Both KTM Superstock riders in the points at Brands Hatch
 KTM
and Team KTM Maehr Superstock celebrated their best ever race
weekend at the tradition-rich, 3.703 km British racing circuit
of Brands Hatch with both riders Rene Maehr and newcomer Pauli
Pekkanen finishing in the points.
Rene Maehr crossed the line in thirteenth place while his
new Finnish team-mate Pekkanen came in at fourteenth in a
race run in very difficult conditions. Rain just before the
race made the choice of tyres tricky and vital, a situation
further complicated as the track dried out in the final stages.
Maehr opted for intermediates while Pekkanen decided on an
intermediate for the rear tyre and a wet tyre for the front,
a choice that meant the Finnish rider lost some ground in
the closing stages of the race.
The result was a testament to both the riders' skills and
to the KTM 1190 RC8, which was only launched earlier this
year in Europe and is in its first year of racing. In practice
Maehr was twenty first and Pekkanen twenty sixth so both were
able to significantly improve on race day. Both riders and
the team were delighted with the results, especially as the
FIM Superstock 1000 World Cup is one of the toughest competitions
in motorcycle racing.
"I am naturally very happy with this result," Maehr
said. "Today we had very difficult conditions for the
race but I managed to choose the right tyres. All the team
worked really well and my thirteenth place is a big success
for me, the bike and the entire team."
Pekkanen, who raced for the team for the first time in Brno,
Czech Republic, was also delighted. "I had a fantastic
start and I was able to overtake about five riders in the
first curve. I managed to stick with Rene all the way. I just
had to hold back a bit at the very end because the front tyre
was starting to wear."
The team now has a month to prepare for round eight when they
return to the UK to race at Donington Park Raceway on September
7, 2009
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