The second ADAC MX Masters meeting at MC Jauer in Saxony looks like becoming a top highlight event even at the qualifying stage after this Saturday's performance. Spectators carried on despite a mix of rain and sun, and were rewarded with some first-class action and spectacular acrobatics on the track. Austrian Lukas Neurauter (24, Cofain Racing Team, KTM) was among those who used the 1,650-metre Am Hahneberg clay circuit to their advantage. The world championship rider impressed with a best time of 1.47.888 minutes and went ahead of his rival Henry Jacobi (20, STC Racing Team, Husqvarna) and the current leader in the standings, Jens Getteman (23, BEL, Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil). "I've worked extremely hard over the winter with plenty of endurance and motorcycle training to get prepared and was very frustrated after the opener in Fürstlich Drehna at not achieving a good result, so I'm really pleased now with my performance, because this result has also enabled me to make a lot of progress mentally. I want to be well placed in the ADAC MX Masters, which is a real challenge, considering the highly competitive nature of the field, so I must achieve good results right from the start," said the KTM driver, summing up his quali session. World championship rider Henry Jacobi was equally pleased with his performance. "I always feel really at home in the Masters. I know the tracks and can be much more confident in this field than in the world championship. Consequently, I'm mentally much stronger in the Masters and can ride in a much more relaxed fashion, because I know that I'm one of the best in this series," said the Thuringian from Bad Sulza.
Local rider Dominique Thury (24, KTM GST Berlin) placed 13th in his qualifying group and will line up in P25 for the races on Sunday. Although the result did not live up to his expectations, he was optimistic about the points-scoring rounds, saying: "The field of riders is bunched incredibly close together when you look at the times, so it's not all that bad to be so far back. The main thing is to do well in the races. My start has to be OK, and then, it's simply a question of tactics. There's not much opportunity for overtaking here at Jauer, and making a move to pass won't be easy, so I'll have to make sure that I get away well."
ADAC MX Youngster Cup
Slovakian rider Richard Sikyna (19, MX Slovakia, KTM) excelled in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup with a best time of 1.49.171 minutes, finishing ahead of his rivals Adrien Madaval from France (18, Diga Procross Team, Husqvarna) and Martin Krc from the Czech Republic (20, Sturm Racing Team, KTM). This was an unexpected result for the 19-year-old: "This is the first time I've ever topped the timesheets in a quali, which wasn't easy to do in this highly competitive field in the Masters. You really need plenty of self-confidence to be able to hold your own at this level," said the 19-year-old. Current front-runner, Miro Sihvonen from Finland (18, Diga Junior Racing Team, KTM) will line up in P4 for the races on Sunday. He currently has a twelve-point lead in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup championship.
ADAC MX Junior Cup
Things have gone really well for Danish rider Magnus Smith (13, Mefo Sport Racing Team, KTM) so far in the ADAC MX Masters. The ADAC MX Junior Cup rider, who finished third overall in the opening race at MSC Fürstlich Drehna, again opened the throttle wide at the meeting at MC Jauer and secured pole position for the racing day on Saturday. He told us: "I really like the fact that there's plenty of corners here in Jauer, they're great! I felt quite at home, and so I pushed right from the start. It gives me quite a boost to know that I was better than Jett Lawrence, who I currently see as my main rival," said the 13-year-old. Constantin Piller (MSC Freisinger Bär, KTM), who is also 13, was the second-fastest, while current champion Max Palsson from Sweden (14, KTM) was third. ADAC MX Junior Cup rookie Liam Everts (12, Team Suzuki World MX2), who has big boots to fill as the son of motocross world champion Stefan Everts, placed seventh in his qualifying group and will rock up in P14 at the starting gate on Sunday.
Programme
MC Jauer have organised the ADAC MX Masters since 2013, and this will be their fourth event after a year's break in 2016. The weather forecast for Sunday looks good, so fans will really be able to enjoy the varied programme on offer to complement the on-track action at the club's grounds in the village of Panschwitz-Kuckau, some 50 kilometres north-east of Dresden with the ADAC Insurance bouncy castle and the ADAC Young Generation Suzuki Quad course. There will also be a big party for adults on Saturday night in the marquee, including a live band. On Sunday, from 12.15 am to 12.45 pm, there will also be an autograph-signing session with the top stars from the motocross scene at the ADAC truck. In Jauer, it will be the turn of local rider, Dominique Thury, world championship ace Hunter Lawrence (17, AUS, Team Suzuki World MX2), ADAC MX Masters three-time champion Dennis Ullrich (23, KTM Sarholz Racing Team) and current leader in the standings, Jens Getteman, plus ADAC MX Youngster Cup champion Bas Vaessen (18, NED, Team Suzuki World MX2) to meet the fans. Tickets for race Sunday cost ten euros for 13-17-year-olds and 20 euros for adults.