Third win of the year!
23-07-2012
Michael van der Mark started very well from third on the Superstock 600 European Championship grid and was leading after a couple of corners and after an intense en superb battle with Italian Riccardo Russo (Yamaha). Halfway through the race, Gauthier Duwelz (Yamaha) overtook Russo and tried to pass Van der Mark too but the EAB Ten Kate Junior Team rider saved the best for the last corner and won a very important race in terms of the championship as Russo ended in third. Van der Mark is the new leader in the Superstock 600 European Championship after today’s win at Brno. He is two points ahead of his Italian rival Russo.
Michael van der Mark (STK600 – 1st + 0.125 second): “After the second qualification, we knew we had the pace to fight for the win. But it was still a very hard race as I couldn’t run away from the other riders. I’m really happy after such an intense race and some great and fair battles with Gauthier Duwelz and Riccardo Russo. Last year Brno was my worst race of the season. To win a year later makes it even more special today.”
Ferruccio Lamborghini did a tremendous job in the Superstock 600 European Championship race and finished ninth. In 2011 the EAB Ten Kate Junior Team signed Italian Lamborghini in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup. Despite a shoulder injury, the Italian showed his true potential. Lamborghini impressed earlier in his career in the Superstock 600 European Championship with two poles in only three races. This year he defends the colours of the Quarantaquattro (forty-four in Italian) Racing Team in the Italian Championship (CIV) in the Moto2 class. Lamborghini rides the Ten Kate Racing Products Moto2 bike, the motorcycle that Van der Mark used during his wildcard entry in the 2011 Dutch TT, the GP of the Netherlands.
Without preparation, Lamborghini replaced the injured Bastien Chesaux this weekend, who still has a broken bone in his hand after a crash during the IDM Supersport race some weeks ago. In today´s early afternoon session, Lamborghini showed once more his true potential to score a brilliant third place. In the combined results list, Lamborghini was fifth on the grid. Unfortunately he lost a few positions in the race and ended ninth, just margins away from fifth and only thirteen seconds after race winner Van der Mark.
Ferruccio Lamborghini (STK600 – 9th + 13.023 seconds): “The only problem of the race was my start… When I released the clutch, the bike didn't get off the line immediately and I lost some positions. In the first two laps I was able to overtake some other riders and was fifth and close to the leaders. My race pace was good, with all laps in 2.08 low or 2.07 high, although it wasn't enough because the condition of the track wasn’t good as in the morning, so the bike was sliding a little bit too much at the rear. Anyway I’m happy because I was ready for the race after only three practices. Thanks to the entire team, it was a big pleasure and a great honour to work with you.”
Fabio Massei will start tomorrow´s Superstock 1000 FIM Cup race from twelfth on the grid. The resident of Rome improved his best time of yesterday by nearly a second but missed the second row with a few tenths of seconds. With a twelve laps race on the program everything is still possible for the EAB Ten Kate Junior Team rider.
Fabio Massei (STK1000 – 12th + 1.733 seconds): “It was a difficult day for us here at the Automotodrom Brno. The margins between the riders are so small. With a small improvement in time, the second row of the grid was possible. For tomorrow, my goal is clear: give everything!”
