Saturday's session of the ADAC MX Masters at Jauer in Saxony was given over to practice runs and qualification heats. Setting the fastest time in Europe's most popular motocross series was world championship contestant Glenn Coldenhoff (Team Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe). The 24-year-old now gets to choose the best place at Sunday's starting gate. "I came here well prepared and am aiming to take a lead in the championship standings on Sunday," said the Dutch rider. "I'm only a few points adrift at the moment."
Austria's Pascal Rauchenecker (22, HSV Ried, Cofain Racing KTM) finished the qualifying session in second place. Third best on the day was world championship rider Kevin Strijbos (Team Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP). "It is the strong international field of riders that makes this series so exceptional," said the 29-year-old Belgian who won the ADAC MX Junior Cup when he was just 14. "I like competing in Germany, and I intend to use the good starting position of third place on Sunday to fight for a place on the podium." The 1,650-metre clay track belonging tp MC Jauer and affectionately known as 'Am Hahneberg' was bathed in bright sunshine as it staged some action-packed overtaking and extraordinary jumps.
ADAC MX Youngster Cup
In the qualifying heats for the ADAC MX Youngster Cup (riders aged 14 to 21), Arminas Jasikonis (Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil) from Lithuania prevailed with a lap time of 01:55.776 minutes: "I like the track and had a lot of fun with the jumps on my lap. With my current lead in the standings, the conditions are all set for a successful race on Sunday. Obviously, my objective is yet another podium." The 17-year-old leads off tomorrow pursued by Stefan Ekerold (19, Bodo Schmidt Motorsport) from Weiskirchen and Holland's Bas Vaessen (17, Team Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe) in P2 and P3 respectively.
ADAC MX Junior Cup
As in the season opener at Fürstlich Drehna in Brandenburg, defending champion Mikkel Haarup (KTM Kosak Racing Team) heads the starting field in the ADAC MX Junior Cup. The 13-year-old, who currently tops the table, is favourite to retain his title in the junior class for ten to 15-year-olds. "I think the surface at Jauer is very good," said the Danish teenager approvingly. "On Sunday, I'll position myself somewhere in the middle of the line-up to get off to the best possible start." Second choice of starting place goes to Dutch rider Rick Elzinga (14, Beursfoon KTM Youth Team). Third-placed Jeremy Sydow (14, Falcon Motorsports) agrees that the start will be crucial. The 'local' lad from Chemnitz (actually 115km from Jauer) wants to show his home crowd what he is capable of. "I think that I can win on my favourite track," said last year's championship runner-up. "But it depends on how quickly I get to the first corner from the starting gate."
Comprehensive support programme
Since 2013, the popular MC Jauer club in the suburb of Panschwitz-Kuckau has been a regular fixture on the ADAC MX Masters calendar. As in previous years, there is an extensive supporting programme of entertainments. The ADAC Young Generation Suzuki quad track, the ADAC Unfallschutz bouncy castle, public access to the paddock and a fan zone with dedicated motocross stalls guarantee fun galore for the whole family. Enjoying great popularity as always is the evening party in the marquee with live DJ (free admission). And tomorrow, there will be an exclusive autograph session with the top riders in the series. Christian Brockel, Glenn Coldenhoff, Pascal Rauchenecker, Kevin Strijbos, Dominique Thury and Dennis Ullrich will be standing next to the ADAC truck between 12.15 and 12.45, signing posters and photo cards. Admission on race day costs €20 for adults, while youngster aged thirteen to seventeen pay ten euros. Children aged up to twelve years are admitted free of charge.