The 3C Racing Team began the second half of the SUPERBIKE*IDM season last weekend on the legendary Schleizer Dreieck track. Max Neukirchner (DEU) riding for the 3C Racing Team proved unbeatable on his Ducati 1199 Panigale R, winning the Superpole qualification and both Superbike races. His teammate Xavi Forés (ESP) came in second both times on the race course through the Thuringian countryside, whilst new team member Lorenzo Lanzi (ITA) opened his account on his SUPERBIKE*IDM debut with 21 championship points.

Watched by an enthusiastic crowd of almost 25,000 spectators at temperatures in excess of 30°C, Max Neukirchner achieved two start-to-finish victories. He won the first race with a lead of 11.469 seconds over Xavi Forés, the second by a 5.9 second margin. Xavi Forés still heads the overall leader board in the Superbike class and added another 40 points to his tally in Schleiz. Team colleague Max Neukirchner extended his lead over Markus Reiterberger (BMW) by 9 points to 27 in all.

It could hardly have been a better debut for new 3C team rider Lorenzo Lanzi as the Italian had only had a single day to get to know the Panigale. The team, the bike and the layout of the course (with 14 bends spread over 3.805 kilometres and run in anticlockwise direction) were all uncharted territory for Lanzi. However, he soon found the right line along the corn fields and past the residential estates in Schleiz, and was rewarded for his efforts with fourth place in the second race.

Max Neukirchner: "They were two hard-fought races, although I lastly managed to win both with a bit to spare. At the end of the first race I slowed down a little, so as not to take any risks when lapping the back markers."

Xavi Forés: "The truth is that Max was in better form than me this weekend. Nevertheless, I'm still delighted to collect another 40 championship points."

The next round of the SUPERBIKE*IDM will be held from 8th to 10th August 2014 in Assen (NL).