The King of the Roads headed outside the British Isles for the first time this season for Rounds 6 and 7 from Imatra in Finland. Formally home to the Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix, the Imatranajo returned to the road racing calendar in 2016, and has been a staple of the schedule ever since. It joined the King of the Roads roster last year, and local favourite Erno Kostamo swept all Superbike race victories. But with 2023 King of the Roads champion Michael Dunlop on the entry list as well as a host of other international talent from mainland Europe, repeating that would not be an easy feat in the pair of points paying IRRC Superbike races.
The Imatranajo marks the halfway point in the King of the Roads campaign; riders will race in the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Wales and Macau in the second half of the season before the 2024 champion is crowned. And with 9 points paying races within the next month, the battle to be number 1 is more hotly contested than ever.
As is so often the case in this part of Finland, conditions are either very warm or very wet. Conditions in Qualifying 1 were dry, and it was Macau podium finisher David Datzer who went quickest, the German lapping 7 tenths quicker than Kostamo. Saturday morning’s second qualifying was less favourable, and therefore no faster times were set.
But if Glenn Irwin is Mr North West 200, Erno Kostamo is Mr Imatra. The Finn, aboard his 38 Motorsport by Penz13 BMW M1000RR came into 2024 with 8 successive Superbike wins around the Finnish circuit, and after launching into the lead on Lap 1 at the start of IRRC Superbike Race 1, looked to make it 9. He then began to break clear of the chasing pack, and by Lap 4, was well ahead of Datzer, Eemeli Lahti, Lukas Maurer, Come Geenen and Michael Dunlop.
Kostamo would ultimately finish 2.6 seconds ahead of fellow Finn Eemeli Lathi (IPR Moto Racing Yamaha R1) and David Datzer (Datziii-Racing by TW3 Racing BMW M1000RR) for an unprecedented ninth Superbike success in a row. Belgian rider Come Geenen meanwhile set a new outright lap record of 1:50.355 on his way to fourth place.
Sunday’s Superbike Race 2 was a much closer affair. When lights went out, roads were dry, but within two laps, a heavy rain shower had submerged sections of the circuit, making it unsafe for slicks and therefore meaning the red flags were brought out. At the restart, Finnish pairing Lahti and Kostamo fought tooth and nail for the number 1 spot, Kostamo eventually finding his way past to take the lead. The flying Finn would then go on to set a pace 3 seconds a lap faster than anyone else, stretching out an 8 second lead by the chequered flag, his tenth Superbike triumph on the Imatra circuit. Lahti was second again with Lukas Maurer a valiant third.
Kostamo’s double victory means the Finn is now just 4 points behind Glenn Irwin in the battle to be King of the Roads champion. Dominic Herbertson in third, Davey Todd fourth and Michael Dunlop fifth.
The King of the Roads will continue with another triple header from the Southern 100 road races on the Isle of Man.
