Yamaha once again swept the front row of the grid at Oschersleben. Just as he did at the season opener at the Sachsenring, Andreas Kofler dominated qualifying for the IDM Supersport class in the Magdeburger Börde region as the fastest rider. His teammate Lennox Lehmann finished second. Twan Smits rounds out the front row. Marvin Siebdrath starts the second row. After that, the grid becomes quite diverse in terms of brands.
Twan Smits, last year’s runner-up, hadn’t quite found his rhythm in free practice, but he had announced beforehand that things would be very different at Oschersleben and that he would return to his former form. In the final qualifying session, the 29-year-old Dutchman from Team Apreco proved it. Smits secured a spot on the front row with a lap time of 1:27.616 minutes.
Only Andreas Kofler and Lennox Lehmann were faster. “We worked as a team at Kofler Racing,” Kofler joked, high-fiving his teammate and solving the mystery: “In the first qualifying session, I tucked in behind Lennox. In the second, he did the same behind me.” Kofler can count himself lucky that he’s in top shape and that the last few lazy weeks haven’t slowed him down. “I think I’ve only ridden my bike once since the IDM opener at the Sachsering.” No wonder. The 19-year-old motorcycle mechanic works at KTM Braumandl in Wels. The commute from his home in Attnang-Puchheim can easily take a good half hour. To make up for it, Kofler prepared for the season with a tough winter training regimen, which is now paying off.
From a distance, Kevin Wahr watches the action at the front. The 2013 Supersport champion, who racked up nine wins that year—eight of them in a row—is starting from 21st on the grid. He’s currently struggling with the Triumph Street Triple R. “It’s a combination of many factors,” explains the Nagold native from Triumph Germany Racing. “My comfort level and the feel of the bike aren’t where they should be yet. The bike has to suit me. I’m pushing to the limit, but the lap times just aren’t there yet. On top of that, we’re up against a particularly strong field of riders this year.” Deep down, Wahr hopes it rains tomorrow, “that could help me make up some ground. Otherwise, a podium finish is out of the question. We won’t be able to turn the bike upside down here in Oschersleben.”
IDM Supersport, Qualifying
1. Andreas KOFLER (A/Yamaha)
2. Lennox LEHMANN (D/Yamaha)
3. Twan SMITS (NL/Yamaha)
4. Marvin SIEBDRATH (D/Yamaha)
5. Luca DE VLEESCHAUWER (B/Triumph)
6. Štěpán ZUDA (CZ/Ducati)
7. Daniel BLIN (PL/Ducati)
8. Dirk GEIGER (D/Honda)
9. Kyle SMITH (GB/Kawasaki)
10.Filip FEIGL (CZ/Triumph)
11. Wiljan VAN WIKSELAAR (NL/Ducati)
12. Luca GÖTTLICHER (D/Triumph)
13. Till BELCZYKOWSKI (D/MV Agusta)
14. Julius Caesar RÖRIG (D/Honda)
15. Sasha DE VITS (B/Yamaha)
