The second race in the Supersport class at the Öhlins EURO MOTO event at the Nürburgring also turned into a triumph for Dirk Geiger, while his title rival, Daniel Blin, suffered another setback. Geiger’s teammate, Lennox Lehmann, played a key role in this victory.
As expected, Dirk Geiger, Lennox Lehmann (Team Apreco-Yamaha), and Daniel Blin (Automarket AF Racing Team) took the lead right after the start. Marvin Siebdrath (MCA Racing), guest rider Maximilian Kofler (Eder Racing), and Luca Göttlicher (LJ Racing) lined up one after another, with things getting tight at times. Max Stauffer (Team Apreco-Yamaha), Luca de Vleeschauwer (Team SWPN), and Filip Feigl (Eder Racing) were at times riding side by side on the track.
In the fourth lap, MV Agusta rider Göttlicher’s neon-yellow No. 99 closed in on Siebdrath’s MCA-Honda. It was a head-to-head battle between two different approaches in the Supersport class: Göttlicher with his three-cylinder engine versus Siebdrath’s classic 600-cc four-cylinder. Göttlicher won the duel. Regardless, Siebdrath later made an early pit stop due to a faulty throttle response sensor.
Nail-biting action in the final stages
By halftime, Geiger had pulled away from the field on his Yamaha YZF-R9 and was getting closer and closer to his second straight victory in the Eifel. Lehmann, in second place, fended off Blin’s attacks. The 24-year-old Pole’s hope that Lehmann might suffer a similar slump as he did yesterday did not come to pass, but the final lap of their battle had everyone on the edge of their seats. Multiple position changes pushed the fight for the podium spots to a fever pitch.
After 16 laps, Lehmann was in the lead by 0.094 seconds. “We made some changes to the rear of the Yamaha between yesterday and today,” said the 20-year-old from Saxony, expressing mixed feelings. The fact that Geiger had won so decisively bothered him. A 3.148-second lead is no small feat.
Decision at Hockenheim – Anything Is Possible
At least Lehmann had moved up one spot compared to the previous day. Because he finished ahead of Blin, he also helped his teammate pull even further ahead of the Ducati rider in the overall standings. Geiger had arrived in the Eifel with a 13-point lead; he left with a 27-point lead.
But even in races where only one point—or none at all—was at stake, the battles kept fans on the edge of their seats. Peter Feigl and Jindrich Škopek didn’t give an inch to each other in 16th and 17th place. The fact that the two Czechs were ultimately rewarded for their effort was due, first, to Siebdrath’s withdrawal and, second, to Maximilian Kofler, who, as a guest rider, was not eligible for points.
The grand EURO MOTO finale will take place in Hockenheim from September 25 to 27.
EURO MOTO Supersport, Round 2
1. Dirk GEIGER (GER/Yamaha)
2. Lennox LEHMANN (GER/Yamaha)
3. Daniel BLIN (POL/Ducati)
4. Luca GÖTTLICHER (GER/MV Agusta)
5. Maximilian KOFLER (AUT/Ducati)
6. Luca DE VLEESCHAUWER (BEL/Yamaha)
7. Filip FEIGL (CZE/Yamaha)
8. Freddie HEINRICH (GER/Kawasaki)
9. Julius AHRENKIEL-FRELLSEN (DNK/Honda)
10. Max STAUFFER (AUS/Yamaha)
11. Julius Caesar RÖRIG (GER/Honda)
12. Filip NOVOTNÝ (CZE/Ducati)
13. Jorke ERWIG (GER/Ducati)
14. Marvin KREIMES (GER/Ducati)
15. Peter FEIGL (CZE/Yamaha)
16. Jindrich ŠKOPEK (CZE/Yamaha)
17. Marvin SIEBDRATH (GER/Honda)