Australian Karl Muggeridge (HRP Honda) took victory in the first race at round four of the IDM Superbike Championship at Sachsenring in Germany last weekend, joined by countryman Damian Cudlin in the winner’s circle as he claimed the Supersport honours in the opening leg.

Muggeridge won race one with the podium completed by Werner Daemen (BMW) and Stefan Nebel (KTM), before race two saw Muggeridge crash out with fellow former World Supersport Champion Jorg Teuchert, handing the victory to KTM’s Martin Bauer.

“The first race was good, I just had to ride a smart race and control it a little bit,” Muggeridge explained. “At the end of the race I had to give the maximum to take the win but I knew that was going to be okay for a few laps.

“[In race two] Teuchert passed me down the hill and lost the front when he tried to get pass me on the inside and scooped me up. I got high sided off and thrown all the way down the gravel where I slept for a couple of minutes. That was my day.

“It’s really a shame we tried to do a good race and the team did an excellent job all weekend. It’s really not the way to race and it’s not necessary to make such a desperate move on the fourth lap of a 21 lap race. I’ve been to hospital, had X-rays on my back, hands, neck, chest and pelvis, and the good news is nothing is broken.”

Australian RT Motorsports teammates Garreth Jones and Jed Metcher also had solid results, Jones finishing with 8-9 for the weekend, while Metcher claimed a season-best eighth in race one.

Cudlin again continued his Supersport form with a victory in race one and second in race two, storming to the championship lead once again on his Team MRC Austria Yamaha.

“This one feels really good after the troubles we had in Nurburgring,” the World Endurance regular commented. “I got myself into a good position early in the race and once I got to the front I managed to control it from there.”

Race two saw Cudlin edged out for the win, however he was content with the result.

“Today’s race was much tougher than the first, made much harder from my crap start,” Cudlin continued. “I took a lot out of the tyres catching up and getting to the front, and when I finally tried to check out they just weren’t having it. It made for an exciting race at the end, and I think I probably could’ve made that pass in the final turn but it was risky and I’d prefer 20 points than a trip to the medical centre.

“Overall it’s been a good weekend. A pole position, a race win and we’re back in the championship lead. We needed this result and it’s a real boost for our team heading to Salzburg. I hope we can keep this momentum going now and win some more races.”