By Excitement, excitement spread around Imatranajo, as Friday’s sole IRRC Superbike action (first qualifying) launched into realization.
No.1 SBK pilot this evening besting Finnish favourites Erno Kostamo (1.53.460) and Eemeli Lahti (1.54.344) was Horice lap record holder David Datzer.
Before the session was red-flagged, Datzer’s fifth timed lap yielded a sub 1:53 seconds lap time, lapping at 1:52.731 seconds.
Reigning ‘King of Imatra’ Kostamo, finished 0.729 in arrears to Germany’s quickest TT competitor.
IRRC SBK Championship leader Come Geenen (1.54.509) edged Jorn Hamberg (1.54.559) for the fourth quickest time.
Swiss ace Lukas Maurer (1.55.510) wrapped up the leader board top six, just ahead of TT wins record holder Michael Dunlop (1.55.542), who was astride his own teams Superstock Honda.
Finalising the SBK Q1 top ten were Kenny Koskinen (1.55.600), Ville Valtonen (1.55.883) and Sweden’s leading IRRC pilot, Markus Karlsson (1.55.929).
Outside this evening’s ten rapidest big-bike competitors, a host of famous names featured within the eleventh to twentieth fastest racers, including IRRC wins record holder Didier Grams (11th), Laurent Hoffmann (13th) and Johannes Schwimmbeck (15th).
Superbike Q1 Result:
1 – David Datzer – 1.52.731
2 – Erno Kostamo – 1.53.460
3 – Eemeli Lahti – 1.54.344
4 – Come Geenen – 1.54.509
5 – Jorn Hamberg – 1.54.559
6 – Lukas Maurer – 1.55.510
7 – Michael Dunlop – 1.55.542
8 – Kenny Koskinen – 1.55.600
9 – Ville Valtonen – 1.55.883
10 – Markus Karlsson – 1.55.929
11 – Didier Grams – 1.56.113
12 – Luca Gottardi – 1.56.212
13 – Laurent Hoffmann – 1.56.913
14 – Rhys Hardisty – 1.57.677
15 – Johannes Schwimmbeck – 1.58.625
16 – Anssi Koski – 1.58.675
17 – Wally Jacobs – 1.59.881
18 – Christoph Kreller – 2.00.549
19 – David Jean Luc – 2.01.470
20 – Tiziano Rosati – 2.01.537
21 – Heikki Mannila – 2.01.564
22 – Lukas Karlsson – 2.01.655
23 – Lasse Karki – 2.01.748
24 – Pontus Roestlinger – 2.02.125
25 – Rene Grundei – 2.03.016
26 – Emil Krchnavy – 2.03.175
27 – Keijo Vinkka – 2.03.271
28 – Olivier Lupberger – 2.03.529
29 – Jesse Riihonen – 2.04.181
30 – Antti Harjunen – 2.04.694
31 – Pekka Pouhakka – 2.05.297
32 – Rene MIkvy – 2.06.462
33 – Thierry Brunel – 2.31.329
Photo credit: Thijs Van Der Horst
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
