Althea BMW Racing Team satisfied after first WorldSBK round.
A truly exciting race today at the Australian track that has been hosting the
Superbike series ever since 1990. The many fans spread around the sun-kissed
track over the three days today witnesses what was an extremely hard-fought
battle from beginning to end.
When the light went off, the two Althea BMW Racing Team
riders started from the fourth row, in eleventh (Reiterberger) and twelfth
(Torres) position with their BMW S 1000 RR machines.
“Reiti” made a strong start, earning two positions on the
second lap, and was lying ninth until lap six, while Jordi was caught up in
traffic through the first corners after a bad start, and was lapping fifteenth
on lap one. Making up three position, the Spaniard from Rubì was able to reach
his teammate on lap five. The pair completed six laps one in front of the other
until Reiterberger decided to pass the rider ahead of him, to position eighth
on lap thirteen. During the following lap he made a mistake that allowed both
Torres and then Brookes to pass him. At this point, a strong Torres maintained
eighth position and was able to cross the line in an excellent seventh
position. Reiterberger finished behind him, eighth.
The week was characterised by two crashes during testing,
one for each rider, and by a crash in Race 1 for Markus Reiterberger. The
riders’ physical condition was therefore less than perfect. The BMW technicians
and engineers are nevertheless satisfied with this first event and now prepare
for round two, in Thailand, aware that they have identified a solid base for
the bike and that the riders are well capable of exploiting the strengths of
the BMW S 1000 RR.
The second round of the FIM Superbike World Championship
will take place in a fortnight’s time at the Chang International Circuit in
Thailand.
Note : Stories and pictures by Bonamici Racing Team