Munich. The BMW Motorrad Motorsport family can celebrate titles number seven and eight. The 2018 Italian National Trophy 1000(INT) champion is Federico D’Annunzio (ITA). Fellow BMW riders LucaSalvadori (ITA) and Remo Castellarin (ITA) ended the season insecond and third place to complete a one-two-three for BMW racers inthe series. In the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSC), AmirulHafig Azmi (MAS) was crowned champion in the Superstock class (MSCSTK) after a brilliant performance on the final weekend of theseason. The final races of the year were also held in the Alpe AdriaRoad Racing Championship (AARR) and the Italian SuperbikeChampionship (CIV). In the AARR, Karel Hanika (CZE) and ArnaudFriedrich (GER) secured two wins each, while Luca Vitali (ITA)claimed a CIV podium finish.
Italian National Trophy 1000 at Vallelunga, Italy.
Federico D’Annunzio (ITA) arrived at the final round of the ItalianNational Trophy 1000 (INT) at Vallelunga (ITA), to the north of Rome,as the championship leader. The BMW racer did not make it onto thepodium in either of the final two races of the year, however,13th and seventh places earned him enough points to wrap upthe title win.
The race for the title was remarkably close, with BMW racers the keyprotagonists. The runner-up in the overall standings after the finalrace is BMW rider Luca Salvadori (ITA) – just 1.5 points behindchampion D’Annunzio. Third place in the championship also went to aBMW S 1000 RR rider: Remo Castellarin (ITA).
The final two races of the year both produced a win and a podiumfinish for BMW racers. The opening race was suspended after four laps,meaning only half points were awarded. Victory went to Agatino AlexSgroi (ITA), with Castellarin crossing the line behind him in secondplace. In race two, Salvadori was first across the finish line,followed by Castellarin in third place.
Malaysia Superbike Championship at Sepang, Malaysia.
The winner of the Malaysia Superbike Championship (MSC STK)Superstock class was decided in a thrilling finale by a perfectperformance from BMW racer Amirul Hafig Azmi (MAS). The TOC HKMTOYORacing Team rider was second overall going into the final round of theseason at the “Sepang International Circuit” near Kuala Lumpur (MAS).The finale featured four races – and Hafiq Azmi won all four with acommanding lead. In doing so, he scored the full 100 points on offerand clinched the title in a manner worthy of a champion.
Sharulnizam Ramli (MAS), of FTA Liqui Moly Racing team, also claimedtwo podium results, with a second and a third place. Ramli ended theother two races in fourth place.
Four races were also held in the Superbike class (MSC SBK). MohdRamdan Rosli (MAS / TOC HKMTOYO Racing Team) made it onto the podiumas runner-up in the fourth and final race. He had previously failed tofinish the opening two races and ended race three in fourth place.
Amirul Hafig Azmi: “First of all, I would like tothank everyone who has supported me, my sponsors, my family andfriends. It was very hot in the races on Saturday and I reallystruggled for grip. That improved on Sunday, but I did not give iteverything. I did not want to take any unnecessary risks. For me, itwas not about setting the fastest lap time – instead, I just tried tofinish the race well. My goal was to win the title.”
Alpe Adria Road Racing Championship at Oschersleben, Germany.
BMW riders once again showed what they are capable of at the AlpeAdria Road Racing Championship (AARR) finale at Oschersleben (GER). Inthe Superbike class (AARR SBK), Karel Hanika (CZE), of the MercuryRacing Team, was once again unbeatable. The Czech racer bagged anotherbrace of wins at Oschersleben, also setting the fastest lap in bothraces. His team-mate Ondrej Jezek (CZE) came home third in race two.Jezek had previously finished sixth in the opening race. ChristopherKemmer (AUT / Bertl K. Racing Team) was fourth and fifth.
In the Superstock class (AARR STK), BMW racer Michal Filla (CZE / BMWSikora Motorsport) had already been confirmed as champion at thepenultimate event of the season at the Red Bull Ring (AUT), however,it was another BMW rider who stole the limelight at the Oscherslebenfinale where Team LRP Poland’s Arnaud Friedrich (GER) won both racesand set the fastest lap both times. BMW racers also claimed anotherone-two-three for the RR in the final race of the season. Friedrichwas joined on the podium by Filla and Michal Prášek (CZE / Rohac andFejta motoracing team) in second and third place respectively.
Italian Superbike Championship at Vallelunga, Italy.
