“If we cannot think of something it does not look that promising for us,” stated MUENCH driver Matthias Himmelmann shortly before entering the fourth TTXGP EU Championship race in Karlskoga, Sweden. The team decided to change the chassis frame settings and successfully completed the warm-up. With an improved lap time of 1.12 minutes the team was not only one second faster than before but was finally able to calmly approach the final race at 12.30 pm.
For the final race both Zongshen team drivers HoChi Fung and Yu Tang, the Swedish homebound matador and jet pilot Peter Linden with his Berix Honda CBR 600 as well as Qualifying third place and local Mikael Nilson on his Mavizon joined the queue behind Himmelmann. David Hallet (Team Agni) was not able to race because of an unfortunate crash during the Qualifying that caused his e-bike to be heavily damaged.
At almost summerlike temperatures of 22°C race started at 12.30 pm sharp. By that time no one knew that yet another premiere for MUENCH Racing Team was about to happen. Shortly after the starting line MUENCH driver Himmelmann and HoChi Fung raced alongside. Just before entering the first curve Himmelmann put all his talent and experience to a good use, delayed the braking and passed the Chinese. The two were closely followed by Tang, Nilson and Linden on his Berix Honda. Furthermore and with a time of 1:12,8 Himmelmann not only achieved the fastest lap time during lap three but set another time record for e-bike racing on asphalt. For the final laps the top 5 rankings remained the same and MUENCH Racing Team once again got to celebrate yet another great success –the team’s first start to finish victory!
“During the remainder of the race I was not expecting the lap times to be that good. Even though I reduced the power supply and only wanted to keep the distance I achieved lap times around 1:13. The MUENCH TTE-2 clicked like clockwork! With his preparation and the adjustments he made Thomas Schuricht, our Head of Development, really achieved an excellence,“ said Himmelmann after the race. Now, Fans can be really looking forward to the last race in LeMans on September 23th. A race, that will not only decide the TTXGP EU Championship but will also nominate the FIM e-Power World Championship’s participants. Additionally all racing fans get to watch another highlight- the fight for the legendary 24 hour Motorbike World Championship crown.
Considering the TTXGP EURO Championship standings Himmelmann leads the field with 75 points followed by HoChi Fung (China, Zongshen, 56 points), Alessandro Brannetti (Italy, eCRP Racing, 45 points) and David Halle (UK, Agni, 40 points). Looking at the FIM e-Power Championship standings team MUENCH also places first with 55 points. Team eCRP (36 points) and team LNG Racing(16 points) currently rank second and third.
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Racing at a summerlike temperature of 20° Matthias Himmelmann set yet another sensational record for team MUENCH. The German team dominated the race from start to finish -victory in Karlskoga, Sweden! After 14 interesting laps he was the first to cross the goal line and therefore, heavily celebrated. The Chinese opponent team Zongshen with its drivers HoChin Fung and Yu Tang came in 2nd and 3rd.
Considering the Championship standings Himmelmann leads the field with 75 points followed by HoChi Fung (China, 56 points), Alessandro Brannetti (Italy, 45 points) and David Halle (UK, 40 points).
The picture shows Matthias Himmelmann mastering his MUENCH TTE.2. Team spokesmen and photographer Ralf Ernst rightly calls the picture “on the last groove!”.
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At 1.30 p.m. the qualifaction for the 4th race of TTXGP EU Championship started. With his 1.13:849 lap-time, Matthias secured the pole position for the race on sunday! The Chinese HoChi Fung (1.15:348) and the Swedisch Mikael Nilson are followed on places. With his third place, it was possible for Nilson to let the local fans hope for tomorrow.
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On September 3rd and 4th the TTXGP e-bike racing series teams will race at the Karlskoga Motor Stadium where amongst others several European street competitions and the Swedish touring car championship already took place. The fact that visitors can actually see and follow the race from every part of the 2.400m long course adds another special feature to the course. It is going to be a very suspenseful race since the German eGrandPrix leader Matthias Himmelmann will try his best to assure the European Championship title during the penultimate championship race.
After three out of five races Matthias Himmelmann leads the field with 50 points ahead of eCRP (45), Agni (40) and Zongshen (36). “Since the first seven teams of the European Championship also directly qualify for the World Championship in October it is very likely that if we can avoid failures during the next two races we will be a part of the World Championship as well,“ states MUENCH driver Matthias Himmelmann happily. Nevertheless for the remainder of the championship the team entirely focuses on the EC title.
