After a heavy downpour on Friday, conditions were brilliant on Saturday with plenty of sun and temperatures of 25 degrees for the 160 riders from 20 countries lining up on the 1.90km clay track. 26-year-old Austrian Matthias Walkner (betsafehillinger mx racing) from Kuchl won through in qualifying in the main ADAC MX Masters class. The KTM rider achieved his best time in the very last minute of the final lap. "Qualifying was incredibly taxing, as the track was so deeply rutted. I had to give 110% in order to be really quick", said Walkner. 23-year-old Frenchman Grégory Aranda was on form and brought his Kawasaki home in second place. "Friday's rain was exactly what the track needed. I can't wait to see how well I do in the race." Hungarian, Kornel Nemeth (HTS KTM) was also very pleased. The 30-year-old quickly found his rhythm and was happy in the end to take third place from local driver Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT/HSV Ried, KTM).

ADAC MX Youngster Cup

The demanding natural track sorted out the ADAC MX Youngster Cup riders in the qualifying heats. French rider Boris Maillard (Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil) achieved the fastest time of 1:52.522 minutes with just one minute to go to the end of the twenty-minute session. "We've got lots of tracks like this in France, so luckily, I felt quite at home. Conditions were perfect, although I found it very hard to win through against such strong opposition." With his furious lap, Maillard consigned 19-year-old Michael Kratzer (Kawasaki Team Damianik) to second place. Kratzer: "I don't have much international experience and so it's great that my quali went so well. I would never have thought it. Sulivan Jaulin (FRA/Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil) finished in third place and championship leader Lars Reuther (GER/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) will be in fourth place on Sunday's grid in the class for riders up to 21 years old.

Ladies Race

The ladies were also represented in events at the ADAC MX Masters on Saturday. Italian Kiara Fontanesi (Yamaha) won the qualifying heats, taking the chequered flag ahead of German rider Steffi Laier (Rabbit Racing, Kawasaki). The ladies' adrenaline levels were just as high as the men's as the 24 female riders roared down the demanding start straight. 19-year-old Fontanesi was overjoyed and visibly relieved at her success on the first day of the competition. "I'm really pleased, as I've not been able to do any motocrossing in the last two months but have turned in an impressive performance on this fast and difficult track. I had to get used to everything very quickly and am really pleased to do so well straightaway." German world champion runner-up Larissa Papenmeier (Twenty Suspension Suzuki) followed events on the track from the side lines. The 23-year-old had to miss the race due to injury and was extremely annoyed at having to play a passive role. "The track here in Ried is one of my favourites. The dirt track is prepared superbly well, which isn't often the case elsewhere. It's a real shame that I can only look on. I feel quite frustrated!"

Programme

HSV Ried offers an attractive support programme in addition to the motocross. On Saturday, apart from the practice and qualifying heats, there was a spectacular motocross long jump competition. Children were able to use the ADAC Young Generation Suzuki Quadparcours and the ADAC insurance bouncy castle. Entrance to the whole event was free for children under fifteen years of age. Included in the entrance fee for adults on Sunday (15 euros): access to motocross sales stands and an autograph opportunity with the top riders at 12:15pm. Local drivers Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT/TSV Ried), Dennis Ullrich (GER/KTM Sarholz Racing Team), Sébastian Pourcel (FRA/KTM Sarholz Racing Team), Filip Neugebauer (CZE/Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil) and Kiara Fontanesi (Yamaha) made themselves available this weekend for a Q&A session with fans.