IDM SSP 300: Phillip Tonn surft auf die Pole Position

IDM SSP 300: Phillip Tonn surft auf die Pole Position

The persistent rain turned the IDM Supersport qualifying sessions into a very wet affair. Phillip Tonn, however, wasn't fazed by it. Photo: Dino Eisele, Text: Rowena Hinzmann

The qualifying sessions for the IDM Supersport at the Red Bull Ring were dominated by rain. It had been pouring nonstop since Friday afternoon, with no sign of letting up.

Phillip Tonn (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing), however, took advantage of these weather conditions to secure his first pole position in the International German Motorcycle Championship. “It’s not easy, but despite the difficult conditions, I feel good on the bike and on the track,” the 17-year-old said of his performance. He added that it was his first wet qualifying session in three years. The fastest lap time, which secured Tonn the pole position, was 2:02.029 minutes.

Petr Svoboda (Füsport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) posted the second-fastest lap time of 2:03.039 minutes. The Czech rider is competing at the Red Bull Ring for the first time and isn’t daunted by the wet track conditions. “In the rain, you can really show your potential,” says the current third-place rider in the World Championship about the situation. He’s starting from second position with a good feeling.

Following last weekend’s disastrous World Championship race in Most, which was also plagued by challenging weather conditions, Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) and his team made adjustments to the KTM. Their efforts paid off, as the Dresden native will start the race from third on the grid. “It’s really a challenge to ride here, but I’m trying to make the best of it,” said Lehmann. However, his enjoyment of riding has been very limited so far.

Teammate Dirk Geiger will start from fourth place on the second row of the grid. Ruben Bijman and Kas Beekmans (both from Team Apreco) will line up alongside him. The two frontrunners, Inigo Iglesias (Füsport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) and Walid Khan (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing), could only manage seventh and tenth place in qualifying.

The first race of the IDM Supersport starts this Saturday at 3:10 p.m. and will be streamed for free at www.idm.de/live.

 

SSP 300 Results, Qualifying:

  1. Phillip TONN (GER/KTM)
  2. Petr SVOBODA (CZW/Kawasaki)
  3. Lennox LEHMANN (GER/KTM)
  4. Dirk GEIGER (DEU/KTM)
  5. Ruben BIJMAN (NLD/Yamaha)
  6. Kas BEEKMANS (NLD/Yamaha)
  7. Inigo IGLESIAS (ESP/Kawasaki)
  8. Max ZACHMANN (GER/Kawasaki)
  9. Dustin SCHNEIDER (GER/KTM)
  10. Walid KHAN (NLD/KTM)