The first qualifying session was split evenly between dry and wet track conditions. Right before the second qualifying session, it had also poured briefly. Many riders decided not to make the trip out to the track. “In the wet, I can’t improve on my best time from the first practice session anyway,” said Gabriel Noderer (Kawasaki Weber-Motos), explaining his decision. “At best, I’d just risk a crash. It’s supposed to be dry tomorrow. This back-and-forth isn’t getting us anywhere.”
The number of riders who took to the track again was small. Eight motorcycles took to the track, two from the IDM Superstock 600 and six from the DMSB Superstock 600 Cup. Marco Fetz didn’t return from the first lap: his chain had broken. Bastian Ubl (Yamaha) was the only one to improve his time. That was necessary, since he hadn’t qualified for the race in the first session.
The starting grid promises to be exciting. Marc Buchner (Buchner Motorsport) is in pole position, alongside Tom Toparis (Benro Racing, Yamaha) and Luca Grünwald (Kawasaki Schnock Team Motorex), the green Kawasaki “secret weapon.” Guest rider Patrick Hobelsberger (Yamaha) leads the second row, followed by Milan Merckelbagh (MGM Racing Performance), the top Superstock 600 rider, and Max Enderlein (Freudenberg WorldSSP Academy, Yamaha). For the overall leader of the IDM Supersport 600 championship, this is an unusual spot, but he says: “Everything’s fine. We’re well prepared for the two races on Sunday.”
And where is Stefan Ströhlein, the title favorite in the DMSB Superstock 600 Cup? He’s in ninth place, right next to his rival Jan Schmidt.
Even Moritz Jenkner from Hohenstein-Ernstthal is back in the mix, albeit further down the pack. He was really lucky during his crash at the Schleizer Dreieck two weeks ago: the front wheel was torn off his Yamaha YZF-R6. Jenkner got off relatively lightly with severe bruises on his feet, scrapes, and hematomas. In the meantime, the frame from his practice bike has been installed in his race bike, and all other components have been rebuilt, so he can continue racing in Most. Due to the crash, Jenkner has dropped from third to sixth place in the overall standings.