Pawel Szkopek Confident Ahead of Lausitzring
The Pole is hoping for a wet race
WorldSBK action resumes this weekend at the Lausitzring in Germany after a two-month summer break. 10-time Polish Champion Pawel Szkopek is feeling confident ahead of the Pirelli German Round with Team Toth and he’s aiming high - "If it's wet, I'm going for the win.”
Szkopek spent the summer in high gear ahead of Round 10, taking four victories in the Polish Superbike Championship and earning his tenth national title. That achievement giving him an extra boost of confidence ahead of this weekend. With the circuit being so close to the Polish border, thousands of Polish fans are expected at the race, giving the Pole even more motivation to do well.
"I can't wait to get on the Yamaha and race in the World Superbike Championship so close to the Polish border”, says Szkopek. “I know how many Polish fans are planning to be there and it gives me an even stronger boost, making me feel like it's almost my home race. This weekend I'm heading there with high hopes. If the forecast is right and it's a wet weekend I'm not interested in top ten, top five or even a podium. I want to win! When it's wet at the Lausitzring, the track is slippery like ice and you have to be very careful but the harder it is the better for me and the higher the chance for a strong result.”
Assen so far, has been the best reference for Szkopeks wet weather certainty after briefly battling it out with the leading group. With previous WorldSBK experience and a bounty of experience in other European championships, 41 year-old Szkopek is looking to his previous experience at the Lausitzring to give him the extra advantage on the weekend.
“Lausitzring might not be my favourite circuit but I've raced there many times before and I know it well” said the Pole. “I rode there in 2001 in the German Championship, in 2005 in World Supersport, in 2008 again in the IDM Superbike Championship taking a sixth and seventh and last year while having my first go on the new R1, which I’ll be riding this weekend.”
Szkopek will get his first chance to impress in Friday mornings Free Practice 1 at 10:15am local time (GMT+2).
