Qualifying for the IDM Supersport 300 at Gamma Racing Day in Assen turned out to be a thrilling event. Because the second practice session took place on a wet track, the fastest times were set exclusively during the first qualifying session.
It was to be expected that the guest riders from the MTM Kawasaki factory team in the 300cc World Championship would dominate. Scott Deroue will start from pole position tomorrow, Dion Otten from third place, and Jeffrey Bruis from fourth. Only Robert Schotman was the exception. The 20-year-old Dutchman struggled with the track at first, but now feels confident heading into the race: “Normally, I post lap times similar to Scott Deroue’s.” For the Kawasaki quartet from the World Championship, competing in the IDM Supersport 300 is an excellent opportunity. The World Championship is on its summer break, providing a chance to race at a high level elsewhere. However, as guest riders, the four guys from the Netherlands are not eligible for points.
Angelo Licciardi, the championship leader in the IDM junior class, was more than a match for the field. The Kawasaki rider posted the second-fastest time of 1:53.163 min, finishing 0.852 seconds behind Deroue. The first motorcycle without green on its fairing will start from sixth on the grid. Ruben Bijman is the top Yamaha rider. Toni Erhard qualified eighth for the races, making him both the top German rider and the fastest KTM rider. It promises to be exciting, especially since Colin Velthuizen (photo), Rick Dunnik, and David Kuban are key contenders in the title race but will be starting from further back this time.
Bad luck for the German MGM Racing Performance Team: Julia Hämmer, Nina Schubrikoff, and Nick Fischer had not affixed the required stickers to the tires of their R3 Yamahas. In the rush to install the ECU just before qualifying, this detail had been completely overlooked. As a result, all three were demoted four grid positions each and will have to fight their way back up the field.
Both races will take place tomorrow, Sunday, at 10:25 a.m. and 5:22 p.m.