On Saturday, fans were treated to motocross of the highest order as the second round of the 2019 ADAC MX Masters got underway at Möggers. Jeremy Seewer and Jeffrey Herlings thrilled the spectators with a tense battle for pole position in an extremely close qualifying session. Ultimately it was Switzerland’s Seewer who clocked the fastest lap on the classic grass circuit with a time of 01:38.193 minutes, half a second better than MXGP world champion Herlings. “The track is in perfect condition,” said Seewer. “Riding here against Jeffrey was tremendous fun. At the end of the qualifying session, I started another hot lap just to be on the safe side, but during a jump, I heard the track commentator announce that Jeffrey was unable to beat my time. So I abandoned the attempt in order to avoid taking any unnecessary risks. Now I’m hoping for two good starts on Sunday followed by exciting races.” Max Nagl was back in good form in his first race after a knee injury and secured third place in the first qualifying group.
The fastest in the second of the two ADAC MX Masters qualifying groups was Valentin Guillod (KMP Honda Racing). Guillod, who comes from Switzerland and is contesting his first ADAC MX Masters race of the current campaign, is clearly on top form. “I’m happy that I was able to set the fastest time in my group,” he said afterwards. “It was by no means easy, because I was stuck in third place for a long time. But shortly before the end of the session, I put in a great lap that took me to the top of the timesheets. I think Seewer and Herlings are probably a bit too fast for me here, but even third place on Sunday would be a great success for me.” To the delight of the home fans, Austrian rider Pascal Rauchenecker (Classic Oil / SHR Motor Sports / KTM) set the second-fastest time in this group. Third place went to Estonia’s Tanel Leok (A1M Husqvarna).
ADAC MX Youngster Cup
Cyril Genot (Genot Racing KTM Team) secured pole position in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. The French teenager beat Austrian rider Michi Sandner (Thermotec Racing KTM Team by Mefo Sport) by a wafer-thin 0.082-second margin. “I’ve been injured quite often in the last few years, and it feels very good to at last be posting decent results” said Genot after booking P1 at the starter gate. “The track has been superbly prepared – it’s actually up to world championship standard, and I’m very happy to be competing here. I hope I can get off to two good starts tomorrow, then anything is possible.”
In the second qualifying group, Denmark’s Bastian Bogh Damm (WZ-Racing / KTM) set the fastest lap time: “I had yellow flags on the track on a couple of attempts and was therefore unable to show myself at my best. I think I can actually go even faster. On Sunday, I need good starts, then the rest will come naturally.” Second fastest in the group was Bogh Damm’s fellow Dane Glen Meier (Team Specialmontering / Yamaha) ahead of the Austria’s Marcel Staufer (KTM Sarholz Racing Team).
ADAC MX Junior Cup 125
In the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125, local favourite Mike Gwerder (KINI KTM Junior Pro Team) did not disappoint the home crowd. The Swiss youngster left the opposition trailing by almost 1.5 seconds and was sounding understandably confident about the two races on Sunday. “Möggers is my favourite track, and this is also like a home race for me,” said Gwerder, expanding on his special relationship with the hillside circuit overlooking Lake Constance. “I’m a member of the club at Möggers and train here on a regular basis, so I obviously know the track very well. My lap time was very promising, and if I get off to a good start on Sunday, I think I have a very good chance of ending up on the winners’ podium.” Lining up in second and third place will be the two Kosak team-mates Camden McLellan (Kosak Racing Team / KTM) and Nick Domann (Kosak Racing Team / KTM). McLellan won the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 last year and has now set his sights on winning the title in the next class up.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 85
As is customary, the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 contestants had the first of their two races on Saturday. Tobias Caprani (Kosak Racing Team / KTM) was quickest off the mark and took the first corner in the lead, but his moment of glory was not to last very long. Before the end of the first lap, he was overtaken by the current championship leader Edvards Bidzans (MX Module / Husqvarna) who then proceeded to pull out a big gap. “My start was not at all bad,” said the Latvian. “After that, I quickly took the lead and then rode my own race. I’ll be happy if tomorrow goes equally well.” P3 behind Caprani went to Julius Mikula (JD Gunnex KTM Racing Team). After a weak start, the 12-year-old Czech mounted an impressive charge to improve from 15th to a podium finish. The best of the German contingent was Valentin Kees (Kosak Racing Team / Husqvarna) in fourth place.