He’s fast, no doubt about it. Mika Siebdrath (Freudenberg Rora-PaligoRacing) already proved that at the EURO MOTO season opener at the Sachsenring. The 17-year-old was immediately in the mix at the front during his debut in the Sportbike class and established himself right in the leading group. In Brno, too, the Saxon is once again among the fastest riders. However, he kept his team on their toes today and on Thursday.
The Freudenberg rider had already created extra work in the pits during Thursday’s official test day. After a crash, his bike was badly damaged, forcing the team to switch to the spare bike. But that wasn’t all: Siebdrath ended up in the gravel again on Friday. This time, it was just a harmless front-wheel slide, and no major damage was caused.
In addition, the Wildenfelsener driver received a penalty from race officials. Due to speeding in the pit lane, he will be set back three grid positions in the first race. The young Saxon, however, isn’t fazed by this. “I take full responsibility for that—there’s no question about it. But I also know how to handle it. I’m usually strong off the line, and the track really suits me. It’s nice and flowing and just a lot of fun. That’s why I’m convinced I can still compete right up front,” says Mika Siebdrath. In fact, the Freudenberg driver clearly feels at home at the historic Automotodrom Brno. The results after the first two free practice sessions on Friday also reflect this: fifth place.
Despite the crashes and the grid penalty, he is optimistic about Saturday’s qualifying. His goal is clear: a spot on the front row. “I’m confident I can pull it off tomorrow,” explains the Saxon. At the same time, however, Siebdrath knows what he needs to work on. The pace is there; he just needs to rein in his enthusiasm a bit. “I just can’t overdo it again like I did today,” he says with a mischievous laugh.
There is no doubt that he has the potential to finish at the top. If the Freudenberg driver can combine his speed with a little more composure, his turbulent practice sessions in Brno could still lead to a successful result this weekend.