With a place in the front row of the grid at the Euro Speedway Lausitz, Andreas Meklau gained an excellent starting position to finish on the podium in the first race of the International German Superbike championship season. The 40-year-old Austrian rider from Team SUZUKI International Europe took the chequered flag in third place after a tough, but fair, struggle with Jorg Teuchert (Yamaha), during which the two bikes even touched on occasion. Meklau was third in the second heat again, following Bauer and Teuchert across the line after Dario Giuseppetti (Ducati) was penalised and moved five places down the list of finishers after a complaint for allegedly leaving and returning to the starting grid had been upheld. Suzuki’s promising junior rider Dominic Lammert (20) underwent a meniscus operation a week previously and was unable to ride at the Lausitz. Andreas Meklau: “My expectations for the weekend were fulfilled. I knew that Martin Bauer and Jorg Teuchert were also favourites to win here. I’m satisfied with my results in the race heats. I had a rather mediocre start in the second heat and had to struggle against the Ducati riders for a long time. It wasn’t until the last three laps that I was able to close up on the leaders.” Dominic Lammert: “Last week I had to go into hospital unexpectedly for an outer meniscus operation following an injury. Despite the operation I was still hoping to ride, but when I sat on the bike I couldn’t even reach the right footrest.” Evrén Bischof – Team Manager: “Twice on the podium is a good start to the season. In my opinion the results reflect current performance levels in the Superbike IDM. We’re definitely on the right road to the title. It was a pity that Dominic Lammert couldn’t ride; otherwise we would surely have seen both riders among the top five.” Heat 1: 1. Martin Bauer (A, Honda), 2. Jorg Teuchert (D, Yamaha), 3. Andreas Meklau (A, Suzuki International Europe), 4. Dario Giuseppetti (D, Ducati), 5. Werner Daemen (B, Suzuki Yoshimura Van Zon Schäfer Motorsport), 6. Gabor Rizmayer (H, Team Suzuki Hungary), 7. Pawel Szkopek (PL, Yamaha), 8. Kai-Borre Andersen (NOR, MV Agusta), 9. Roman Stamm (CH, Suzuki Switzerland), 10. Kari Vehniäinen (FIN, Yamaha). Heat 2: 1. Martin Bauer (A, Honda), 2. Jorg Teuchert (D, Yamaha), 3. Andreas Meklau (A, Suzuki International Europe), 4. Werner Daemen (B, Suzuki Yoshimura Van Zon Schäfer Motorsport), Christian Kellner (D, Ducati), 6. Pawel Szkopek (PL, Yamaha), 7.Roman Stamm (CH, Suzuki Switzerland), 8. Christian Zaiser (A, Ducati), 9. Dario Giuseppetti (D, Ducati), 10. Kari Vehniäinen (FIN, Yamaha).