In the showdown between the two successful German junior teams, Kiefer rider Toni Erhard (KTM) prevailed over World Championship rider Jan-Ole Jähnig (KTM) of the Freudenberg WorldSSP Team. Erhard was 0.124 seconds faster than the 11th-place World Championship rider on his best lap. The front row is rounded out by championship leader Victor Steeman , another KTM rider .
With a satisfied smile, Toni Erhard parks his RC 390 R from the Kiefer Racing Team in the Parc Ferme at the Lausitzring. The 17-year-old up-and-coming rider from the Ore Mountains has just edged out World Championship rider Jan-Ole Jähnig into second place in the decisive qualifying session. “This track suits me well. I especially like the long, sweeping turns,” Erhard says, adding modestly, “But I don’t know if I’ll be able to make up the time there.”
Erhard heads into the fourth IDM championship weekend at the Lausitzring in second place in the standings. He trails leader Victor Steeman (NL) by 16 points. The championship leader will have to settle for third on the grid at Lausitz, trailing by 0.787 seconds. The top IDM SSP 300 rider behind the KTM trio is Dutchman Dion Otten on his Honda. The 15-year-old from Assen was the fastest in the first qualifying session in the rain, with a lead of over three seconds. Perhaps the changeable weather conditions at the Lausitzring will play into the Honda rider’s hands: “I can’t make any predictions for the race—maybe it will rain again,” says pole-sitter Toni Erhard.