IDM SSP 300: Geiger Claims the Last Pole Position of the Year

IDM SSP 300: Geiger Claims the Last Pole Position of the Year

Although the title is no longer at stake for Dirk Geiger at the IDM Hockenheim finale, he still managed to secure pole position in qualifying. Text: Rowena Hinzmann; Photo: Dino Eisele

The warm-up phase ahead of the IDM finale in the Supersport has concluded, and the starting grid for the races has been set: Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team/19) will start the final two races of the year from pole position. The KTM rider set the fastest lap of 1:37.363 minutes in the first qualifying session on Saturday morning. None of his rivals were able to beat that time, not even in the second qualifying session in the afternoon. “In the second qualifying session, it was too warm and too windy to beat my own time,” said the Mannheim native.

Geiger no longer has a chance at the title, but Marvin Siebdrath (Füsport – RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki/17) does. The Kawasaki rider secured second place in qualifying and was very pleased with his performance afterward: “I’m happy to be starting the race from the front row tomorrow. The conditions in the second qualifying session were difficult, and the tires wore out very quickly,” reported the Wildenfelsener rider. He trails the leader and defending champion Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team/15) by just 18 points in the overall standings. “Theoretically, anything is still possible, even the title. Whether that’s realistic will be decided tomorrow,” the 17-year-old continued. Lehmann rounds out the front row with third place.

The door to a first title is still open for Luca De Vleeschauwer (Füsport–RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki/18) as well. The Belgian is currently third in the overall standings with 178 points. He trails the leader by 31 points. De Vleeschauwer will start from the second row in fourth place.

Rounding out the field are guest riders Sasha De Vits (19), Twan Smits (Apreco/17), Sven Doornenbal (Molenaar Racing/18), and the two KTM teammates Walid Khan and Leo Rammerstorfer (Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team/21 and 17). Micky Winkler (Kawasaki Weber-Motos Racing/19) rounds out the top 10.

The SSP 300 races will take place on Sunday at 11:35 a.m. and 2:35 p.m. Live coverage of all classes will begin at 10:00 a.m. at www.idm.de.

IDM SSP 1Q+2Q:

  1. Dirk GEIGER (DEU/KTM)
  2. Marvin SIEBDRATH (GER/Kawasaki)
  3. Lennox LEHMANN (GER/KTM)
  4. Luca DE VLEESCHAUWER (BEL/Kawasaki)
  5. Sasha DE VITS (BEL/Yamaha)
  6. Twan SMITS (NLD/Yamaha)
  7. Sven DOORNENBAL (NLD/KTM)
  8. Walid KHAN (NLD/KTM)
  9. Leo RAMMERSTORFER (AUT/KTM)
  10. Micky WINKLER (DEU/Kawasaki)