Phew, what a scorcher! On qualifying day at Gaildorf, which is hosting the sixth ADAC MX Masters weekend of the campaign, temperatures climbed above 30°C. The 55 ADAC MX Masters contestants, 90 ADAC MX Youngster Cup riders and 49 entrants for the ADAC MX Junior Cup were competing for the highly coveted starting places, 40 of which are allocated per class. Among the seniors, World Championship star Max Nagl (30, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team) was the centre of attention, qualifying as the fastest rider with a best time of 01:48.077 minutes. The Bavarian had brought along plenty of fans from his home state to cheer him on. However, the 30-year-old was clearly labouring under the high temperatures. "The conditions here were extremely difficult," said Nagl. "In the heat, the track is still as hard as a tarmac, despite the club having done such a great job of irrigating the surface. I really don't like these conditions, so in the circumstances, I'm very satisfied with the outcome."

World Championship rider Henry Jacobi from Thuringia was also in fine form, setting a time that was only half a second slower than Nagl. He expressed himself well satisfied with his result. "Having competed in recent Grand Prix races on a 250cc bike, I was delighted to be back on a 350cc machine," said the 20-year-old. "There are some very steep slopes, so I would have been struggling on a lower-powered motorcycle. But it turned out fine, and I am happy. Now I'm hoping for a bit of rain, as I do even better on a wet surface that provides plenty of grip. Second place in the championship table is definitely my target for this year." Third fastest was Czech rider Filip Neugebauer (29, Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team arrow). Current championship leader Dennis Ullrich (24, KTM Sarholz Racing Team) starts from eighth on the 1,654-metre 'Auf der Wacht' clay track.

ADAC MX Youngster Cup

Saturday's proceedings in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup were an emotional experience for Zachary Pichon (16, FRA, Team Suzuki World MX2). The son of multiple world champion Mickael Pichon was doubly happy when he qualified fastest in the intermediate class with a best time of 01:51.383 minutes: "My father twice became world champion here, and it's a track that also suits me. I feel very proud to have put in a good performance here. This circuit seems to be a family favourite." Current championship leader Tom Koch (19, KTM Sarholz Racing Team) also had a good Saturday. After qualifying second, the 19-year-old Thuringian was optimistic about Sunday. "I felt good, although my performance was not perfect here. I jumped a bit too short at the Triple and made a few more minor errors, which I'm annoyed with myself about. However, this quali result is a solid basis for tomorrow. The track suits me just fine as it is, because hard surfaces are my speciality." Roland Edelbacher (18, AUT, Dimoco Europe Racing, KTM) was an impressive third.

ADAC MX Junior Cup

In the ADAC MX Junior Cup, it was a home-grown German MX talent who caught the eye. Simon Längenfelder (13, Pfeil Husqvarna Junior Team), who currently ranks eighth in the championship table, was head and shoulders above the rest of the field with a top time of 02:00.839 minutes. "I'm so happy," said the 13-year-old. "I would never have dreamed that I would be so dominant in qualifying. The track is really perfect for me. There are a lot of beautiful ruts, and I had great fun all the time. As for tomorrow, I am targeting a place in the Top Three. That would be marvellous if I could do it." The second fastest time was set by Constantin Piller (13, MSC Freisinger Bär e.V.), currently fifth in the championship, ahead of third-placed Max Palsson (14, Mefo Sport Racing Team) who currently tops the table.

ADAC MX Masters to gain a new class: ADAC MX Junior Cup 125 to be contested from 2018

At a press conference in Gaildorf, the ADAC announced that from 2018 onwards, a further junior class will be contested as part of the ADAC MX Masters event platform. The ADAC MX Junior Cup 125 is intended to fill the gap between the Youngster and Junior classes. It will be open to any motocross rider aged between 13 and 18 years old, with a maximum starting line-up of 48. "This expansion is intended not only to create a qualitative and quantitative increase in the 125cc performance segment, but also to make the transition from the ADAC MX Junior Cup into the ADAC MX Youngster Cup much more gradual," said ADAC motorcycling spokesperson Wolfgang Wagner- Sachs.

Programme

MSC Gaildorf e.V. has recruited some 600 volunteers to help with preparations for the ADAC MX Masters event. Having now won five awards as Best Organiser and three for Best Track, the club, founded in 1926, is one of the most successful hosts organisations to the ADAC MX Masters. During the race weekend, there will be a lively supporting programme running in parallel to the motocross action which is bound to appeal to the whole family. The children can get rid of their excess energy in the ADAC Unfallschutz bouncy castle and on the Suzuki quad track. The adults can browse the items on sale at the various fan stalls, choose from a comprehensive selection of refreshments and let their hair down on Saturday evening at the party in the marquee where the band Crossfire will be performing live. On race day itself, there will be an autograph-signing session in front of the ADAC Truck (12:15 - 12:45). On this sixth weekend of the Europe's most popular MX racing series, World Championship star Max Nagl, ADAC MX Masters championship leader Dennis Ullrich, second-placed Jens Getteman (23, Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Arrow) and World Championship rider Henry Jacobi will all be available to sign posters and pose for selfies. Tickets cost 18 euros on the day of the race. Children and young people under 16 years of age in the company of a paying adult have free admission.