The KTM Superbike Team Germany was impressive in the third race weekend of the IDM with the two official RC8R riders Stefan Nebel on the podium and two fourth places for teammate Martin Bauer. Privateer Vesa Kallio also picked up championship points on a weekend where the team made a strong impression
Nebel of Germany delivered the highlight for the team this weekend with a third place in race one on the Nuerburgring circuit just an hour away from where he lives.
KTM, the sports motorcycle manufacturers from Mattighofen in Austria are in second place in the Manufacturer's standings, just one point behind the leader.
Race One
The first race started on a dry track but with just two laps to go in the regular race distance it started to rain. Until then, both of the official KTM riders had worked their way forward from their second row grid positions. Nebel, who went into the first corner in fourth place profited when championship leader Joerg Teuchert crashed in front of him in the middle of the race and was therefore able to celebrate his podium place in his home race.
Team colleague Martin Bauer (Austria) also delivered a good race. The double IDM Superbike champion did not take any risks going into a treacherously tight corner after the start but then Bauer pulled out all the stops to hunt down the lead only to finish behind his RC8R colleague Nebel. Also finishing in the points in the 18-lap race was the KTM privateer Vesa Kallio. Even if the Finn was not able to hang onto his sensational seventh place on the starting grid, his eleventh place finish was still a reason to celebrate. Victory went to the Australian Karl Muggeridge who finished in front of Werner Daemen.
Race Two
The second race on the 3.61 km circuit was stopped after a mass pile-up in the first corner. It was Martin Bauer that found the best way through the first corner when the race was restarted. The Austrian speedily worked his way up to behind the leaders on his around 190 hp two-cylinder Superbike but despite his efforts, he still didn't quite manage the third place on the podium. Bauer, who two weeks ago at Oschersleben delivered KTM's first ever Superbike victory in the IDM, battled with a loss of grip in the latter part of the race and finished six second behind the winner Muggeridge in fourth place.
Stefan Nebel got hemmed into the first corner and lost a lot of places in the 28-rider field. Riding with a rear tire that was too hard, his efforts to chase down the leaders meant he finished in eighth place. Vesa Kallio fought in a large group in the middle of the field during the entire race but the brother of former KTM GP racer Mika Kallio was still able to celebrate finishing in the points at 13th place.
Stefan Nebel (3./8.): "Riding in my home race was a bit like the weather: very changeable. I didn't apply quite enough pressure in the first two laps of the first race but apart from that I had a good rhythm and a good speed. I was doubly pleased with my third place because there were so many of my sponsors, partners and friends at the race. Sadly I couldn't improve on that result in the second race. The pack got away from me and I had trouble closing the gap. 24 points is still a good booty and I am very motivated by the narrow gap in the championship points."
Martin Bauer (4./4.): " A clear improvement on the first race. I would have been very pleased to finish on the podium but I quickly had big problems with grip with the left side of the tire where there is seldom stress on it. I do admit that I'm not satisfied with my two fourth places after our win two weeks ago. But I see the podium place in the first race as positive for Stefan and the team - and I'm still second in the championship standings."
IDM 125: KTM Youngster again on the road to success. First podium for Philipp Oettl
Two 125 races were also on the program for the Nuerburgring Just like the the first three races of the season, the young KTM riders from the KTM Freudenberg Team and the KTM HP-Moto Teams were regulars on the podium. With a great second place in Saturday's race as well as a fifth place in the second race, Swiss rider Damien Raemy moved into fourth place in the overall standings. And for the first time in his five races in the IDM, the 14-year-old Philipp Oettl was on the podium in third place. The young student from Bavaria had already signalled his ambition with a fifth place in the first race.
The third IDM racing weekend was a mixed one for Toni Finsterbusch. On Saturday the 15-year-old sacrificed his chances of victory when he crashed while in the lead. On Sunday he picked up valuable points and is third in the table. His teammate Daniel Kartheininger finished in sixth place overall after finishing fourth and seventh.
Results:
Race One
1. Karl Muggeridge (AUS), Honda
2. Werner Daemen (BEL), BMW
3. Stefan Nebel (GER), KTM
4. Martin Bauer, (AT), KTM
5. Matej Smrz (CZE), Honda
Other KTM
11. Vesa Kallio (FIN), KTM
Race Two:
1. Karl Muggeridge (AUS), Honda
2. Werner Daemen (BEL), BMW
3. Barry Veneman (NL), BMW
4. Martin Bauer, (AT), KTM
5. Joerg Teuchert (GER), Yamaha
Other KTM
8. Stefan Nebel (GER), KTM
11. Vesa Kallio (FIN), KTM
IDM Championship standings after 6 of 16 races
1. Karl Muggeridge (AUS), Honda, 50 points - 123 points
2. Martin Bauer (AT), KTM, 87
3. Barry Veneman (NL), BMW, 81
4. Joerg Teuchert, (GER), Yamaha 76
5. Werner Daemen (BEL), BMW, 73
Other KTM
6. Stefan Nebel (GER), KTM, 71
14. Vesa Kallio, (FIN), KTM, 21
IDM 125 Standings after five races
1. Luca Gruenwald, (GER), Seel, 111 points
2. Matthew Scholtz (RSA), Aprilia, 73
2. Toni Finsterbusch (GER), KTM, 65
4. Damien Raemy, (SUI), KTM, 55
5. Philipp Oettl, (GER), KTM, 54
5. Daniel Kartheininger (GER), KTM, 54