Sidecar: Schlosser/Schmidt Set Lap Record to Take Pole

The pole position for the FIM/IDM Sidecar class at the Sidecar Festival in Oschersleben has been decided: Despite chilly, single-digit temperatures on Saturday morning, Markus Schlosser and Luca Schmidt (Team Schlosser/LCR Yamaha) managed to set the fastest lap time in Q2. They secured the top spot with a time of 1:31.760 minutes. With this official practice time, they also set a new lap record among the World Championship teams at Oschersleben.

Harry Payne and Kevin Rousseau are in second place alongside the pole-setters. The Steinhauser Racing Team pushed to the limit in both practice sessions, as they were running on old tires. “We only brought two sets of new tires to Oschersleben, which we want to save for the races,” Harry Payne explained after qualifying. The Brit is urgently seeking new sponsors for the upcoming season, among other things to have more equipment available and to cover more test miles. “Despite using used equipment, we’re satisfied with our result and are focusing on the races,” said the second-place rider in the World Championship standings, who is just seven points behind the championship leaders Schlosser/Schmidt and still has every chance of winning the title.

There’s a familiar face among the top three: Bennie Streuer and his co-driver Kevin Kölsch (Streuer Racing/ARS Yamaha) secured third place on the grid with a lap time of 1:32.912 minutes. “Everything is going perfectly right now, and we’re heading into the race feeling relaxed,” said a satisfied Streuer.

German junior riders Lennard Göttlich and Lucas Krieg (Bonovo Action Junior-Team ADAC Sachsen e.V./ARS Yamaha) finished in eleventh place with their new green-and-gold livery. Patrick Werkstetter and Valentin Pirat (Team Bonovo Action/Sattler Motorsport/ARS Yamaha), who suffered a flat tire the previous day and worked late into the night to repair their sidecar, will start from 13th position.

Results: FIM Sidecar World Championship, Q1 and Q2