KTM CELEBRATES DOUBLE IDM SUPERBIKE VICTORY AT SCHLEIZ

Riders battled difficult conditions and a wet track in the first race but as conditions improved and the track dried out, it meant tire choice became an issue. The race went to KTM rider Smrz with a convincing 2.5 seconds margin. Bauer joined him on the podium in third place and clearly the Austrian rider was just laying the foundations for what was an impressive display of riding in race two.  Indeed when the riders rejoined the track for the second race, Bauer got off to a perfect start and put on an incredible show of force to underline both his own riding skills and the power of the KTM RC8 R Superbike. He forged a leading margin of eight seconds before easing off and settling to be a mere five seconds in front of the pack at the checkered flag.

Smrz, the winner of race one, also finished strongly in race two despite some minor technical difficulties resulting in a slight drop in engine power and some shifting problems. Bauer picked up a big 24 points for the weekend, consolidating his lead in the championship with just two race weekends (four races) left on the program. Smrz is currently fifth in the overall standings. Stefan Nebel, the third KTM rider and Smrz’s teammate at Inghart KTM) was shad some health issues and minor electrical problems so he was content with his two sixth places.

Two privateer KTM riders were also on the track for the sixth race weekend: Thomas Helldobler (Schittko KTM) and former 125 rider Daniel Kartheininger (Oppermann KTM Team).  KTM also regained the lead in the Manufacturers championship and currently has a slim, two points advance on BMW.

Martin Bauer: “I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks in race one and third place was more than I expected. I did have some luck as Giuseppetti had crashed just in front of me. I ran over his front wheel and had to run over the grass in the fast downhill section. Race two was perfect. I got a good start and could ride away at a good pace to show the real potential of the bike. The RC8 R was flawless today!”

Matej Smrz: “Everything turned out very well in race one. I got a good start and at first I took it easy. I was behind the leading two but I knew I could catch them because my Dunlop tires worked very well when the rack dried. I waited for as long as possible before I took the led and then went on and won the race. Race two was difficult because I had a bit less power and had to deal with shifting problems. So fifth place was not perfect but still good and the championship is still open.”

Stefan Nebel: “I have to be content with two sixth places because I came here with some sort of infection and I had to deal with it. Another rider destroyed my best qualifying lap so I had to start in the second row. I had some good battles in the first race and the result was okay but race two was more difficult.”

IDM 125
KTM’s success on the circuit was also underlined in the 125 class with two riders of the Austrian-made machines on the podium. Germany’s Luca Grünwald stormed to his first victory of the season while young Florian Alt finished third and took the first IDM podium of his career. Both ride for Freudenberg KTM team.

Grünwald started with a cautious first lap but then opened up the bike and charged away from the pack to secure his victory. Fellow German rider Florian Alt on the other hand fought hard in a group of six riders to finally finish third behind Championship leader Jack Miller.

GP Rider Marcel Schrötter, who stepped in for injured KTM rider Toni Finsterbusch, who broke his collarbone in the practice sessions on day one finished good sixth while Philipp Öttl was seventh across the line. Austrian Deni Cudic crashed in the first lap, Swedish ace Alex Kristiansson also crashed after an incident with Jack Miller as they were engaged in a fight for a top three finish.

Wishes for a speedy recovery to Ducati rider Dario Giuseppetti
KTM riders and teams also take the opportunity to wish Ducati rider Dario Giuseppetti a speedy recovery after he broke is leg in a crash in the rain-soaked first race, which was red flagged and re-started after the rider had received medical care. Giuseppetti, a popular and very competitive rider had rode to pole position on Saturday.

IDM SUPERBIKE, Race 1 Results at Schleizer Dreieck, Germany
1, Matej Smrz, Czech Republic, KTM
2, Damian Cudlin, Australia, BMW
3, Martin Bauer, Austria, KTM
4, Karl Muggeridge, Australia Honda
5, Ghisbert van Ginhoven, Netherlands, BMW
Other KTM
6, Stefan Nebel, Germany, KTM
13, Thomas Helldobler, Germany, KTM
15, Daniel Kartheininger, Germany, KTM

IDM SUPERBIKE, Race 2 Results
1, Martin Bauer, Austria, KTM
2, Damian Cudlin, Australia, BMW
3, Karl Muggeridge, Australia Honda
4, Gareth Jones, Australia, BMW
5, Matej Smrz, Czech Republic, KTM
Other KTM
6, Stefan Nebel, Germany, KTM
16, Thomas Helldobler, Germany, KTM

IDM SUPERBIKE Standings
1, Martin Bauer, Austria, KTM, 187
2, Karl Muggeridge, Australia, Honda, 163
3, Damian Cudlin, Australia, BMW, 160
4, Mate Smrz, Czech Republic, KTM, 155
5, Michael Ranseder, Austria, BMW, 129
Other KTM
11, Stefan Nebel, Germany, KTM, 67

IDM SUPERBIKE Manufacturers’ Standings
1, KTM 364
2, BMW, 362
3, Honda, 203

IDM 125, Results at Schleizer Dreieck, Germany
1, Luca Grünwald, Germany, KTM
2, Jack Miller, Australia, Aprilia
3, Florian Alt, Germany, KTM
4, Bryan Schouten, Netherlands, Honda
5, Luca Amato, Germany, Aprilia
Other KTM
6, Marcel Schrötter, Germany, KTM
7, Philipp Öttl, Germany, KTM

IDM 125, Standings
1, Jack Miller, Australia, Aprilla, 125
2, Luca Amato, Germany, Aprilia, 115
3, Luca Grünwald, Germany, KTM, 71
4. Alexander Kristiansson, Sweden, KTM, 65
5, Bryan Schouten, Netherlands, 55
Other KTM
6, Toni Finsterbusch, Germany, KTM, 52
9, Philipp Öttl, Germany, KTM, 40
10, Florian Alt, Germany, KTM, 29
14, Deni Cudic, Austria, KTM, 23
16, Damien Raemy, Switzerland, KTM, 12