Euro Moto Sportbike: Half-time in the title race: Zuda (CZ) v Rosenthaler (A)
Both leading contenders have already had to contend with injuries this season. The two rivals are heading into the second half of the season in top form. It’s the Czech Republic versus Austria.
This article is an automatically generated English version. The
Jakob Rosenthaler zurück in Oschersleben
Foto: Rosenthaler
Jakob Rosenthaler zurück in Oschersleben
© Rosenthaler
German riders are few and far between in this year’s Euro Moto Sportbike championship. Just three feature in the standings at the halfway stage. The top German rider is Triumph rider Mika Siebdrath. Alexander Weizel and Aprilia rider Micky Winkler are currently in 10th and 12th places respectively. From this weekend onwards, Felix Kauertz – who is taking over the ERC Kawasaki from Oli Svendsen – will be the fourth German rider.
At the top of the standings, a two-way battle is currently taking shape between the Czech rider Stepan Zuda from Carsten Freudenberg’s team and the Austrian Jakob Rosenthaler from Rob Vennegoor’s Dutch team. It is a rivalry that has a long history, dating back to the days of the IDM Supersport 300 and the IDM Sportbike. Both riders have already had to battle through a spell of injury this season.
Stepan Zuda gewann in Brünn
Foto: Zuda
Stepan Zuda gewann in Brünn
© Zuda
Zuda had injured his hand during practice whilst competing as a wildcard in the Sportbike World Championship at Most, meaning he didn’t even need to make his way to the starting grid. His hand has now healed, and at the Euro Moto round in Most, the Czech rider reclaimed the championship lead from Jakob Rosenthaler. Rosenthaler was absent from Most and had to watch helplessly from his sofa at home.
Rosenthaler had already been forced to withdraw from the Most race following an injury sustained in a practice crash. As the first race at Most was abandoned and not restarted, the damage was, from the Austrian’s point of view, limited. At Oschersleben, the former World Championship rider is aiming to reclaim the overall lead. “Jakob is fit again and no longer has any problems with his knee,” assures his boss, Vennegoor. “The five-week break has done him good. Jakob has already tested on an oval track and his knee is working fine. We’re preparing for a heated race in which we’ll try to make up the lost points and continue to fight for the championship.”
Euro Moto Sportbike standings after six of 13 races
1. 104 points Stepan Zuda (CZ), Triumph, Freudenberg Rora-Paligo
2. 83 points Jakob Rosenthaler (A), Triumph, RT Motorsports
3. 69 points Ruben Bijman (NL), Triumph, Freudenberg Rora-Paligo
4. 62 points Tobias Kitzbichler (A), Aprilia, ViVa by Peuker&Streeb
5. 61 points Mika Siebdrath (D), Triumph, Freudenberg Rora-Paligo
6. 42 points Julian van Kalkeren (NL), Triumph, SRTD Pearl Gebben
7. 39 points Kiyano Weijer (NL), Triumph, Dutch Talent Racing
8. 35 points Luis Rammerstorfer (A), Triumph, Freudenberg Rora-Paligo
9. 28 points Tom Kuil (NL), Triumph, RT Motorsports
10. 26 points Alexander Weizel (Germany), Aprilia, Weizel Racing Team
11. 22 points Maksymilian Palmowski (PL), Aprilia, SP Race Project
12. 21 points Micky Winkler (D), Aprilia, WSC Racing
13. 20 points Bruno Ieraci (I), Triumph, RT Motorsports
14. 20 points Oliver Svendsen (DK), Kawasaki, ERC
15. 15 points Rick Koistra (NL), Triumph, SRTD Pearle Gebben
16. 15 points Jay-Jay Den Hoed (NL), Yamaha R7, SWPN
17. 15 points Max Stauffer (AUS), Yamaha, Team Apreco
18. 9 points Sasha de Vits (B), Kawasaki, ERC
19. 7 points Ty Henriksen (DK), Aprilia, Nordic Vikings
20. 4 points Magnus Kristoffersen (DK), Aprilia, M58 Motorsport
21. 2 points Lucas Sorensen (DK), Aprilia, Nordic Vikings
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