Two in a row for Team Suzuki Finland

The Gold Race at the Grobnik circuit was going to be a hard fought battle over 18 laps, with temperatures reaching the high 20s it was hard on man and machine, with tyre durability being a big issue. As the lights went out it was Kurt Hock/Enrico Becker, Hock Racing, LCR Suzuki who got the clear track to the first corner followed by the Birchall Brothers Ben and Tom, Michell’s of Mansfield, LCR Yamaha then Pekka Paivarinta/Adolf Hanni, Team Suzuki Finland LCR, with Tim Reeves/Gregory Cluze, Padgett’s/Haith Honda LCR right on there heels. The Treasure Racing team of Adam Treasure/Aki Aalto once again made a poor start bringing up the rear of the second group led by Slovenian Milan Spendal with Peter Hill in the Chair, AMD Kranj LCR Suzuki. As the race progressed Hock and Becker seemed to be pulling a bit of a lead on the following teams then tyre ware started to play into the hands of the following teams of Paivarinta/Hanni, Ben and Tom Birchall, Tim Reeves/Gregory Cluze with the first two teams getting by, leaving Reeves and Cluze to have a battle with,Hock/Becker. By lap 10, Gary and Daniel Knight who had fought their way up to 6th on their Redline/RSR Suzuki then developed technical problems which ruled them out of the results with a DNF, also too for Bennie Streuer/Kees Endeveld Team Streuer LCR Suzuki. Adam Treasure/ Aki Aalto by this time had fought hard up through the field to slot into 5th place just in front of Milan Spendal/Peter Hill who were starting to have tyre problems with lack of grip giving the other Slovenian driver Janez Remse with Paul Knapton in the chair, Remse Racing LCR Yamaha a chance to catch, but they too were to have tyre problems witch gave Spendal/Hill breathing space and let them cross the finish line in 6th place in front of Remse/Knapton 7th. Jacob Rutz/Manuel Eckert Team Rutz LCR Yamaha had a steady race to cross the line in 8th place. Tim Reeves/Gregory Cluze fought hard with Kurt Hock/Enrico Becker but tyres again were to play a part in their race with Reeves/Cluze having no grip which let Hock/Becker cross the line in 3rd with Reeves/Cluze 4th. At the front though Paivarinta/Hanni were getting the better of Ben and Tom Birchall then with one lap to go the Birchall brothers worked hard and managed to pass Paivarinta/Hanni for the lead then on the last corner the two teams were side by side and it was Paivarinta/Hanni who managed to get by, and cross the line for another win just in front of the Birchall Brothers Ben and Tom. Text and photos by Mark Walters