Race 1:

HRP Honda rider Karl Muggeridge started the first race of the 2012 IDM season in pole position here at Lausitzring in Germany. The 18 lap race took place in windy but dry conditions.

Smrz, Herfoss and Muggeridge took the lead to the beginning of the race. Smrz was getting faster and lapped the track by mid race distance about a second faster as his competitors and was able to bring the first win of the season home with a 3.6 second gap.

Muggas finished in 7^th position after a tough race with grip problems.

Race 2

Honda rider Karl Muggeridge had a good start from pole position and took the lead for the first eight laps in the second race here at Lausitzring . Smrz had a technical defect on lap one and therefore the race finished early for him.

Teuchert was able to pass Muggas after 8 laps and could bring his first win on a BMW home after a very close race at the front. Ranseder finished in second. Jones and Muggas crossed the finish line nearly at the same time and the photo finish confirmed Jones on the 3^rd place 4 thousands of a second in front of HRP Honda rider Karl Muggeridge who took 4^th.

Muggas comments:  “First race I got a way pretty ok after one lap I moved up to second position, then I tried to go after Smrz who was in the lead I discovered I couldn’t catch him and I was having a lot of front end grip problems which increased lap by lap through the race. I tried really hard and was only able to finish in 7^th. It was very disappointing particularly after the bike was working so well. So we went back and believed the problems came from the overnight rain and the cold temperatures in the first race. We changed the bike mainly on the front end. I got a good start in 2^nd race and led the race for the first 8 laps and then stayed in second position for 5 laps and thought I was still able to fight for the win until 5 laps to go. I lost all my rear grip and as it turns out the shock settings were too aggressive for the tyre.”

Race 1 Lausitzring

2012 IDM Championship after round 1 of 8