Gasoline in the Blood – The Felix Melnikoff Column # 2 | Enduro.de

Well prepared for the 2020 season

Felix Melnikoff: “In my first column, I introduced myself and reported on my preparations for the 2020 season. With the MX training camp of the ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg in Italy under the direction of Christian Brockel, the season got off to a perfect start for me. “

All plans many in the water

But unfortunately everything turned out differently. Hardly back from Italy, thanks to Corona, all the dates on my racing calendar disappeared into thin air. It was clear to me from the start that the training had to continue and so I just kept working on my fitness and stamina and took every opportunity to ride a motorcycle.

Hope dies last

Despite everything I didn’t want to give up hope of a late start to the season. My whole family scoured Facebook and Co. looking for training opportunities and racing events. And indeed, even outside of the usual series, a lot happened there. It was already clear to us that we would take everything with us. So we hooked up our caravan and have been on the road almost every weekend since May.

Time for something new

The ADAC also used the time and replaced failed race dates with intensive training camps, in the familiar MX format with Christian, but also for the first time together with the ADAC Sachsen and Dennis Schröter as an enduro trainer.

Late start of the season – championship title in the ADAC Enduro Kids Cup

On August 30, 2020, the ADAC Kids Cup Berlin-Brandenburg together with the ADAC Sachsen Enduro Youth Cup finally started with its first run in Hilmersdorf in the Ore Mountains. In continuous rain and mud, I had my KTM EXC 85 well under control and was able to take a 5-minute lead and thus win the day.

Run two and unfortunately also the final of the ADAC Sachsen Enduro Youth Cup took place in Thuringia. The route in Gembdental near Jena was not unknown to me from 2019 and so I not only became the day’s winner in my class, but also drove the fastest special stage of the day in my 85 cc, including the 125 cc.

ADAC Enduro Kids Cup Berlin Brandenburg

One of my highlights in 2020 is clearly the home race in Hänchen, unfortunately the only race in Brandenburg. As in previous years, the track for the kids was prepared by the MX-Pirates and peppered with tricky obstacles. That was exactly my thing, and like in previous years, I was able to win confidently in my class. I was still fit and immediately rode my 85 again in the 125. The smaller tank was a disadvantage and I had to go into the pit once. In the end things went really well here too and I finished second.

Unfortunately, the penultimate run of the ADAC Enduro Kids Cup in Boxberg was already the final. All other enduro events fell victim to Corona again. The 85s started this time together with the 125s in the low of Boxberg. I already knew the track from many training sessions in winter, and as a native of Brandenburg, I also like sandy tracks. After an hour of racing, I was able to cross the finish line first in my 85, ahead of the 125, despite a refueling stop. The joy was great and the only real championship in 2020 was won.

Czech Republic – First international experience

My biggest challenge and great highlight in 2020 was my first international competition in the Adrenalin Sprit Enduro in Utery. After we had mastered the first hurdle of registration on the Czech website thanks to Heiko Junge from dmsj, two days of competition awaited me in the Czech Republic in the insane heat and an extremely demanding route that was designed for adult professionals.

On the first day I got stuck in the mud hole with my KTM EXC 85 and on the second day one of the many steep sand driveways in the enduro test cost me valuable seconds and a lot of strength. This was where I really reached my limits, so in the end I was all the more pleased about my second place in the overall standings.

Canceled without replacement – German Youth Motocross Championship

I actually wanted to compete in the German Youth Motocross Championship in 2020, but unfortunately this was also canceled without replacement. Despite the failed championship, there were still some spontaneous and really cool MX events in the second half of the year.

So I started on two weekends at the international Race Day Simulation Motocross Training in Ludwigslust. Jef Jansen set up a super professional event with a live team. The Supercross-like course even attracted some of the fastest 85 riders from all over Europe.

In the races at the national level, after two events at the Motul MX Cup in Culitzsch, I came in third as the best participant from the new federal states.

On a regional level, I started at the X-Sport Cup in Coswig, the Berlin-Brandenburg State Cup in Dreetz & Schenkenhorst and the Saxony-Anhalt State Championship in Dolle. In all of these races, at the end of the day, I was able to stand on the top of the podium and, despite Corona, take home a lot of trophies.

Role model and motivation

A nice end to the season was the team excursion of the MX-Pirates to the International German Enduro Championship at the November Cup in Rüdersdorf. After 14 titles, my role model, Dennis Schröter, should drive his last race here at the finale. My dad has known Dennis for what felt like an eternity, then Dennis was just as old as I am now. That’s why we didn’t want to miss it to cheer him on one last time at the edge of the track

Conclusion 2020

All in all, 2020 was a blatant year. Of course I had imagined my last season on the 85cc a little different. Despite everything, however, I have spent more time on the motorcycle than in previous years. My record, 15 races, 160 hours on the motorcycle and 16,000 km on the motorway.

Many thanks to everyone who made this possible for me. For me, 2020 was by no means a season to write off, but hopefully a good basis for the coming season on the 125cc.
How I prepare for the new season, you will find out in my next “gasoline in the blood” column. Until then, I wish you a happy new year, yours

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