Two TT machines have been put through their paces during a high profile European race meeting.
Team Alpha Boilers Racing took on the awesome Landshaag race held on the open roads of Austria.
The team secured first and a second with machinery destined for this year’s TT while competing on the stunning Austrian circuit.
Klaus Klaffenböck and his sidecar passenger Christian Parzer ran the new LCR outfit they will race during the Centenary TT, while the Honda CBR1000RR Martin Finnegan will tackle the Isle of Man Mountain Course on was raced by superbike rider Michael Witzeneder.
Irish champion Finnegan was on hand to cheer his team during the racing.
Sunny conditions brought out 20,000 spectators for the Landshaag.
It is the only pure road race in Austria, held on a mountain course, which is short, but dangerous, bumpy and difficult.
During practice Klaffenböck and Parzer set the pace with a time of 1min 25.349secs.
Witzeneder posted a time of 1min 15.705secs, putting him third.
During racing Klaffenböck and Parzer improved on that time, completing the arduous course in 1min 23.882secs.
They went on to take the win.
Witzeneder secured a close-fought second place.
In his contest he was just 0.47secs off the winner’s time.
Witzeneder said:
‘This is the original bike that Martin will ride at this year’s TT. It has more than 200 PS; it is difficult to control this power!
‘The track is not easy, especially in the last sectors. It is very tight, if you don’t find your line you risk touching the guard rails I have a lot of experience with the Fireblade because I was test rider for Alex Barros in 2006.
‘All in all I did three races at Landshaag, and I was faster and faster. If there had been a fourth heat I would have been the winner!’
‘Thanks to the Klaffi Honda team. They prepared an extremely fast bike. The CBR1000RR is perfect for Martin and the TT.’
Klaffenböck added:
‘Landshaag is very important for Christian and me to qualify for the TT. It is the only road race in Austria, and the roads are in a condition as those on the Isle of Man. Landshaag is a dangerous track and it would be a mistake to undervalue it.
‘We used a CBR600RR engine, I thought this would be a disadvantage to go up, but I was really surprised how well the new sidecar did. We were even a second faster as last year with the long F1 sidecar and its 1000cc engine. This season we already did four starts and got four wins – a good sign for the TT.’
Martin Finnegan said:
‘This is my first time at Landshaag and I’m impressed. The course is fantastic and if I’ve time next year I’ll race at Landshaag too.’
Astrid Hackländer