The course itself however is not very favourable for team MUENCH. “Due to course’s tight curves and rare high speed parts you cannot drive very fast and additionally with its 2.4km it is very short,” as Himmelmann commented. “If we cannot think of something it does not look that promising for us.” Especially if one considered the fact that the team already used its ability to eliminate one of the races with the failure in Silverstone. “Now it is even more important for the TTE-2 to work faultlessly and for us to take home some points,” says Head of Development Thomas Schuricht. As Himmelmann agrees he states: “From the beginning of the season it was obvious to us that our chances in Karlskoga are relatively low. Hence, we were kind of hoping to use the elimination for this particular race. Unfortunately the things weren’t meant to be and things took a different turn.”
According to the host’s information seven drivers are registered for the Swedish Grand Prix.
Starting dates TTXGP Euro Championship 2011 – Karlskoga Motor Stadium (Sweden)
Open practice – Saturday: 08.50 am
Qualifying – Saturday: 01.30 pm
Warm-Up – Sunday: 09.00 am
Final Race – Sunday: 01.15 pm (Race – 13 laps with additional warm up lap)
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It was the third European eGrandPrix and one must admit a special on at that! Last Weekend racing enthusiasts were provided with lots of fun in Assen. In line with GT races, superkarts, harnessed teams and the Dutch motorbike championship eMobility and therefore the German brand MUENCH and its driver Himmelmann was a big topic as well. 70.000 visitors got to watch Himmelmann win another exciting TTXGP championship race.
The MUENCH Racing Team already got to Assen on Thursday to set up their race truck awning from which the team manages the whole race. Everybody was very surprised when MotoGP driver Jasper Iwema made its appearance on a Mavison for the events main sponsor team Gamma. A 22 year old racing driver who only weighs 48kg!
The first open practice was run under dry conditions but unfortunately not without any trouble for team MUENCH. They had to react quickly: “Belt, cam lob, bevel wheel and linkage had to be replaced between the first and second open practice which caused us to completely remove and reconstruct the covering,” said Thomas Petsch, MUENCH Racing Team Manager. At the end of the second open practice the clock showed a time of 1:57.290- four seconds ahead of Alessandro Brannetti (CRP Racing) and HoChi Fung (Zongshen)! It was much closer during the qualifying on Sunday. Brannetti was ahead of Himmelmann, Iwema and Fung. Since Jasper Iwema and his Mavizen already encountered problems during the qualifying he continued the race on a MUENCH bike which Himmelmann, Petch etc. provided for him without further ado.
Because of the TTE-2’s weak hinge moment Himmelmann was not able to quickly get away from the starting line. A problem the whole team is aware of but for now he only ranked sixth. After two curves he was already fourth and he passed the Chinese on the back straight – third! “I was really proud when I out passed my team colleague and street championship driver Iwema,” stated Himmelmann after the race. Himmelmann was once again capable to compensate the TTE-2’s poor starting output with his outstanding driving skills and his thrilling hunt. And then everyone got to witness another fascinating duel with Alessandro Brannetti (CRP Racing) from Italy – a very experienced 250 MotoGP driver. Himmelmann came out on top and extended his lead. ”HoChi Fung crossed the finish line just Millimetres ahead of Jasper Iwema. Fortunately he placed second. During the awards ceremony we once again got to listen to the German national anthem. Himmelmann who will be called hotshot from now on wore everyone during a real battle,” said Thomas Petsch.
“The best event I have been in so far! They provided something for everybody- not just eMobility but also GT races and lots of other suspenseful motorsport competitions. Well, and it was definitely one of my best,“ said Himmelmann after his great success.
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For the final race both Zongshen team drivers HoChi Fung and Yu Tang, the Swedish homebound matador and jet pilot Peter Linden with his Berix Honda CBR 600 as well as Qualifying third place and local Mikael Nilson on his Mavizon joined the queue behind Himmelmann. David Hallet (Team Agni) was not able to race because of an unfortunate crash during the Qualifying that caused his e-bike to be heavily damaged.
“During the remainder of the race I was not expecting the lap times to be that good. Even though I reduced the power supply and only wanted to keep the distance I achieved lap times around 1:13. The MUENCH TTE-2 clicked like clockwork! With his preparation and the adjustments he made Thomas Schuricht, our Head of Development, really achieved an excellence,“ said Himmelmann after the race. Now, Fans can be really looking forward to the last race in LeMans on September 23th. A race, that will not only decide the TTXGP EU Championship but will also nominate the FIM e-Power World Championship’s participants. Additionally all racing fans get to watch another highlight- the fight for the legendary 24 hour Motorbike World Championship crown.
