Neukirchner back at Valencia after 2008 disaster
Added on Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Neukirchner back at Valencia after 2008 disaster
Max Neukirchner heads to Valencia this weekend looking to exercise the demons of 2008 and lead the challenge against already runaway WSB duo Ben Spies and Noriyuki Haga.
The German was one of the surprise packages last season, finishing fifth in the championship with Alstare Suzuki after securing at least one podium in rounds four through to eight, including a maiden World Superbikes win at Monza in round five.
But the 25-year-old could have secured his first ever chequered flag two rounds earlier in Valencia had it not been for a dramatic last-lap collision with Spaniard Carlos Checa that dashed those dreams and left him with a broken collarbone.
But Neukirchner, now with support from the Suzuki factory, has already done enough to establish himself as a dark horse in the championship and is expected to be amongst the front runners once again on Sunday.
“Last year in Valencia, I was on the verge of taking my first ever WSBK victory until the very last corner of the very last lap,” he said.
“Then I was hit by Carlos Checa and crashed, breaking my collarbone in the process. As that happened in the first race, it meant that I also missed the second race. So it wasn’t a good end to what had been a very good weekend up to that moment.
“Valencia is quite a technical circuit and one that is quite hard physically because you hardly get any chance to rest on a lap. But I like the track and my goal is to finish both races and get on the podium.”
