In a thrilling first qualifying session for the IDM Supersport that went down to the wire, Rick Dunnik (18, NL, Zuwi-HDRacing) came out on top on his Yamaha. With a time of 1:53.097 minutes, last year’s runner-up was 0.302 seconds faster than guest rider Chris Stange (22, Heidenau, Freudenberg SMC WorldSSP Team) on a KTM. Stange’s team is taking a break from the World Championship. The 22-year-old from Saxony is using the IDM to test new parts for the KTM RC390R. However, Stange will not receive any points.
To that end, Dunnik—currently third in the Supersport—is leaving nothing to chance. After a relatively weak performance at the Sachsenring earlier this week, he set the fastest time in the first qualifying session at the 4.225-kilometer Lausitzring. Behind Stange, Dunnik’s compatriot Ruben Bijman (16, NL, Pearle Gebben Racing) on a Yamaha is third overall. The Dutch rider set his fastest lap on the final lap. Behind him is championship leader Harry Khouri (16, AUS, Benjan Racing Team) on a Kawasaki.
The Australian is faster than Dirk Geiger (18, Mannheim, Freudenberg SMC WorldSSP Academy) on a KTM and Melvin van der Voort (15, NL, Pearle Gebben Racing). Only behind them do the fastest riders from RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki place: Sachsenring race winner Marvin Siebdrath (16, Wildenfels) and his teammate Colin Velthuizen (16, NL), both on Kawasakis, are already 1.222 and 1.459 seconds behind Dunnik’s best time.
The second qualifying session for the IDM Supersport will take place tomorrow (Sept. 12) starting at 11:25 a.m.
IDM Supersport Lausitzring, Qualifying 1
Results
1. Rick Dunnik (NL, Zuwi-HDRacing), Yamaha, 1:53.097 min.
2. Chris Stange (Heidenau, Freudenberg SMC WorldSSP Team), KTM, +0.302 sec.
3. Ruben Bijman (16, NL, Pearle Gebben Racing), Yamaha, +0.783 sec.
4. Harry Khouri (16, AUS, Benjan Racing Team), Kawasaki, +0.848 min.