ADAC NEC: High point of season at Sachsenring

• ADAC Northern Europe Cup to line up at GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland
• König and Geiger in pursuit of Meggle in Standard class
• Exciting battle between Dubbink and Georgi in GP category

Munich: After the first three successful ADAC Northern Europe Cup meetings in Silverstone, at Assen, Netherlands and at the Lausitzring in Germany, the new ADAC junior series heads to the Sachsenring this weekend for the high point of the season with a round under the banner of the GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland. The Standard and GP class riders will be practically riding with their big idols in MotoGP.

The weekend kicks off on Friday, July 15th with an initial 30-minute qualifying heat at 18:05. The second, deciding qualifying session will be staged on Saturday at 17:35. The fifth ADAC NEC race will get under way at 16:25 on Sunday, 17th July over 20 laps of the demanding 3.671-km grand prix circuit.

Standard class: Meggle is the one to beat

The ADAC NEC riders will face an exciting challenge this weekend in front of more than 200,000 fans, making their annual pilgrimage to the Sachsenring. Potential sponsors and the best teams and riders in the world will also be there to watch them. Matthias Meggle (15, DEU) on 81 points heads the Standard class just before the mid-point of the season.

He will find the weekend particularly exciting and demanding, as he told us: “Riding under the MotoGP banner is going to be great, for sure,” said the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé, who is already familiar with the atmosphere at the circuit from previous years in Moto3 and in the ADAC Junior Cup powered by KTM. At the same time, though, he admits that: “The Sachsenring is not necessarily one of my favourite tracks because it’s quite tricky.”

Meggle will not take part in the ADAC NEC qualifying, though, since he is also competing in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and will have to start the ADAC NEC race from the rear of the field. “But I feel confident that I can still push forwards a little and secure vital points towards the championship even from last slot on the grid. It’s always really great to ride at a grand prix weekend,” he added, relishing the challenge.

Oliver König (14, CZE), who has already taken his maiden win, achieving podiums in three of the four races contested so far, is on 66 points, just 15 points behind the leader, and hopes to make up even more ground at the Sachsenring. Dirk Geiger (14, DEU) is also within striking distance. The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé has made huge strides in the standings after a rather difficult start to the season and is now in third place overall with 60 points.

Dubbink aims to maintain his advantage in the GP class

Ernst Dubbink (27, NED) on 78 points heads the GP category in the run-up to the season highlight at the Sachsenring. However, following the first four races, this weekend looks like being particularly exciting for Tim Georgi (16, DEU), who is only three points down on the leader. Both riders have so far shared the wins between them. “I will do everything I can at the Sachsenring to maintain my advantage,” promised Dubbink.

But Georgi is also well prepared and aims to finish on top. “I’m really looking forward to the Sachsenring. It’s one of my favourite tracks and riding alongside MotoGP is obviously always very special. I’m really looking forward to it. The track is special, different to the others and then there’s the setting, just amazing! I hope that I can take another win there,” said the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé, who has another important task ahead of him this weekend – he will get his first outing in the Moto3 world championship on a wildcard.