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| 03.07.2010 |
| Great start to KTM’s IDM Superbike Championship weekend on the Salzburgring |
| KTM RC8R riders were on track and fast on Saturday on Austria’s Salzburgring just a few km from the KTM factory at Mattighofen in qualifying for their home IDM (German International Superbike Championship) race on Sunday. |
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On what is the fastest circuit on the entire IDM calendar and in blistering temperatures of more than 35 deg. Celsius, Stefan Nebel missed pole position by just 0.3 seconds. Like all other top ten riders, Nebel completed his fastest lap in the first session when it was cooler.
KTM Germany teammate Martin Bauer, the Austrian rider on the “Made in Austria” Superbike finished sixth in qualifying. While he said he wasn’t 100 percent comfortable at top speed he still intends to deliver a top performance in Sunday’s race. The closeness of the two KTM riders was evident when halfway through the first qualifying session they were in fourth and fifth position with an equal time of 1.19:992.
RC8R privateer Vesa Kallio of Finland crashed in free practice on Friday but still managed to finish 21st on Saturday. It is his first ride on the Salzburg circuit.
IDM 125s
The young KTM riders competing in the IDM 125 class were also hot on the track. Daniel Kartheininger is on pole for Sunday, Toni Finsterbusch is fifth, Philipp Oettl seventh and Daemien Raemy.is ninth, evidence that the next generation of KTM road racers is also well on track. |
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| Stefan Nebel in action on the KTM RC8R on the Salzburg circuit
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| Top ride for pole position by Daniel kartheininger on the KTM 125
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| Nebel and Bauer in close combat |
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