By Erno Kostamo made it an unprecedented, nine Superbike wins in a row at Imatranajo, following another composed, consistent display at his nation’s ex Grand Prix racing venue.
Steadily building up a metronomic rhythm, by lap four of this evening’s IRRC Superbike encounter, he was beginning to break clear of a chasing pack featuring Eemeli Lahti, David Datzer, Lukas Maurer, Come Geenen and Michael Dunlop.
By lap five’s end, the 2022 Macau Grand Prix winner had moved 1.968 seconds ahead, which increased throughout lap six to 2.754 seconds.
On lap seven, Kostamo to all intents and purposes had the race win banked, upping the ante out front, setting a blistering new outright lap record of 1:50.409 seconds.
Kostamo went onto take race honours by just past 2.6 seconds over fellow Finn Lahti with pole-sitter Datzer placing third.
IRRC SBK Championship leader Geenen took fourth and on the tenth, last lap pocketed Kostamo’s just for three laps long outright lap record, lapping at 1:50.355 seconds.
Switzerland’s leading real road racer Maurer was fourth with Open Superbike Race One runner-up Dunlop sixth.
Positions seventh to tenth were obtained by Ville Valtonen, Markus Karlsson, Didier Grams and Luca Gottardi.
Superbike Race 1 Result:
1st – Erno Kostamo
2nd – Eemeli Lahti
3rd- David Datzer
4th – Come Geenen
5th – Lukas Maurer
6th – Michael Dunlop
7th – Ville Valtonen
8th – Markus Karlsson
9th – Didier Grams
10th – Luca Gottardi
11th – Jorn Hamberg
12th – Johannes Schwimmbeck
13th – Wally Jacobs
14th – Lukas Karlsson
15th – Anssi Koski
16th – Rhys Hardisty
17th – Tiziano Rosati
18th – Lasse Karki
19th – David Jean Luc
20th – Heikki Mannila
21st – Olivier Lupberger
22nd – Emil Krchnavy
23rd – Pekka Pouhakka
24th – Rene Grundei
25th – Antti Harjunen
26th – Jesse Riihonen
27th – Rene MIkvy
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
