31 weeks after the season opener in Neuhaus-Schierschnitz, the grand finale of the Auner HardEnduroSeries Germany 2025 took place on Saturday. For the second time after 2023, the venue was Rüdersdorf near Berlin, where the MC Woltersdorf once again impressed with strong commitment and a newly designed, spectacular final round.
Challenging track to close the season
Both the weather and the riders showed their best sides for the final round. Under mild temperatures and sunshine, the track conditions turned out to be excellent despite recent weeks of rain. This was crucial, as the course builders had created a technically demanding and varied layout.
During the 55-minute final, only four laps were completed — a clear indication of the difficulty level. Many of the roughly 50 finalists managed to finish just a single lap.
Facts, Mountdoom Hardenduro Rüdersdorf – 01.11.2025
Weather: 13°C, partly cloudy
ACE Bikes Prolog Award winner: Henry Strauss (KTM)
Winner: Milan Schmüser
Fastest lap: Milan Schmüser (BETA), 14:32.539
Strauss secures the ACE Bikes Prolog Award
Right from the start, Henry Strauss (KTM) set the tone with an outstanding best time in the Prolog. Despite the wet surface, which gradually improved for later riders, the man from Lower Saxony rode confidently to victory in the ACE Bikes Prolog Award and clinched the overall title of this special category.
Former series regular Einar Meyer, competing as a guest rider on his Rieju, impressed with a strong performance to finish second. Felix Strauss took third place — his best Prolog result of the season — and also played an important supporting role by taking valuable points away from his brother’s rivals.
For Milan Schmüser (Beta), the Prolog did not go according to plan. A crash relegated him to fifth place, costing him the chance to defend his Prolog Award lead.
Exciting group races and strong class winners
The group races ran smoothly overall, with only a few minor technical issues among riders. The long, varied lap took even the top riders more than 15 minutes to complete. Henry Strauss and Leon Hentschel took the wins in their respective heats, both confirming their excellent form once again.
In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Luca Classen, better known from motocross, made an impressive showing and qualified solidly for the final — an achievement in itself on such a demanding course.
In the Women’s class, Julia Bittner once again delivered a dominant performance. She confidently defeated Karolina Vchotova to secure the 2025 championship title.
"I’m just so happy. The track was incredibly demanding, but that’s exactly how a final should be. I’m over the moon to take home the title," said Bittner at the finish.
In the Electric class, Eric Seifert wrapped up his championship campaign with another victory. Behind him, Wanja Morlinghaus managed to overtake Rico Petzold in the final and secured second place in the overall standings.
A thrilling showdown in the grand final
For the final race, the track was slightly reworked — more compact, yet even more technical. Several new sections added difficulty and increased lap times compared to the group races. One of the highlights was the infamous "Green Hell" section, where even the top four riders were forced to dismount and push their bikes at times.
Despite the brutal terrain, the leading quartet stayed close together throughout the race. Leon Hentschel held the lead for a long time before a small mistake in line choice on the final 200 meters opened the door for Milan Schmüser, who seized the opportunity and passed him to take victory under roaring applause from the spectators.
Henry Strauss completed the podium in third place, rounding off a strong season, while Marc Wulf once again finished fourth — a position he made his own throughout the year.
For Schmüser, the victory carried special meaning: not only did he win the final race, but he also clinched the 2025 championship title. For the first time, the new traveling champion’s trophy was presented to the overall series winner — and it went straight into Schmüser’s hands.
"That was a tough final – Leon was incredibly strong. I had to fight until the very last second, but that’s what HESG is all about. I’m proud to have earned this title," said the new champion.
Tight battles across the classes
The X-GRIP Junior class saw a completely new podium lineup: although Matthis Millich took another victory, he was joined by two new faces — Hannes Rätze in second and Linus Albert in third. Rätze also overtook Felix Strauss in the overall standings to claim third place behind Millich and Emil Kessler.
In the Amateur class, Sören Emich overcame mechanical problems from the group stage to finish as the best amateur in the final and secure the overall championship in his category.
Meanwhile, Kai Uebe once again dominated the Senior class, winning both the final and the 2025 championship title.
Looking ahead to 2026
With a thrilling and perfectly organized finale in Rüdersdorf, the eighth season of the Auner HardEnduroSeries Germany came to an end. The ninth season is already on the horizon — expected to kick off in April 2026 in Reetz, Brandenburg, marking the start of a new chapter for the championship.
Up-to-date information, race reports, and results can be found at www.hardenduro-germany.de and on the official social media channels of the series.
Photos: Michel238pic/Michel Kuchel