K&N Sponsored Supermoto Team 'Honda Austria' Ready to Rumble in 2011
- 28 Jul 2011
Team veteran, Andi Rothbauer continues to compete in the International Class Open, and teammate, Florian Wedenig, marks 2011 as his first full professional season in the International Class S450. Among his many accomplishments Andi lists his 2009 Austrian S2 Championship near the top. Andi competed most of 2010 with a badly injured shoulder, yet still managed to finish third overall in the same championship, but this year he wants that championship back. At 19-year-olds, Wedenig brought his own impressive resume to the team, he was a top national and international Supermoto Instructor and Supermoto Stunt Rider, with a few amateur titles. "He was very delighted to get the chance to get a spot at Honda Austria," Andi remarked. "He has made huge steps forward in the last year and a half, and he really wants to become State Champion within the next year or two!"
New to the team this year are Honda Austria Team Managers, Michael Rohrmair, and Markus Rottensteiner, and both present an ideal fit with the team. Last weekend the fourth round of the Austrian State Championship was held in Kaltenbach, Tyrol, high up in the Austrian Alps. The event organizer, Pro-Motor, created a "very slippery" Supermoto track in the parking lot of the Hochzillertaler Liftstation and neither Andi, nor Wedenig, could find traction at first. "We just didn't find any grip, the tarmac was really slippery," commented Andi. "Our Round 4 results were not that bad though, but I know we are just on the way back to the top, we know we are able to win, and that's what we are fighting for. I am still focusing on the title, and know that it is still possible, so I will do my best to achieve that goal! The next two tracks are tracks I know very well and like a lot, so let's see what comes around and in the end, when we count the points."
Despite traction issues both riders where able to secure points in that race, and at the mid-season break both riders currently hold onto fourth place in their respective class point standings, and both are within championship striking distance. "I am still overwhelmed by taking the second overall in the fourth round of the Austrian State Championship, which is my first ever top-three result in the International Pro Series," Wedenig said. "The last year and a half with Honda has been a dream come true, and now I am already fighting for wins, how great is that? I can't do that without my great sponsors such as K&N Filters!" The seven race Austrian Supermoto season begins in May runs through October. Both riders will continue practicing, testing and attending several other races during the break. Wedenig plans on racing at the Supermoto Euro Indoor Master in Tyrol on August 20th and Andi will race in the South Bavarian German Championship in Fridolfing, Germany on August 13th. The Austrian Supermoto season goes back in high-gear at the end of August. Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
