In der IDM Supersport ging es heute zwischen den 21 Fahrern auf dem Schleizer Dreieck im zweiten Qualifying noch einmal richtig zur Sache. Nun sind die Fronten um die Startplätze für morgigen Rennen geklärt.
There were no changes at the top. Yamaha riders Max Enderlein, Jan-Ole Jähnig (both M32 Racing), and Twan Smits (Team Apreco) will occupy the front row of the grid. The two Germans and the Dutchman each set their fastest times in the first qualifying session. Melvin van der Voort defended his fourth-place position. Christoph Beinlich (Roto-Store BRT Vitori), however, was pushed out of fifth place by Luca de Vleeschauwer, the best Kawasaki rider in the field. The Belgian had managed to improve his time by nearly two-tenths of a second in the second qualifying session. Beinlich, however, lost only one position. Now in sixth place, he will still start from the second row tomorrow.
Philipp Stich (PS13 Racing) from Schleiz achieved his best qualifying result: 14th on the grid for the 33-year-old self-employed master carpenter, who last year was still competing in the Superstock class, which had been held until then. The former track and field athlete lives closer to the track than anyone else in the paddock. When he opens his garage at home, he’s right in the middle of the event grounds.
Stich is happy just to be able to compete in his home race. During the last IDM weekend in Most, Czech Republic, the Thuringian rider crashed his Yamaha into the track barrier. “The Yamaha was a total write-off; it was beyond repair,” says the local hero, adding, “In two weeks, we’ve built a new bike, complete with a new engine.” But even on his home track, he didn’t get very far. Once again, the first free practice session was a disaster. “Smoke suddenly started coming from the back, and I was shown the black flag to pull out. The Yamaha was covered in oil.” It turned out that two valve cover bolts hadn’t been fully tightened and had come loose. By the second free practice session, the problem with the #13 YZF-R6 had been resolved.