Max Neukirchner wins IDM race at Assen

After making good progress with his regular WSBK machine set-up at the previous Silverstone round, Max Neukirchner jumped at the chance to race in the IDM German Superbike championship round at Assen in the Netherlands last weekend.

He was even happier he had opted to try something different, after he won the first race on a Honda CBR1000RR prepared by Ten Kate Racing Products - the customer racing division of the Superbike World Championship's Hannspree Ten Kate Honda.

After qualifying third Neukirchner rode assuredly in the first leg to record his win, then he finished third in a red-flagged race two, which had started out wet.

Said Max, "The first race was brilliant and I felt so happy to be back on the podium - especially on the top step."

He continued, "In race one I was able to pass Veneman quite early and just kept pushing throughout the race. In the end it was a comfortable victory. It felt fantastic to beat the other guys who have been racing with their teams and against each other all season."

Neukirchner had to settle for third in race two, but is already thinking of how his Assen escapade can help in his next test session, and also his next WSBK race - his home race at the Nürburgring.

"Race two was a little chaotic but third place and another podium was good for me," said Max. "The weekend was a great personal motivation for my home race in Germany in two weeks, and we have another test at Assen before we go. I hope we can continue the good progress we made at Silverstone in the last SBK race and I'm sure that we can start at Nürburgring with a good feeling."

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/latest-news/

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Max Neukirchner takes a win at Assen IDM

Ten Kate Honda's struggling WSBK star Max Neukirchner gave his confidence a welcome boost by returning to the winner's rostrum in the IDM German Superbike championship round at Assen at the weekend.

Riding a Honda CBR1000RR prepared by Ten Kate Racing Products - the customer racing division of the WSBK team - the German won the first IDM race and followed it up with third in race two.

Neukirchner had qualified in third position on Saturday, two tenths of a second behind pole man and local rider, Barry Veneman. In the Assen opener, he passed Veneman within three laps and, after consistently fast lap times, had extended his lead to a comfortable margin at the flag.

Race two was initially delayed and then red flagged early as rain fell on the Dutch circuit. However, with the track drying quickly, the field was back out for ten dry laps with Neukirchner finishing in third place.

"The first race was brilliant and I felt so happy to be back on the podium - especially on the top step," said Max, a double WSBK race winner who hasn't finished higher than ninth in 2010.

"Qualifying on Saturday was quite difficult because the Dunlop qualifiers behaved a little differently to the Pirellis that I am more accustomed to. However, the front row was OK and we knew that our race pace was very strong.

"In race one I was able to pass Veneman quite early and just kept pushing throughout the race. In the end it was a comfortable victory. It felt fantastic to beat the other guys who have been racing with their teams and against each other all season.

"Race two was a little chaotic but third place and another podium was good for me. The weekend was a great personal motivation for my home race in Germany in two weeks, and we have another test at Assen before we go.

"I hope we can continue the good progress we made at Silverstone in the last SBK race and I'm sure t hat we can start at Nurburgring with a good feeling," he concluded.

Former Ten Kate Honda World Supersport champion and WSBK rider Karl Muggeridge was fourth in both races.

Source: http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/

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Max Neukirchner gets German SBK outing

Max Neukirchner will return to his native Superbike series for a one-off outing later this month after being given a wild-card to ride at Assen for Ten Kate.

The World Superbike rider, currently competing in his first season with the Dutch-based team, will line-up for the German-based IDM Superbike Assen double-header on 20-22 August.

Set to race under the Ten Kate Racing Products banner – the customer arm of the WSBK team -, Neukirchner is looking forward to competing but is playing down any expectations that he will have it easy when he makes his appearance, insisting he has a new bike, a new team and new tyres to adapt to first.

“I'm really happy to have an opportunity to ride again at Assen – it's a fantastic circuit and I enjoy riding there. It should be a good weekend because I know quite a few of the IDM guys very well. I know Assen well, too, and we've done a lot of laps there this season testing and racing.

“However, I know for sure it won't be an easy weekend because the level in IDM is very high. There are factory teams and very good privateer teams, all with almost a season of racing this year.

“We will start on Friday with a completely new bike and a new team but the Ten Kate guys are very experienced and I'm sure we'll be able to find a good way forward very quickly. It will be a fun weekend.”

A two-time race winner at WSBK level, Neukirchner has endured a tough season with Ten Kate Honda, though he did score his one and only top ten result of the year so far during the WSBK Assen meeting.

Source:http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/

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