Markus Reiterberger is a little apprehensive about the forecast of extreme summer heat for the race weekend in Most, Czech Republic. On the other hand, he’s no stranger to temperatures well above 30 degrees. New challenges await the Superbike rider.
“At Suzuki, we had the same weather in the World Endurance Championship, and it was similar in the Asian Championship as well. It’s always nice and warm in the Far East,” says Markus “Reiti” Reiterberger, keeping his excitement in check. Instead, the four-time Superbike champion (Masteroil Alpha Van Zon BMW) is focusing on the racing insights gained over the past few weeks.
He’s eager to find out: What will he take away from his recent experiences with the EURO MOTO motorcycle from Brno? How will the 8-hour race at Spa affect the BMW endurance bike? “There’s one thing I already know,” says Reiterberger, “the victory at Spa has given me a mental boost. Finally winning after a streak of bad luck really did me a world of good.” For Reiti, it was a breakthrough.
It remains to be seen whether another victory is possible in the EURO MOTO Superbike race at Most. “We know that Lukas Tulovic on the Ducati is hard to beat on a normal weekend. He’s an extremely good rider. We’re well aware of his abilities. But that doesn’t scare me, because four weeks ago in Brno we tested more than usual. We’ve now made up for the time I lost due to my cold.” Reiterberger had been confined to bed and missed a three-day test in Valencia.
In Brno, the focus was less on ergonomics—“except that we lowered the handlebars”—and more on the geometry and suspension of the BMW M 1000 RR. Reiterberger had initially underestimated the impact of switching suppliers from Öhlins to ZF. The 32-year-old had expected the transition to go more smoothly and was incredibly proud to have won the second race in Brno.
Since returning to Germany’s top motorcycle racing class, the four-time Superbike champion has noticed that tire wear has increased during his three-year absence. “The track in Most will put even more strain on the front tire than the one in Brno,” he is convinced. In the first race there, he used the SC1, just as he did at the season opener at the Sachsenring, “but it didn’t work at all in Brno.” He won that race on the Pirelli SC2.
Things are getting exciting in Most. Both races will be streamed on euromoto.racing/live.
