This weekend, ADAC Nordrhein and MSC Drabenderhöhe-Bielstein are organising and hosting the ADAC MX Masters for the first time. The qualifying heats for Sunday's race in Europe's most popular motocross series took place on Saturday at the 1,800-metre Bielsteiner Waldkurs circuit in the Bergisch Land region, 45 kilometres to the east of Cologne. Posting the fastest time in a highly competitive field of riders was Switzerland's Jeremy Seewer (20, Team Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe) ahead of Frenchman Gregory Aranda (25, Storm Racing Team) and Belgium's Jeremy Delince (24, KMP Honda Repsol Racing Team).
"This is a very challenging track," said the Suzuki factory rider and 250cc European championship runner-up of 2013. "The thunderstorm last night has made the already difficult forest sections very slippery, so I'm all the more pleased to have set the fastest time. I'm aiming for the same lap times on Sunday and a podium finish." For Seewer's team-mate and current championship leader Glenn Coldenhoff (24), the day did not go quite to plan. The Dutch world championship rider had to settle for fifth place at the starting gate: "In the race, I will be doing everything in my power to close the gap to the front and to retain my championship lead."
ADAC MX Youngster Cup
Qualifying for the ADAC MX Youngster Cup (age range 14 to 21) was dominated by Nicholas Adams (GPR Promo MX Team) from the UK. The 18-year-old KTM rider edged Czech rival Jan Vondrasek (18, JD 191 KTM Racing Team) into second place. "That was a close call, but my best time was enough to see me through," said London-based Adams after winning the qualifying session for the first time this season. "This is the perfect basis for a Top Five finish." Starting from third place will be German-Taiwanese rider Brian Hsu (17, Team Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe). Arminas Jasikonis (17, Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil) from Lithuania, who currently leads the Youngster Cup standings, is having to miss out on the occasion due to injury.
Support class
Fans were also able to enjoy the action staged by a full starting field in the attractive two-stroke support competition, the DMV BRC MX 2-Takt Cup. Christian Herzberg from Bad Salzuflen posted the fastest time: "I am delighted to be leading the championship at the moment. This good result in qualifying should help me to score vital points in the race. The start is usually not my strong point, so I need to really concentrate on that." Second fastest on the historic circuit in North Rhine-Westphalia was Marco Hummel from Radolfzell ahead of Elias Stapel from Kettenacker. This will be the fifth 2-Takt Cup race of the season.
Programme of events
The family-friendly admission prices (day ticket for young people €8.00, adults €16.00, free admission for children up to twelve years when accompanied by an adult) make a visit to Bielstein an affordable day out. Included in the price is use of the ADAC Young Generation Suzuki Quad track and the ADAC Unfallschutz bouncy castle, admission to the fan mile with stalls selling motocross-related items, and an autograph session with the top riders on Sunday at 12.15pm when Christian Brockel, Glenn Coldenhoff, Pascal Rauchenecker, Jeremy Seewer and Dennis Ullrich will be pleased to meet up with fans and answer their questions.