By Local temperatures had risen to 27 degrees as IRRC Horice – Superbike competitors took their starting positions. Ten intense laps were in prospect for 1000cc machinery speedsters.
As he forecast in a pre-race interview, Lukas Maurer (Maurer Racing – Yamaha) gained the hole-shot.
Switzerland’s fastest TT Races competitor, sporting a distinctive new hairstyle, managed to hold off pole-sitter Erno Kostamo’s attentions to lead onto lap four.
Already between them, Maurer, and Kostamo (RVS Motorsport – BMW) had three times surpassed David Datzer’s official/race record time.
Kostamo moved into the race leadership role on lap four, went onto bag another history making turn of pace, lapping for the second time this weekend, sub 2 minutes 11.5 seconds (2.11.416).
2.313 ahead as we reached mid-race distance, it seemed a forgone conclusion that the calm, cool Finnish rider would gallop to race victory.
But then early into lap five, Kostamo went missing from the timing screens.
We soon quickly gained the knowledge that he had dramatically crashed out, significantly reducing his chances of IRRC SBK Championship success.
Kostamo’s tip-off left Maurer with a smooth passage to race triumph, ultimately-winning by 6.448 seconds over delighted second place finisher, Markus Karlsson (Karlsson Motorsport – BMW).
Johannes Schwimmbeck in third, was equally enthused, accruing his first IRRC rostrum finish, 25 Championship points as leading full-time series competitor.
Darryl Tweed (Never Be Clever Racing – Yamaha) now just one point behind series leader Adam McLean was a strong fourth.
Laurent Hoffmann edged Tomas Toth for sixth with Kamil Holan, Florian Astner, Anssi Koski, Nico Muller capturing seventh to tenth place results.
IRRC Horice – Superbike Race 1 Result:
1st – Lukas Maurer
2nd – Markus Karlsson
3rd – Johannes Schwimmbeck
4th – Darryl Tweed
5th – Laurent Hoffmann
6th – Tomas Toth
7th – Kamil Holan
8th – Florian Astner
9th – Anssi Koski
10th – Nico Muller
11th – Stephane Bednarek
12th – Thomas Altendorfer
13th – Fedrik Matthys
14th – Olivier Lupberger
15th – Jakub Sprojcar
16th – Rene Grundei
17th – David Brook
18th – Pontus Roestlinger
19th – Emil Krchnavy
20th – Christoph Kreller
21st – Lasse Karki
22nd – Jan Myslivecek
23rd – Martin Hajek
24th – Michal Podrabsky
25th – Rene MIkvy
Photo credit: Jan Vavra
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
