One of the highlights of the 2017 ADAC Northern Europe Cup season is scheduled this weekend (30th June - 2nd July) for riders in the Moto3 series, who will go head-to-head during the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring. Competitors in the Standard and GP classes will contest their sixth race of the 2017 season within the context of the World Motorcycle Championship.
The race weekend will begin with an initial 30-minute qualifying on Friday at 6:05pm before the second 30-minute qualifying session on Saturday at 6:15pm decides the grid positions for the race which in its turn will get under way on Sunday at 4:25pm, covering 20 laps of the 3.671-kilometre circuit near Hohenstein-Ernsttahl.
Standard class: A tough weekend
Dirk Geiger (14, GER) intends to do a lot of catching up this weekend in the Standard class. After missing the win in both races a few weeks ago at Donington Park in the UK and finishing third, his goal is clear at the Sachsenring: "I'll do everything I can to make up for the points lost in the UK and try to win as I did last year," he said.
The ADAC Sports Foundation protégé loves the Sachsenring. "The atmosphere around the circuit especially, the many fans and MotoGP™ stars at the circuit turn the race weekend into a very special event," he told us. "The track is very special, but I really love every part of it. It offers a lot of variety and plenty of thrills as well," added Geiger, who is on 107 points and still leads the overall standings despite two third places.
It was, however, Philipp Freitag (19, GER), who took the wins in England. The 19-year-old stood on the top rung of the podium twice and was also able to do a lot of catching up in the overall standings. Freitag is now in second place with 88 points. "The Sachsenring is a wonderful track and forms a terrific setting with the MotoGP," he said. Freitag is certain he can do well again this weekend.
"We had problems in qualifying last year and threw away our chance of winning as a result. I'll definitely have to prepare well," he continued. Apart from fitness training, he also has to study the circuit. "I must also go over what we did last year and perhaps be able to do better now, but of course, physical preparation is at the top of my agenda, because it's sure to be a major challenge again."
However, his rivals will want to have their say. The Sachsenring is a home race for Toni Erhard (16, GER), who is currently in third place with 73 points and is eager to show off his talent in front of the celeb spectators. Oliver König (15, CZE) and Simon Jespersen (15, DEN), currently placed fourth and fifth with 63 and 55 points respectively, will be aiming to do their utmost again in front of the big stars from MotoGP.
Georgi heading for fifth win in GP class?
"The Sachsenring is always special. Every time I come to the track, it feels like I've never driven there before," says Tim Georgi (17, GER), who currently leads the overall GP standings with 100 points and makes reference to the circuit's unique layout. "Of course, it's also always very special because of the setting. I'm really looking forward to it," says the ADAC Sports Foundation protégé.
Full of enthusiasm, Georgi adds: "The best thing of all is driving down the Omega and then back up Karthalle. That's an amazing section of track." After taking four wins from five races, Georgi's goal at the Sachsenring is clear, he intends to win again. But Kevin Orgis (17, GER) in particular will not want to see that happen.
Currently second in the overall standings with 77 points, Orgis will also be racing in the Red Bull MotoGP™ Rookies Cup this weekend. According to regulations, Orgis is only allowed to post one timed qualifying lap and has to qualify on the grid, so as not to have any advantage over his fellow ADAC NEC competitors. The race will then run normally for the 17-year-old.
Walid Khan Soppe (17, NED) is in a similar position. "I can only post one lap in qualifying, so it'll have to be really good. I don't quite know what to expect. I hope I can make it into the Top Ten on the grid with a quick lap and then improve a lot in the race," says Soppe, who is currently third in the championship.
Things have really hotted up especially in the fight for second place in the overall standings of the GP class. While Orgis on 77 points is currently ranked second, Soppe is only one point adrift in third place. Jan-Ole Jähnig (16, GER) is fourth with 74 points and, like Erhard, will want to give it his all in front of his home crowd and secure a strong result home on his Moto3 debut at the Sachsenring.