The visitors from Finland didn’t miss their chance: Pekka Päivärinta and Jussi Veräväinen (FIN/LCR Yamaha) set the fastest time in the first qualifying session of the IDM Sidecar class up to 600 cc. With a razor-thin lead of just 0.002 seconds, the Finns secured provisional pole position at the IDM finale at the Hockenheimring ahead of Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes (GB/Adolf RS Yamaha) and Bennie Streuer/Kevin Rousseau (NL/FL/LCR Kawasaki).
Seven-time world champion Tim Reeves didn’t have much fun on the wet track. “The last time I was here was twelve years ago. The course isn’t exactly easy because of the different types of asphalt. We still have a lot of adjustments to make.”
Bennie Streuer was still competing in the BSB at Assen last weekend. “And here it’s already like the World Championship again. Reeves, Päivärinta, Schlosser, Remse, Sattler—they’re all here.”
The sixth-fastest time overall was set by the leading team in the 1000cc class: Andres Nussbaum and Manuel Hirschi (CH/LCR Suzuki), who still have a chance to win the title in their class. The Swiss duo trails the leaders, Mike Roscher and Anna Burkard (D/CH/LCR BMW), by just nine points.
Qualifying was cut short just before the end. The reason: Josef Sattler/Uwe Neubert (D/Adolf RS Kawasaki) from the German 600cc sidecar team had spun out. Sattler’s expression said it all. The gearbox and rear tire weren’t working. “He couldn’t get any grip.” The Bavarian had initially been on slicks but then switched to rain tires. It’s easy to imagine that Sattler is now furious. He finished seventh in qualifying. His main rival in the battle for second place behind the already-crowned champion Reeves is Markus Schlosser. The Swiss rider and his passenger Marcel Fries currently hold the fourth starting position. In the IDM overall standings, 16 points separate Sattler from Schlosser. He hopes to turn the tables. Better weather is forecast for tomorrow, Saturday. Then the cards might be completely reshuffled.
Mark Wilkes definitely made the nicest gesture of the day. The British champion isn't above doing anything. He set off and pushed Sattler's struggling sidecar through half the pit lane.