By Preserving the form he illustrated from SBK Q1, RVS Motorsport’s Erno Kostamo surged to IRRC SBK Q2 qualifying, overall qualifying spoils at a warm weather blessed Frohburger Dreieck.
Unlocking mid 1.33 second lap times, the former Macau Grand Prix winner registered a top time of 1.33.421 seconds, to finish fastest by 1.733 seconds over Laurent Hoffmann (Hoffmann by MRP – BMW – 1.35.154) who still has a mathematical chance of IRRC Superbike Championship glory.
For this to arise though, the twice Supersport Champion needs Never Be Clever Racing’s Darryl Tweed to have a fair bulk of unfortunate luck.
Tweed (1.37.698), eleventh swiftest in SBK Q2, needs only three points from tomorrow’s opening big-bike encounter to secure the title and become Northern Ireland’s first IRRC series Champion.
Between Hoffmann and Tweed in SBK Q2 were event wildcard Freddie Heinrich (1.35.425), Wusa Cup Superbike Champion Michal Prasek (1.36.186).
Nico Muller (1.36.557), ‘AKA Driver’ Gary Johnson (Team Grams – BMW – 1.36.708), ‘Datziii’ David Datzer (1.37.132).
Virgil Amber Bloemhard (Performance Racing Achterhoek – Kawasaki – 1.37.233), Tomas Toth (Garo Racing Team – Kawasaki – 1.37.286) and Jan Buchel (Speed Tec – Kawasaki – 1.37.327).
Superbike Q2 Result:
1 – Erno Kostamo – 1.33.421
2 – Laurent Hoffmann – 1.35.154
3 – Freddie Heinrich – 1.35.425
4 – Michal Prasek – 1.36.186
5 – Nico Muller – 1.36.557
6 – Gary Johnson – 1.36.708
7 – David Datzer – 1.37.132
8 – Virgil Amber Bloemhard – 1.37.233
9 – Tomas Toth – 1.37.286
10 – Jan Buchel – 1.37.327
11 – Darryl Tweed – 1.37.698
12 – Fedrik Matthys – 1.38.192
13 – Marcel Elsner – 1.38.194
14 – David Brook – 1.38.355
15 – Thomas Altendorfer – 1.39.145
16 – Udo Reichmann – 1.39.196
17 – Anssi Koski – 1.39.288
18 – Stephane Bednarek – 1.39.669
19 – Pontus Roestlinger – 1.39.697
20 – Wally Jacobs – 1.39.827
21 – Rene Grundei – 1.40.063
22 – Christoph Kreller – 1.40.200
23 – Jakub Sprojcar – 1.40.460
24 – Lasse Karki – 1.41.153
25 – Wesley Ankersmid – 1.41.419
26 – Rene Mlkvy – 1.43.129
27 – Michal Podrabsky – 1.43.973
28 – Rob Van Eijs – 1.47.083
29 – Rasmus Salmhofer – 1.49.394
30 – Florian Astner – 2.15.688
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
