Supermoto Austrian Championship, Greinbach: Buschberger and Bauer leave the competition in the dust

The first race in Greinbach, Styria, was clearly dominated by Andreas Buschberger. The Husqvarna rider, who had arrived at the PS Racing Centre as the race leader, took the lead right from the start and kept his 17 pursuers at bay. Rudi Bauer, riding the only GASGAS in the field, took second place ahead of the strong-performing German Thomas Hiebl. Even the Hungarian Suranyi had to settle for fourth place as a result. Behind them, Manuel Stehrer (KTM) and Markus Larcher (Husqvarna) battled it out for the remaining places.

Bauer made his mark on the second race. He claimed his first race win of the season and, in doing so, pushed the Hungarian KTM star Suranyi down to third place in the championship standings. A slip-up by Buschberger ultimately saw him finish in fourth place, though he retained the Austrian Championship lead. Hiebl was able to round off the day on a high note. He recorded second and third places and is now hot on the heels of the leading trio. Bernhard Hitzenberger, who did not start, lost the title of best Ducati rider to Raphael Schneider, who finished seventh on both occasions.

Supermoto Austrian Championship results, Greinbach

Race 1: 1 . Andreas Buschberger, Husqvarna. 2. Rudolf Bauer, GasGas. 3. Thomas Hiebl (D) Husqvarna. 4. Balazs Suranyi (H) KTM. 5. Manuel Stehrer, KTM. 6. Markus Larcher, Husqvarna.

Race 2: 1. Bauer. 2. Hiebl. 3. Suranyi. 4. Buschberger. 5. Larcher. 6. Stehrer.

Austrian Championship standings after 2 races

1. Buschberger 93 points. 2. Bauer 85. 3. Suranyi 80. 4. Hiebl 71. 5. Schneider 60. 6. Larcher 57. Domes