International Achievement Award for TT winner Klaus Klaffenbock
Thursday 27 January 2011
TT
Sidecar World Champion Klaus Klaffenbock has described taking victory at the Isle of Man TT as a ‘dream come true’.
He has also confirmed he hopes to be able to race at the 2011 TT.
The Austrian, who made his TT debut in 2004, finally took the top step of the podium in the opening Sure Sidecar race in 2010. Partnered by Manxman Dan Sayle, Klaffi battled with TT legend Dave Molyneux throughout the three laps, eventually coming home ahead by just 2.63 seconds.
Klaffenbock and Sayle made it two from two just days later with a stunning victory in the second Sure Sidecar race. They finished just 1.12 seconds ahead of the outfit of John Holden and Andy Winkle.
For Klaffi it was the fulfilment of a long held ambition, and a tremendous feat. It was the first time since 2003 a non-Manx driver had won a Sidecar TT race.
His wins were recognised at the Adelaide Racer Awards in Belfast earlier this month when he was presented with the Adelaide International Achievement Award. He was chosen by an expert panel including leading names from racing.
On stage at the awards ceremony Klaffenbock reflected on how important his TT wins were, even compared with taking a World Championship title.
He told the star-studded audience:
“It was a dream come true. I was dreaming my whole life about this, it was absolutely a dream come true.”
Asked if fans would see him return to the Mountain course in 2011, Klaffenbock said:
“It is not decided yet, but I want to be back.”
Klaffi has repeatedly paid tribute to expert passenger Sayle’s role in the wins, and did so again at the Adelaide Racer Awards. He admitted he would never be tempted to swap roles, however.
Klaffenbock said:
“I would never go in the chair – no chance!”
The International Achievement Award was presented by Guy Martin and Conor Cummins, who both saw the 2010 TT come to a devastating end with separate crashes in the Senior.
Despite being involved in a fiery 170mph smash at Ballacarey which left him with multiple injuries, Martin was back to racing within weeks. Manxman Cummins suffered back, arm and leg injuries in his high-speed smash at the Verandah and has not raced a bike since.
Martin, who has signed for the Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing team, is hoping the elusive first TT win will come at the 2011 meeting.
He said:
“I have the right tools for the job, this is the best team to be with. Now I have got to pull my finger out.”
Cummins looked in fine form at the awards ceremony, a sign of how well his recovery is going.
He confirmed he is working hard on his return to racing, and sees the TT as his main aim.
Cummins said:
“It is certainly the plan to get back on the bike as soon as possible. I take everything in my stride, but I want to get back riding, and I want to get back riding in the Isle of Man – that’s the main thing.”