Stefan Nebel celebrates podium place at KTM's home race on the Salzburgring!

KTM Team Germany's RC8R rider Stefan Nebel celebrated the team's first appearance in the IDM Superbike competition on the traditional racing circuit of Salzburg by racing to a podium position in what was essentially KTM's home race.
 
Nebel raced to a solid fifth place in the first race then followed up with a very good result and third place in the second race to receive an ecstatic reception for more than 700 fans on a specially arranged KTM grandstand at the Salzburgring. Nebel's team mate Didier van Keymeulen at first fought his way from a twentieth starting position to place 11 but then exited the competition when he crashed with another rider in the chicane.
 
The great weekend for Nebel, the three times, IDM Superbike champion, already started in training. With his third place on the famous-infamous high speed circuit that is only a half an hour away from the KTM headquarters in Mattighofen, Nebel had already secured his place in the coveted first row. In contrast, team-mate Didier van Keymeulen was luckless. After a technical problem in the first timed training and a wet second session, the 26-year old rider from Belgium was forced to tackle the two 18-lap races from start position 20.
 
Race One
Very typically for the Salzburgring, the first race developed into a classic battle for the slipstream. The group of five leading riders changed position every lap. Following his good start, Nebel powered his two-cylinder Superbike into second place on the 4.2 km circuit but finally had to be content with fifth place with a three second gap to winner Werner Daemen.

By comparison, team-mate van Keymeulen could make up significantly more places. With his constantly fast lap times and a good start, the Belgian Superbiker managed to finish in eleventh place and pick up five more championship points.
 
Race Two
The 18,500 spectators experienced a real Superbike thriller at the fifth round of the 2009 IDM. Early in the competition, Nebel underscored his ambition to crown the KTM Superbike premiere on the home circuit with a podium place. He took the lead a number of times during the entire distance, constantly attacking the six- and later the four leading riders.

In the last round the German rider charged down the final straight into third place only centimetres away from Andreas Meklau (Austria) and Gabor Rizmayer (Hungary) as he flashed past the crowded KTM grandstand. Stefan then raised his clenched fist in triumph and sudden relief after the 300 km/h thriller.
 
Didier van Keymeulen had less to celebrate. Despite his catapult start - the Belgian charged past 10 other competitors in the sprint to the first corner - DVK was forced to also leave the Salzburgring without a success experience. Van Keymeulen, who is still riding with pain from his bandaged right hand was involved in a collision in the first chicane and catapulted over the back of another motorcycle. Fortunately the Superbiker who has now slipped to ninth place in the championship did not incur any other injuries. Winner of the second race was again the Belgian Werner Daemen.
 
Stefan Nebel (5./3.)
"I am without question very satisfied. We showed that we can also fight with the best on the Salzburgring. My bike also showed a clear advantage both in and out of the chicane and on the brakes. In principle everything is possible in such a slipstream battle. There's only a small margin between winning or finishing a complete flop. In race two I attacked throughout and I fought for a trophy right to the last centimetre - and that's what we won."
 
Didier van Keymeulen (11./DNF)
"The best thing about this weekend is the podium place for the team. Race one was not bad, my motorcycle was very fast on the long straights but I lost contact with the front riders after a collision right in front of me at the beginning of the race and I wasn't able to close the gap. My start in race two was very good but after a typical crash for this kind of circuit there were no more chances for me. Now it's my goal to be 100 percent fit in the next weeks so I can fight for a podium in the next race in Schleiz."
 
Konrad Hefele - Team Boss of the KTM Superbike Team Germany
"The races at the Salzburgring were something really special for us in every way. In principle the circuit is very special and we didn't carry out a single meter of testing here. What makes me even more pleased is that we could show that our team is competitive on the fastest circuit of the IDM calendar. I am doubly pleased that Stefan in the end gave the huge number of KTM fans, customers and employees that support us a podium place. That makes me twice as happy!"
 
Results Race One
1. Werner Damien, Belgium, BMW, 24:19.365
2. Andreas Meklau, Austria, Suzuki, 24:21.708
3. Arne Tode, Germany, Honda, 24:22.164
4. Joerg Teuchert, Germany, Yamaha, 24:22.212
5. Stefan Nebel, Germany, KTM, 24:22.482
Other KTM
11. Didier van Keymeulen, Belgium, KTM, 24:47.192
 
Race Two
Werner Damien, Belgium, BMW, 24:23.190
2. Andreas Meklau, Austria, Suzuki, 24:24.402
3. Stefan Nebel, Germany, KTM, 24:24.882
4. Gabor Rizmayer, Hungary, Suzuki, 24:24.994
5. Joerg Teuchert, Germany, Yamaha, 24:27.728
Other KTM
DNF Didier van Keymeulen, Belgium, KTM
 
Standings
1. Joerg Teuschart, Germany, 196
2. Werner Damien, Belgium, 128
3. Stefan Nebel, Germany, 127
4. Arne Tode, Germany, 124
Other KTM
9. Didier van Keymeulen, Belgium, 59
  


-  KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG, Mattighofen-