Maxime Berger will take confidence into the five-week summer break after claiming his best ever result in World Superbikes at Silverstone yesterday.
The Frenchman is taking part in his rookie season after finishing runner-up in last year's Superstock 1000 Cup and had just a single top-ten finish at Misano to his name so far. But in race one at Silverstone, Berger claimed the scalps of World Champions James Toseland and Max Biaggi to finish eighth and the 22 year old admitted it took a fierce scrap to get there.
“I really enjoyed the first race. After a good start I found myself in a group of four to five riders and we fought side by side to overcome them. I forced my pace several times, but then I decided not to risk a fall and I finished eighth, my best result ever in World Superbikes.”
The Supersonic Ducati rider couldn't quite repeat the heroics in race two after a problem with the radiator on his 1098R machine but still brought it home in a solid 12th.
“In race two, the track temperature was warmer and the bike was sliding a lot from the tyres. I tried to keep a good rhythm and I could've been in the top ten, but when I was about to pass Lascorz, his bike started to lose water from the radiator. The water came on the visor of my helmet and my windshield and I had to turn off the gas, losing some positions. The satisfaction remains of having the best results this weekend and I finally brought home a good amount championship points. I have to thank once again my team to give me a real fast bike. Now I will take a few weeks' vacation and get ready for the remaining four races of the championship.”
The Superbike World Championship will return on the first weekend of September at the Nurburgring in Germany.
