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| The two Birel drivers in action |
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| Gerard Barrabeig 2nd classified in KF2 |
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| Libor Toman and Sauro Cesetti protagonis of the SKF class |
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22-2-2010
15TH WINTER CUP - LONATO, 19-21 FEBRUARY 2010
TOP FIRST SEASON APPEARANCE FOR BIREL-BMB SYNERGY
Exceptional
double top ranking for Toman and Cesetti in SKF, positive 2nd place for
Barrageig in KF2 and excellent performances in KF3 as well: a good
season kickoff for Birel colours and Bmb
Birel pilots could have not done better at the 15th Winter Cup edition
in Lonato, the international meeting for SKF, KF2 and KF3 classes,
which opened the season last weekend. This well established early
international circus competition, which is run by all KF classes top
drivers, turned out to be even more interesting than usual, as it was
the occasion for testing the recently homologated engines.
As already said, Birel team and BmB not only lived up to expectations,
but even did better. In fact, despite the engines homologated by Bmb
were at their official debut, leading competitors in all classes were
tackled with equal mastery, starting from superb Toman and Cesetti
ranking first and second in challenging SKF top class.
The pilot from the Czech Republic was the champion, followed by his
teammate on the finish line of an exciting race. Belgian driver De
Brabander ranked 3rd in front of Ardigò and Kozlinski. Positive results
for Birel also from Viganò, whose first day in top class earned him 9th
position. KF2, the category in which BMB technicians and tuners
play the leading role, was equally successful. The excellent collective
results achieved by the pilots racing with BMB engines confirm such
feature.
In detail, great attention for Spanish pilot Barrabeig, 2nd according
to photo finish behind winner Heche. A few unwanted contacts delayed
Basz, who raced with the official RK team, yet the overall timing of
the Polish driver, who ranked 8th, was great. Among the weekend's
fastest, English pilot Lennox for Birel Motorsport. Unfortunately his
Final went wrong due to a contact. And, contact once again spoilt
the race for Sorensen (Birel Motorsport) and Waliko (KSB) in KF3.
Despite such incidents, the cadet class greatly benefited from the new
BMB engines. For the record, it must be said that Tiihonen’s race in
KF3 was positive, with ranking very close to the top ten.
Carlo Boscolo, technical manager for BMB, highlights the positive
outcome of the first competition of the season: “We were amazed by the
results, mainly because the engineers we are collaborating with in the
racing sector had not had much time for testing all development stages.
This factor clearly shows how our "basic" engine was extremely well
conceived. As a matter of fact, this is one of the objectives we set at
the beginning: to provide our customers with a really competitive
"standard” engine.
A quality that will be decisive for achieving good performances
in the single national championships. The work of each tuner should
stand as "added value" for a product which is already very competitive.
And, apart from Toman's victory, and from the one that could have
been achieved in KF2, and besides the fact that in such category
collective performance was generally good, what mainly encourages me is
the opportunity to substantially face the new competitive season
relying on the same potential the leading competitors can count on.
The first objective has been achieved and we now want to follow this path, aware that competition will be fierce and tough."
Also Birel racing division manager Mariano De Faveri focuses on the
positive points of last weekend: " Concerning frames, we know we can
now avail of highly competitive technical material in all classes: the
innovations introduced on 2010 range have proven effective. We
were always fast, with both the official and external teams.
With regards to BMB engines, my opinion is that they could soon become
a new landmark in KF2. In fact, in the light of the data gathered
during winter testing and this first race, we now believe our potential
is absolutely remarkable.
The performances achieved by Barrabeig, Lennox and Basz can only
confirm such estimation once again. Also SKF success tells us how
well this engine was designed, and I think that the KF3 version will
soon be at the top. We have to work hard this year to face the new
challenge involving the development of both frame and engine. And no
doubt it will also be very stimulating. Let's just hope we run races as
successful as this one on loads of other occasions."
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