By One word to sum up the opening IRRC Superbike race of 2023, unpredictable.
Various race lead changes, swift overtakes, surprise moments, you name it this 1000cc encounter lived up to expectations.
Under one second covered the top three at the end of lap one, as qualifying victor Lukas Maurer headed event wildcard Thijs Peeters and reigning Champion Vincent Lonbois.
Lap on lap, the gap between the leading trio continued to dwindle.
By lap five, BMW pilot Peeters had hit the front with Mototech supported Lonbois joining him in overhauling Maurer.
Lap six would prove eventful for Belgium’s Lonbois, who’s victory challenge effectively ended, dropping back to ninth.
This left the battle for P1 firmly between Peeters and top five finisher in last year’s Macau Grand Prix, Switzerland’s Maurer.
Going onto the ninth and final lap, it was looking good for 84 plate-holder Peeters, could Maurer find the code to unlocking P1?
The answer was yes, as the ‘team green’ machinery stalwart made a tumultuous dash for victory, setting the fastest lap of the race (1.47.125), finishing 0.229 in front of gallant runner-up Peeters.
IRRC legend Didier Grams took P3 with fourth, fifth acquired by Dutch roads royalty, Joey Den Besten and Virgil Amber Bloemhard.
Markus Karlsson occupied sixth, Patrick Hoff took seventh ahead of twice IRRC Champion Lonbois, who after mid race misfortunes got back up to eighth.
Culminating the first fifteenth finishers were Laurent Hoffmann, Luca Gottardi, Marcel Elsner, Nico Muller, leading UK pilot Richard Charlton, Wally Jacobs and Pontus Roestlinger.
IRRC Hengelo – Superbike Race 1 Result:
1st – Lukas Maurer
2nd – Thijs Peeters
3rd – Didier Grams
4th – Joey Den Besten
5th – Virgil Amber Bloemhard
6th – Markus Karlsson
7th – Patrick Hoff
8th – Vincent Lonbois
9th – Laurent Hoffmann
10th – Luca Gottardi
11th – Marcel Elsner
12th – Nico Muller
13th – Richard Charlton
14th – Wally Jacobs
15th – Pontus Roestlinger
16th – Rhys Hardisty
17th – Forest Dunn
18th – Marcel Zuurbier
19th – Xavier Denis
20th – Patrick Van Der Eecken
21st – Jaroslaw Szczesny
22nd – Steven Bellavoine
23rd – Johannes Schwimmbeck
24th – Lasse Karki
25th – Reinhard Strack
26th – Florian Astner
27th – Rob Van Eijs
28th – Dirk Walter
29th – Emil Krchnavy
30th – Paul Manx
31st – Christoph Kreller
32nd – Mike Ceuppens
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
