The World Endurance Championship continued at Oschesleben, Germany on the weekend
of 29th to 31st May. This event was an opportunity for the BK Maco Racing Team to score their first points in this years championship after the DNF at Le Mans.
The injured American, Jason Pridmore, was replaced by the very experienced Austrian rider, Andreas Meklau, a lap record holder at Oschesleben. Andy has won many national championships in his career as well as victories in World Superbikes. He was also a regular rider in the 500cc World Championship. Andy joined Spanish riders, Daniel Ribalta and Victor Carrasco on the BK Maco Racing Yamaha.
Free practice and qualifying went well with the riders aggregate time putting the team in 4th place going into our first ever Superpole. Dani Ribalta rode the one lap Superpole for the team, qualifying 6th on the grid. The team were very happy with this.The race is not won in Superpole !
On Sunday at 2pm the 8 hour race started with Ribalta on board the BK Maco Racing Yamaha. Pit stops went well, Ribalta followed by Meklau, then Carrasco. After 3 hours the team was in a secure 2nd position. However, at just over half race distance Meklau came to the pit box with a problem. The issue, a failing fuel pump, took several laps to diagnose and repair and the team rejoined the race in 9th place, eager to regain the lost ground.
At the 6 hour mark the team were back up to 6th place, but at six and a half hours, the rain came. The team had hoped to gain third place before the end but with 75 minutes of the 8 hours remaining the FIM Jury stopped the race due to the appalling
weather. The rain was torrential, and an observation camera on the circuit had been hit by lightning ! The jury decision was correct.
The 6th position and the 12 championship points gained is a big success, but the podium is the target for BK Maco Racing and this performance proved that the team is capable of achieving that goal.
Denisa Greskova, Team Manager:
“ I want to thank all our partners and the whole team for the fantastic work done, it was my honour to work with them at this race. Our team had the fastest exchange in the box, even faster than the winning team and I have to express my 100 per cent satisfaction with the team discipline. We have made big progress. Our riders have proven their high quality, Andy made a big contribution. For Dani and Victor, what can I say ? they were perfect and we are looking forward to Albacete, their home race.”
BK Maco Moto Racing Team will race next on the 4th July in the 3rd round of the World Endurance Championship at the Albacete 8 hour race in Spain.
