last weekend was for me the most successful race since I´m riding for Suzuki International Europe. At last, I´m picking up speed and confidence on "Hard Pack". I raced the Baden-Württenberg Cup in Schopfheim, a Regional, but all the fast German opponents were racing, because there was no other race on that weekend. We all used the race for extra practice.

It was a two-day event, since there were so many riders. We raced qualifying heats in our class. The group of riders were split and only the top 20 could race to the final. This heat did not count any points but in the final you scored double points.

In the qualifying race, I had a bad start, like all my races lately. I was eighth for some time, but then suddenly, it all happened in my favor: two riders crashed, I overtook three and was third. I almost did not believe my pit-board. At the final, I had an even worse start, but I chose the right lane, since everyone went inside and I overtook about five people on the outside of the first corner. I was fifth and worked my way up to third. I was very happy about the result, even though I realized that the first two riders were faster than me and pulled away. But I relaxed and settled for third overall.

The second day started of well. At the first practice I was one second faster than the previous day. But then, in the second practice, I tried to follow Dennis Baudrexl, one of the two fast guys of the day before to check his lines. However, my front wheel slipped away in a corner. Next lap, I stopped to follow him again, but I pushed too hard and I crashed again. This time it was a hard crash. Spectators later told me, my bike spun five times in the air before it hit the ground. It was on a real fast and long corner, fifth gear, flat out. Luckily nothing happened to me, but the bike looked bad, bent bars and both levers broken off.

Sadly, this crash ruined my day. I came second in the qualifying, but without the top riders. I had a bad start in the final again, but could make my way up to fifth only, due to a few small stupid mistakes. Nevertheless, I´m more than happy about my results and can´t wait for the next ADAC Masters race, taking place in Aichwald on 09.07.06.

Björn#27