Martin Bauer enjoys his first...
Martin Bauer enjoys his first podium for KTM Team Germany
KTM Superbike Team Germany enjoyed a positive start to the International German Superbike Championship (IDM) on Sunday with Martin Bauer overcoming a crash in the first race to be on the podium in the second, while Stefan Nebel, the 2009 vice-Champion was twice fourth for a strong start to the season.
Both riders already had constantly fast times in the two training sessions to demonstrate the good form of the team with Bauer securing second place on the grid with his new racing machine behind the Australian Karl Muggeridge, who went on to win both races. Teammate Nebel started both 18-lap races sixth on the grid at the Eurospeedway Lausitzring.
Race 1:
Some 34 starters lined up to contest the first race of the 2010 IDM season with Nebel and Bauer mastering the first eye of the needle on the Eurospeedway in places fifth and sixth respectively. Bauer, spurred on by his top training results had stormed to the front of the field within five laps. Then the Austrian lost control of the front wheel of his RC8R and crashed, sacrificing his change of victory in his first ever race with the 1200-twin.
Martin Bauer and Stefan Nebel,...
Martin Bauer and Stefan Nebel, teammates and rivals on the track
The race went better for vice champion Nebel who had worked himself into fourth place by the half way mark and went on to secure 13 valuable points in the season's opener. Vesa Kallio, the third RC8R rider on the Lausitzring was also able to celebrate some points in the opening race. Following a crash in the second timed training session, he started at 15 on the grid and went through the chequered flag in eleventh place.
Race 2:
Martin Bauer was also very impressive in the second race, this time with a better outcome because he was able to hang onto the leaders Muggeridge and Teuchert right up to the end of the race. Instead of adopting an all or nothing attack, the Austrian rode his 190 hp strong racing bike into third place. His teammate Nebel crossed the line just behind him in fourth place. The Orange duo had hunted down the front runners for almost the entire race distance and in doing so put a five second gap between them and the rest of the field. And with Vesa Kallio finishing in 14th place, the third KTM Superbike also gathered points on the Eurospeedway.
KTM privateer Vessa Kallio...
KTM privateer Vessa Kallio onboard his RC8R
" I went into both races extremely motivated and ready to go again. My starts were very good and here we have already improved on last year. The lap times were on a very high level, both fourth places were hard fought and I always had my eye on the front runners. So I am satisfied with the outcome of the opening races. We got everything out of them that was possible."
Martin Bauer (crash./3.): "Everything went very well for the first few laps of the first race. In fact a bit too good. When I was in front then I lost the front wheel and was really frustrated. But I was fully motivated for the second race. I almost didn't make it on the podium because in the middle of the race I couldn't force it any more. I had to stave off all the slips with me knee. Also, I had Stefan right behind me putting the pressure on. But I was able to laugh at the end. I'm happy for the team that we managed a podium after our intensive test program in winter. Nevertheless I'm not yet satisfied."
Konrad Hefele (Team Manager): "Two races, three riders at the finish line, one podium, two fourth places and no technical problems on any of the three days. Apart from a few demolished parts on Martin's bike, it was a good start to the season - our team is already running with the right amount of revs. "
Impressive youngsters Raemy...
Impressive youngsters Raemy and Finsterbusch onboard their KTM 125s
All of the young KTM riders in the 125 ccm class of the IDM were impressive. After crashing in the first race, 16-year-old Swiss rider Damien Raemy took some comfort from getting the pole position and his third place in the second. Philipp Oettl, at 13, one of the youngest racers, delivered a fantastic display of talent finishing fifth and sixth in his first ever IDM races. The Team Freudenberg was also very successful with their first outing with the KTM machines. Toni Finsterbusch was already on the podium in the first race on Saturday and climbed on step higher in second place on Sunday. His team colleague and ex- Red Bull Rookie Daniel Kartheininger finished sixth and seventh, picking up 20 points.
Race One:
1. Karl Muggeridge (AUS), Honda
2. Gabor Rizmayer (HUN), Suzuki
3. Barry Veneman (NL), BMW
4. Stefan Nebel (GER), KTM
5. Didier van Keymeulen (BEL), Yamaha
11. Vesa Kallio (FIN), KTM
Race Two:
1. Karl Muggeridge (AUS), Honda
2. Joeg Teuchert (GER), Yamaha
3. Martin Bauer, (AT), KTM
4. Stefan Nebel (GER), KTM
5. Andy Meklau (AT), Suzuki
11. Vesa Kallio (FIN), KTM
IDM Championship Standings after 2 of 16 races
1. Karl Muggeridge (AUS), Honda, 50 points, 28 points
2. Stefan Nebel, 26 points
3. Barry Veneman, 26 points
4.Joerg Teuchert, 20 points
5. Gabor Rizmayer, 20 points
8. Martin Bauer (AT), 16 points
...
14, Vesa Kallio, Finland, KTM, 7 points
IDM 125 Championship Standings after 2 races
1.Matthew Scholtz (RSA), Aprilia, 45 points
2.Toni Finsterbusch (GER), KTM, 36 points
3. Luca Gruenwald, (GER), Seel, 36 points
4. Florian Alt (GER), Aprilia, 26 points
5. Philipp Oettl, (GER), KTM, 21 points
6. Daniel Kartheininger (GER), KTM, 19 points
8. Damien Raemy, (SUI), KTM, 16 points