ADAC NEC: Dirk Geiger claims pole at Sachsenring

• Fourth race weekend as support event to GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland
• Fastest qualifying time in Standard classification set by Geiger
• Ernst Dubbink secures pole in Grand Prix class

Hohenstein-Ernstthal: The fourth race weekend of the ADAC Northern Europe Cup (NEC) began on Friday with cool and sometimes rainy weather for the first qualifying session. On Saturday, though, the sun was shining on the 3.67km Sachsenring track, assuring optimum conditions for the second qualifying session which would decide the starting grids for this support event to the GoPro Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland. Dirk Geiger (14, GER) and Ernst Dubbink (27, NED) set the fastest times in the Standard and GP classes.

Geiger posts unbeatable lap time

In the second qualifying session, Dirk Geiger set a fastest lap of 01:31.299 minutes to secure pole position for the fifth of ten ADAC NEC races in the 2016 season. The time of the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé was significantly better than that of his closest rival Oliver König (14, CZE). The Czech rider qualified second in the Standard class, 0.787 seconds adrift of Geiger.

Third place went to Toni Erhard (15, GER) who, like Geiger, is a member of the Kiefer Racing Team squad. Leon Czichos (14, GER) took fourth place in the Standard category ahead of Philipp Freitag (19, GER), who rides for the FKoch Rennsport & Hannes Allwardt Team. The top five contestants in the Standard class all set their fastest lap times in the second qualifying session on Saturday afternoon.

In the GP Class, Dubbink came out on top. The experienced Dutch rider clocked a fastest lap of 1:31.347 minutes in the first qualifying session on Friday. Dubbink was unable to improve his lap time in the second qualifying on Saturday after a taking a tumble. Despite the accident, he intends to be back on the attack in the race. Jason Dupasquier (14, SUI) and Johanna Innerfors (21, SWE) complete the Top Three in the GP class.

Comments from the leading riders

Dirk Geiger (14, GER), fastest, ADAC NEC Standard:
“The track is great, and my bike worked perfectly. I’m totally satisfied and looking forward to the race. The Sachsenring is definitely one of my favourite tracks. For one thing, I’m good on left-hand turns, and competing here during the MotoGP weekend is just amazing. Then there are the huge number of fans and the great atmosphere – I just can’t get enough of it. The first qualifying on Friday already went very well for me, although the weather conditions were not all that good. The second qualifying session was even better. My goal was to be on pole position and I’ve managed to do that. I’m delighted. In the race itself, I hope I can convert this good starting position into a podium. A victory would obviously be the perfect outcome. Thanks to my team, my sponsors and all the people who support me.”

Ernst Dubbink (27, NED), fastest, ADAC NEC GP:
“The first qualifying session yesterday was only the beginning, but I was pretty fast. I ultimately set a time of 1:31.3 minutes which put me out ahead. Even so, I wasn’t completely happy with myself, because I was five tenths of a second slower than my record here. Today in qualifying, I tried to improve on my own time. On the third lap, I went almost as fast as yesterday, but then on the fourth lap, I unfortunately came off my bike. This was due a minor mistake that I made myself. My front wheel turned in on itself on the fast left-hander going downhill. Fortunately, I didn’t hurt myself and I’m still fit for tomorrow’s race. My aim in the race is to convert my pole position into victory in the GP class. It’s great for me personally here at the Sachsenring because a lot of Dutch fans have come for the German Grand Prix and they are also watching my race. So I have plenty of fans in the grandstands here, and I hope that I can repay them for their long journey with a decent result.”