Team Suzuki Press Office – April 26. Suzuki GRANDys duo’s Marko Jerman raced to a podium finish at the opening round of the Polish Superbike Championship and Alpe Adria Cup at Slovakiaring as multi-Championship winner Andy Meklau crashed and was unable to start.
After setting Pole on the Superstock class, Meklau crashed on the opening lap while in the lead and was unable to take part in the Superbike race. However Superbike team newcomer Bartek Wiczynski, in his first ride for the Polish Suzuki team, raced to a respectable seventh position.
With Meklau out injured, the Superbike class was represented by Jerman and Mariusz Durynek. At the beginning of the race Jerman fought hard and was in with a chance for second place, but the race was red-flagged after an incident after the ninth lap. At this point, Durynek was in 22 place, but he was given a penalty for jumping the start and he was knocked back to 29th.
In the Supersport class, Szymon Strankowski was the top 600cc rider home aboard his GSX-R600 and 14th overall against the larger-capacity machines.
The next round of Polish Championship and Alpe Adria Cup takes place at Brno on May 13th where GRANDys duo hope Meklau and Daniel Bukowski – who was injured prior to the event – will both be fit to ride.
Jacek Grandys – Team Manager:
“The last time we had such a difficult weekend we here at Slovakiaring in 2010 when we returned home without any points. This time was clearly better, but still below our expectations as we are always aiming for the highest place. I’m happy with Bartek’s form; he showed that he is able to fight at the front of the Alpe Adria Cup and when we go to a more Suzuki-friendly circuit, we could easily be thinking of the podium. Szymon also fought bravely against stronger rivals and I’m sure that when Daniel Bukowski comes back to the track, Szymon will make further progress.”
Slovakiaring results:
Superbike race: 1 Jan Halbich, 2 Michal Filla, 3 Marko Jerman (GRANDys duo Suzuki), 4 Viktor Kispataki, 5 Gregory Junod. 7 Bartek Wiczynski (GRANDys duo Suzuki). 29 Mariusz Durynek (GRANDys duo Suzuki). DNS: Andy Meklau (GRANDys duo Suzuki).
Supersport race: 1 Stefan Kerchbaumer, 2 Marek Szkopek, 3 David Latr, 4 Thomas Berghammer, 5 Tomas Vavrous.14 Szymon Strankowski (GRANDys duo Suzuki) – 1st Junior Superstock 600.
Superstock 1000 race: 1 Michal Filla, 2 Martin Choy, 3 Gwen Giabbani, 4 Mariusz Kondratowicz, 5 Stefan Schrammel.
