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Round nine of the World SBK Championship takes place at the German circuit of Lausitzring, meaning it will hold great significance for Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team), who returns to his home circuit for the first time with WorldSBK.

Continuing to search for a strong set-up on his new Honda Fireblade SP2, the German rider is motivated into the second half of the season and what better way that in front of his home crowd. Excited to ride around the circuit and to see how his pace is with his Superbike, the 27 year old hopes to get a good amount of track time in, as he notes many rivals have a head start following a summer test in Germany.

“I’m looking forward to my home race of the season and to return to action after the summer break,” begins Bradl. “It’s going to be important for me to do well in front of the German crowd – the home round always gives local riders extra motivation – and it will be interesting to see how we will perform here at Lausitzring."

"I can’t say I know the track too well: I have raced there two or three times but it was long time ago, so I’m curious to see how this track will be with a big bike. I hope I can adapt quite quickly because the other top riders have tested here recently, so they will have a head start. There will be a lot of work to do but I hope we’ll have a good race weekend.”

Joining Bradl will be Davide Giugliano (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team), who makes his return to the WorldSBK paddock for 2017. Following a test around the 4.225km back in July, the Italian will already have a basic set-up in mind for this round, with an understanding of the challenging track.

Giugliano notes how he will take on this weekend: “This is my first World Superbike race of the season so of course there are some things I need to adjust back to. The most important thing for the round is to work well with the team and have a step-by-step approach with the bike, in order to keep improving in each and every session."

"The track is a unique one and hopefully the weather will be on our side, but in any case I’m really looking forward to getting started!"

 

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The WorldSBK summer break is over and the action resumes next week with the Prosecco DOC German Round, at the Lausitzring track.

As announced over the summer Davide Giugliano will ride for the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team, in the place of the late Nicky Hayden on board the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2.

"I'm back in the WorldSBK with a strong feeling of serenity," said the Italian. "I had this great opportunity from Honda and I will do the best I can. We had the opportunity to do two days of testing on the Lausitzring track, unfortunately the weather made us lose some time, but I was able to get to understand the bike, which is the most important thing. I got an idea of ​​what the job will be and I will take on the German Round with composure."

"Following my first ride on the Honda, the feeling I got was really great,” continues Giugliano. “There are a few points to work on, but of course it is a new bike that still needs development."

"The project has had some setbacks; including unfortunately the severe loss of Nicky Hayden. The technicians continued to work and even at Lausitzring, during the tests, they introduced some changes which could be good."

Explaining his feelings ahead of the German Round, the 27 year old adds: "Truthfully I don’t know where I realistically finish in the Lausitzring round. The track has a nice layout but the asphalt isn’t in a great condition, it has so many holes which is not the best."

"Honda have given me this great opportunity thanks to my experience, considering that I have raced different bikes in World Superbike in the past. I have not met Bradl in person yet, I'll meet him next weekend and I cannot wait to start working. "

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23 year old Markus Reiterberger will be back in the World Superbike Championship for the Prosecco DOC German round next weekend. With the Van Zon – Remeha BMW team, managed by Werner Daemen, the German rider will enter as a wild card to be back in action, riding a WorldSBK-spec BMW S 1000 RR. Keeping busy since he has left the WorldSBK paddock, we catch up with Reiterberger ahead of his race in front of his home fans.S

Welcome back to WorldSBK! First of all: How are you feeling and what have you been doing since you left the championship after the first couple of races?
I am feeling very well. I was able to keep a focus on my health and fitness and I am not only riding the IDM, I am also doing a lot Enduro and Speedway. After my ‘set back’ I am now riding motorbikes more, and I am feeling good on the bikes again. My lap times and results in the IDM show that we are heading in the right direction, I feel good and fit and I am looking forward to the reunion with WorldSBK this weekend.

You have had an intense preparation for the Lausitzring weekend and will be using your own motorbike. What is the tech spec of this BMW? Also compared to the Althea ones?
Thanks to the sponsors of the Van Zon – Remeha – BMW Team and the support of BMW Motorrad, we could put together this WorldSBK-spec bike.Our IDM Crew – including mechanics, data- and suspension-engineers and so on – is on world level already and could prepare the bike the best possible way. In a preparation time of four weeks you won’t invent the new wheel new, but we have a good package.

What are this weekend's targets for you?
We only have a small amount of experience in terms of the technical side of this motorbike and we've only had two days of testing. To finish within the top ten would make me happy, we just want to show that we can push using our experience. Most of all I want to enjoy this weekend.

Are there any plans to take on further WorldSBK races this year?
Initially it was planned to make more wild card appearances but at the moment this is off the list. If we can find some further sponsors that would invest together with us, this would be a possibility.

Is there a full time comeback in to the WorldSBK in the making or planning? Do you know something about next year already?
Of course my target and highest priority is to get back to a full time ride in a World Championship, and WorldSBK is my dream. I believe in myself and our potential, but to race for the top five positions, everything has to fit into place. Together with my manager Werner Daemen we are working with high pressure on the next season, as soon as this all is sorted we will announce something.

Looking back: Do you still think it was the right decision to leave WorldSBK on course of the season?
At that point it was the right decision. I am happy where I am right now and what I achieved so far. I am feeling well, collected a lot of experience over the last years and now I am able to show that. In every race I have been entering in the IDM I give my everything, this is our aspiration. To work at the highest level, never mind what series.

 

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Returning Welshman takes win with excellent ride at Laguna, ahead of fellow podium finishers Rea and Sykes

At the US Round on Saturday afternoon in sunny conditions at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) recorded a superb win as he returned from his Misano injuries in style, whilst Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) were also on the podium.

The leading three could not be caught by the rest of the field as they charged away at the head of the race over the opening laps, with Davies and Rea pulling away from pole man Sykes in the final third of the race. With Rea right on his tail Davies held his nerve over the last few laps to notch a superb Race 1 win as he put his back and thumb injuries from Round 7 firmly behind him.

Davies celebrated the win by holding up a number 69 flag in tribute to the late Nicky Hayden, following the tragic recent passing of the Kentucky Kid.

The Ducati rider’s final winning margin over Rea was 1.2s, with Sykes a further +4.596s behind his Northern Irish colleague in third place.

After 25 exciting laps of the Laguna Seca track Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) crossed the line in fourth, with Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team) close behind him in fifth.

Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team), Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Leandro Mercado (IODARacing) and Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) completed the top ten.

A special mention must go to Jake Gagne who got a chance to ride for the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team, the American scoring a point to give the home fans something to cheer as they also fondly paid their own tributes to former Honda man Hayden.

It was not a great day for Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) or Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) as they both crashed out, but they will each get a chance to make amends on Sunday.

 

         

 

 

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