(EN) WUP, Race 1 and Race 2 - Day 3 - Motul Dutch Round, Assen/Netherlands

Two times Top 6 for Reiterberger on awesome weekend in Assen

The third and last day of the Motul Dutch Round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike world championship was successful for Markus Reiterberger and the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. After the race one - that was supposed to take place yesterday - has been postponed to Sunday, because of snow at the TT Circuit in Assen, it was an eventful day for the 25-years-old and the WorldSBK field.

Already through Warm up Reiterberger proved that he can handle his BMW S 1000 RR well, also with only 3 °C track temperature. „Reiti“ had a superb start from third position into race one and settled in second position, with only half a second behind the race leader Alvaro Bautista for seven laps. After Jonathan Rea overtook him in lap eight, also local hero Michael van der Mark, Alex Lowes and Leon Haslam followed. But Markus Reiterberger was able to stay with the group in front of him until the finish and secured himself the sixth position in race one.

The start into the second race in the afternoon was not as good as the first one and he lost four positions. After lap one he already found himself in seventh position. But Reiterberger was able to increase the pressure on Leon Haslam in front of him during the process of the race and left him behind eventually. Reiterberger finished the second race with less than one tenth of a second in front of his teammate Tom Sykes in sixth position. The two top six results show the potential of the Youngster from Bavaria and his BMW S 1000 RR and the fantastic work of the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team over the course of the weekend under winterly conditions at the „cathedral of speed“ in Assen. Markus Reiterberger finished it as the top German of the Superbike class.

Markus Reiterberger #28, Race 1 - P6; Race 2 - P6:

„I had a fantastic start into the first race and was able to stay a few laps with the leader. We changed one tyre at the grid as it was a bit warmer than expected at the end. The first laps were great, but after the seventh/eighth lap I started to get problems with the rear grip. I had a lot of movement from the bike while entering and leaving the corners and went too wide a couple of times therefore. Because of all the movements I had problems with the arm-pump too. But I saved the sixth position and I am really happy about that.

The second race was good. We adjusted the balance of the bike a bit. Unfortunately the second start into the race was not as good as the first one and we lost some positions. I was caught up in the traffic in turn five, but I was able to keep the level for quite some time. At the end I even had an eye on fifth place and was directly behind Haslam and Davies. I caught up and could outdrive my teammate a little bit. But then I lost a lot of time behind Haslam and place five was gone. Davies drove off. My teammate also almost caught up on me. I secured the sixth position just in time.

Again we did some steps forward with the bike and I felt very comfortable over the whole weekend. We are were we should be now. Both riders are on the same level. I hope for some more improvements of the chassis for the next races and I want to thank my team for their fantastic effort during this weekend once again. I am very happy with my results.“