KTM's own "Asphalt Surfer" Bernd Hiemer of Germany retained his perfect record for S1 podiums this season with a third overall in Olbia, Sardinia to retain the championship lead. Hiemer settled for third place in each race in conditions that were hot and tiring for the riders to retain the coveted red number plate as standings leader going into what is the home GP for Austrian manufacturer KTM in the next round.
KTM factory rider Bernd Hiemer shared the glory and the points in the S1Grand Prix of Europe on Sunday but had to settle for second place after rival Thierry van den Bosch stole victory in the second moto in the closing stages. The German racer won the first moto virtually from start to finish and looked set to take the second. Repeating his very good start in race one, Bernd led the way through nine of the twelve laps in heat two and with a two-second lead looked set to take the coveted red number plate as championship leader.
An almost new course is attending the FIM and UEM SuperMoto Championship riders at Castelletto di Branduzzo, the venue of this weekend’s GP of Europe which is the second of both series. In the S1 class Aprilia Off Road’s Thierry Van Den Bosch leads the pack but he had to face a strong opposition since the season opened in Torino. KTM Italia Miglio’s Bernd Hiemer is right on his tail, with both the Frenchman and the German being level in points. Castelletto might be the chance for Husqvarna CH Racing’s Thomas Chareyre to close in on the leading duo, as the youngster aims at collecting his maiden World Title one year after he took his first ever GP win (Torino 2007).