By Erno Kostamo’s helm as King of Imatranajo, continued in pulsating style, as Finland’s foremost international road racer banked via record breaking pace, Superbike second qualifying victory.
Inside Come Geenen’s outright lap-record in Open Superbike/Superstock qualifying, the 2022 Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix winner went into extra overdrive in SBK Q2, going under 1.49 seconds, registering the first ever 1.48 seconds lap-time, (1.48.646).
Second fastest behind Kostamo’s significant pace increase was fellow countryman, ex British Superbike Championship rider, also surpassing, unofficially the previous existing lap-record, Eemeli Lahti (1.49.741 – Velt Motocenter Aprilia).
Kenny Koskinen (1.50.907), Ville Valtonen (1.51.760) made it a Finland 1-2-3-4 with fastest non-Finnish rider in fifth, IRRC racing returner, Sweden’s Markus Karlsson (1.52.273).
IRRC SBK Championship leader Adam McLean (1.52.657) placed sixth, rapidest pilot from outside Nordic Nations.
Niko Lehtiranta (1.52.819) was seventh swiftest, Never Be Clever Racing’s Darryl Tweed (1.53.902) attained the eighth quickest time.
The SBK Q2 top ten was finalised by Wally Jacobs (1.55.111 – NN Racing Yamaha) and Anssi Koski (1.56.007 – AK 51 Racing Team Yamaha).
IRRC Imatranajo – Superbike Second Qualifying Result:
1 – Erno Kostamo – 1.48.646
2 – Eemeli Lahti – 1.49.741
3 – Kenny Koskinen – 1.50.907
4 – Ville Valtonen – 1.51.760
5 – Markus Karlsson – 1.52.273
6 – Adam McLean – 1.52.657
7 – Niko Lehtiranta – 1.52.819
8 – Darryl Tweed – 1.53.902
9 – Wally Jacobs – 1.55.111
10 – Anssi Koski – 1.56.007
11 – Nico Muller – 1.56.414
12 – Fedrik Matthys – 1.56.557
13 – Lasse Karki – 1.57.033
14 – David Brook – 1.57.139
15 – Pontus Roestlinger – 1.57.317
16 – Heikki Mannila – 1.57.361
17 – Olivier Lupberger – 1.58.368
18 – Stephane Bednarek – 1.58.780
19 – Rene Grundei – 1.59.424
20 – Jakub Sprojcar – 1.59.597
21 – Pekka Pouhakka – 2.00.535
22 – Rene MIkvy – 2.01.178
23 – Emil Krchnavy – 2.01.310
24 – Jean Pierre Polet – 2.03.200
25 – Hanno Velt – 2.05.531
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
