KTM win German superbikes, WSB next?

KTM have secured their first championship with the RC8R as Martin Bauer claimed his third IDM Superbike title at the final round at Hockenheim.

The Austrian manufacturer entered the German series in 2009, with Stefan Nebel finishing runner-up (or as the PR says: "vice-champion") in the first year with the RC8. 2010 saw further success as Bauer claimed the orange team's first victory and alongside German teammate Nebel they would achieve the manufacturer championship honours with four wins. This season has seen three wins and eight other podiums for Bauer on the way to his overall victory, but losing out on the manufacturer title to BMW.

In what was Martin Bauer's swansong in the German domestic championship, the first race at Hockenheim was cancelled due to unsafe conditions and with an insurmountable lead in the standings he was crowned the IDM champion. Further cementing his lead at the top of the table to end his racing career on the podium

The victory could encourage KTM to answer the rumours and step up to the World Superbike championship with the RC8R.  Bauer will move into a developmental role for the Austrian manufacturer with a focus on testing an RC8R for the international series.

KTM have tasked Bauer and the team around him to use 2012 as a test year to develop the RC8R further, in order to figure out the next steps on where to focus the project and prepare the bike for international competition. After the test year they will analyse all the collected data and make the decision then, KTM acknowledge that WSB is the best series to promote their production motorcycles.