) and Vsevolod Brylyakov (Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki) representing the Japanese manufacturer.

Dungey led a KTM dominated podium in the Riders’ category, with teammates Jeffrey Herlings and Marvin Musquin tying on points to be credited second and third respectively.

Race one saw Dungey hit the early lead, however he was quickly overcome by Superpole victor and eventual race-winner Tim Gajser. While Dungey claimed second, Herlings and Monster Energy Yamaha’s Romain Febvre would come together throughout the race, allowing Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Zach Osborne to gain two positions and cross the line in third. Febvre and Herlings remounted to finish fourth and fifth respectively.

Febvre turned his results around in race two, going onto capture his first win of the night comfortably ahead of Musquin and Dungey, while Kawasaki’s Tixier completed the 16-lap race in fourth. Herlings overcame an early crash that forced him to negotiate his way through the field to finish in fifth.

After battling with bad luck throughout the first two races, Herlings pulled through for a win in race three. The ever consistent Dungey followed in second with teammate Musquin in third. Tixier and Gajser completed the top five.