The race weekend on 23rd and 24th August at the Gaildorf track in Baden-Württemberg already held the promise of becoming a top-class event on the very first day, as more than 216 riders from 27 countries competed on Saturday at the 1,554-metre Auf der Wacht clay track. The field included numerous world championship riders such as two-time ADAC MX Masters winner Max Nagl (KMP Racing Honda) from Weilheim and Australian Dean Ferris (Red Bull ICEONE Husqvarna Factory Racing). The level of competition, which is already high in the ADAC MX Masters, was again ratcheted up a fair few notches as a consequence.
That did not make it any easier for local rider Maik Schaller (KTM Kosak Racing) in particular to win through in his home fixture. However, in Gaildorf, the 22-year-old managed for the first time in qualifying this season to slot straight into a place in Sunday's race. Schaller: "The field of riders is extremely strong, so I'm hoping for rain, which will then make the track really muddy. I like sticky clay soil and have been used to such conditions ever since I was a lad. That could give me a little bit of an advantage, so that, hopefully, I can finish in the Top 20."
Frenchman Grégory Aranda (Sturm Racing Team, Kawasaki) went fastest in qualifying this Saturday. After posting a time of 1:46.544 and seeing off competition from Swiss rider Jeremy Seewer (Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe) and Max Nagl, the 26-year-old was in bullish mood: "I drove a good race here last year, so I've been looking forward to this race weekend. The hard track is similar to the ones back home, which makes me feel very positive." said the Masters rider.
The sudden downpour that turned the track to mud for the rest of the day seemed not to particularly worry his opponents. "It couldn't have been better in my view. I was almost praying for rain, so that there would be more ruts," said 20-year-old Seewer happily.
ADAC MX Youngster Cup
The three front-runners, who currently head the standings, took the top positions in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. Calvin Vlaanderen (KTM Bodo Schmidt Motorsports), the Dutchman with South African roots, secured pole position for the race on Sunday with a time of 1:51.267 and was more than satisfied with his fine result. "I ride mainly because it's fun, so I feel no pressure to win," said the 18-year-old.
However, his rival Thomas Kjer Olsen from Denmark (STC Racing), who finished a strong second, was feeling the pressure of Sunday's races a little bit but saw this as a positive: "The intense competition makes it a great deal more exciting, and the pressure really spurs me on." Current leader in the standings Henry Jacobi from Bad Sulza (KTM Sarholz Racing Team) qualified in third place.
ADAC MX Junior Cup
Martin Winter from Rehau (KTM Kosak Racing / ADAC Nordbayern) produced a surprising result in the ADAC MX Junior Cup on Saturday. Currently placed fourth overall, he set fastest time to finish the qualifying session ahead of Jeremy Sydow from Chemnitz (Falcon Motorsports / ADAC Sachsen) and Nico Koch from Braunschweig (Kalli Racing Team). "I really like the Gaildorf track and winning through against the others was just so much fun. I'll really do my best to finish in the top three in Sunday's race. I'm going to have to try very hard, though, because Mikkel Haarup (MEFO Sport Racing Team, KTM) and Jeremy Sydow will not make it easy for me," said the 15-year-old.
Programme
From 12:15pm to 12:45pm on Sunday, top ADAC MX Masters riders will attend the autograph session at the ADAC Truck to answer questions from fans. In addition to reigning ADAC MX Masters champion Dennis Ullrich (KTM Sarholz Racing Team) and the two riders currently ranked second and third, Marcus Schiffer (Team Suzuki Waldmann) and Pascal Rauchenecker (Cofain Racing Team), two world championship riders, Max Nagl and Dean Ferris, will also be on hand to sign posters and swap notes.