Stefan Nebel and Didier van Keymeulen pick up IDM points at Sachsenring despite handi

The KTM Super Bike Team made a good debut appearance in difficult circumstances in their first start on the Sachsenring, the GP circuit in Germany's Saxony in the IDM this weekend. 
 
Stefan Nebel, with a tenth and a sixth place and his Belgian team-mate Didier van Keymeulen with places 13 und 10 both picked up valuable championship points racing in front of 30,000 spectators. Nebel, whose start at the Sachsenring was suddenly brought into question due to a virus infection, is second in the championship table at the half way mark of the season.
 
The fourth IDM race weekend of the season was a difficult one for the KTM team under the leadership of Konrad Hefele. Didier van Keymeulen crashed in the last corner of the circuit at the beginning of timed training and had to start back at place 26 after the second training was rained out. In addition "DVK" was still in visible discomfort from the injury to his right hand incurred four weeks ago during testing before the races on the Nuerburgring. Meanwhile, Nebel, significantly weakened because of the virus recorded his worst training result of the season at thirteenth.
 
Race 1
Tyre Poker: that's the best way to describe the first Superbike race on the Sachsenring. Following significant rain in the morning almost the entire field went out on rain tyres for the first 21-lap race. Whereas Stefan Nebel was in thirteenth place in the opening stages, team-mate van Keymeulen overtook nine opponents in the first lap.

By the middle of the race the undulating circuit was almost completely dried out and both RC8R riders could make good more places. But in the end, Nebel and van Keymeulen, both with completely worn out tyres, had to be satisfied with places ten and thirteen. The winner was Arne Tode followed by championship leader Joerg Teuchert and Guenther Knobloch in the minor places.
 
Race 2
There was no discussion about what tyres to use in the second race which was plagued by constant rain and cool weather. DVK started strongly, repeating what he had done in the first race and whipped past 10 opponents in the first lap. At the end of the 21-lap race, the 26-year-old professional racer crossed the line in tenth, even though he still has to struggle with the controls with his injured hand.

The 28-year old Nebel was even further up the order. Thanks to constantly good lap times, the German managed to hang onto a group of riders by the middle of the race and to slip past a number of others. Sixth place on the wet and slippery surface by the still unwell KTM Superbike racer allowed him to pick up valuable points. In a surprise result, the eighth IDM race of the season was won by Gabor Rizmayer from Chris Burns and Roman Stamm.
 
Stefan Nebel (10./6.)
"This was by far the hardest and most difficult race weekend we have had so far this year. The changeable weather and my poor health didn't help the team a lot. Compared to how I felt on Friday, I must be happy that I was able to pick up points in both races. We lost the tyre poker in race one because already after a couple of laps it was clear that slicks would have been the right choice.

My bike worked perfectly in the second wet race and I could put in good lap times without taking any extreme risks. I am now looking forward to the next race and I want to be 100% fit for our home race on the Salzburgring in two weeks time. "
 
Didier van Keymeulen (13./10.)
"Luckily in both races I got away well into the first corner from my bad grid position. It was my goal to finish both races. I managed that and at the same time I picked up nine IDM points. I now have to fully concentrate on making sure that my injury is completely healed because I known that there is more to be had from both me and my motorcycle."
 
Konrad Hefele - Team boss KTM Superbike Team Germany
"Naturally our performance on the Sachsenring is no dream result. But both riders picked up points in both races without any problems and the fact that Stefan is still in second place at the middle of the season is still very positive for us considering where we started from. I think we have again learnt a lot and the team has achieved the best possible result for us."
 
IDM Standings after Sachsenring races
1. Joerg Teuchert, Germany, 172
2. Stefan Nebel, Germany, KTM, 100
3. Arne Tode, Germany, 98,
4. Gabor Rizmayer, Hungary, 79
5. Werner Daemen, Belgium, 78
6. Guenther Knobloch, Austria 59
7. Roman Stamm, Switzerland, 58
8. Dario Giuseppetti, Germany, 56
9. Didier van Keymeulen, Belgium, 54
 


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