Suzuki Cup: Schneider earns highest praise

TOP DUO SETS DOWN At the slalom in Romont, Simeon Schneider came to his first victory in the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup. For championship leader Marcel Muzzarelli, with whom he is probably tied for the title, his performance was world class. The day had to come, and it came on June 15. After several podium finishes, Simeon Schneider celebrated not only his [...]

Editorial - 19 June 2019

Simeon Schneider had every reason to be happy about his first victory. He is by far the best Suzuki newcomer.

The day had to come, and it came on June 15. After several podium finishes, Simeon Schneider not only celebrated his first victory in the highly competitive Suzuki one-make cup in Romont. It was also the biggest success to date for the LOC rider. For this, the Zurich rider also received the highest praise from multiple champion Marcel Muzzarelli.

After three wins in a row, the native of Thurgau had to settle for second place, but was absolutely satisfied with it.

Marcel Muzzarelli: "Things went great for me. But Simeon went one better. His first time on a still partly wet track was amazing, that was world class. I'm extremely happy for him to win."

Muzzarelli is on master course
The ambitious winner was "relieved, satisfied and happy" afterwards. One of the reasons, he said, was that he now drove with a different tire pressure, which obviously paid off. Muzzarelli and Schneider thus consolidated their positions at the top of the standings. With an eleven-point lead (96 to 85), "Muzzi" can think about the championship with three races still to go.

Marcel Muzzarelli: "I think I now have to drive with my head. Already in Romont I didn't drive on tutti."

Background: In the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup there is no strike result. With 20 points for a win and staggered slightly less for the other places, Muzzarelli can now drive completely safely. With his basic speed, top times can be achieved. Sandro Fehr and Fabian Eggenberger are almost hopelessly behind with 76 points each, let alone the rest of the up to 40-strong field.

Title favorite with a points cushion: Marcel Muzzarelli wants, but no longer has to be at the top everywhere (Photos: Denise Steinmann/myphoto.ch).

Guesswork at the Eggenberger and Fehr
Both long-time dominators in the former Suzuki Grand Prix fell short of their expectations in Romont. While Fehr admitted after a meager seventh place that he hadn't driven so badly in a long time ("I obviously put myself under too much pressure and overdrive the car"), his long-time rival had a different explanation for his fourth place, almost two seconds behind Simeon Schneider.

Fabian Eggenberger: "In the wet I was only 1.1 seconds slower than in the dry. I can't get my head around that. In the second run I drove more or less on the safe side because I heard and also saw from the bump that I'd hit a bump in the first run. Unfortunately it was not even noted. So I could have gone full guns again."

No more excuses
A plausible explanation that it has not yet worked out with a victory could be the double start with Heiko Leiber. While their strongest competitors can concentrate on their cars, the two men from Zurich share the Suzuki Swift Sport. It is understandable that tires and brakes are strained and weakened in the process. Nevertheless, last year's overall winner is optimistic that his first victory could come next Saturday in Chamblon.

Fabian Eggenberger: "There I start before Heiko, and the breaks between the runs are also bigger. So there are no more excuses. Besides, Chamblon has always been my alley."

The blue and black Swift of Fabian Eggenberger, here with Heiko Leiber at the wheel, is always the best-placed car of double starters. This seems to be a handicap for driving it right to the front.

Will Bürki win in Chamblon?
However, Martin Bürki always feels at home there. After the six-time slalom champion, who came in third in Romont, has already got to grips with the Suzuki from the Flammer Speed Team, he must be on the cards at the Waffenplatz high above Yverdon. He himself is keeping his head down.

Martin Bürki: "My goal is to finish on the podium again. I know the long Chamblon course really well. I'm also expecting bigger time gaps."

Surprisingly strong Rolf Tremp
Christian Zimmermann found his way back to the top in fifth place. He never lacks much for the longed-for podium. The surprise par excellence was offered by Rolf Tremp: The driving instructor from Ebnat-Kappel, who is already entitled to AHV, captured sixth place, just ahead of Fehr and the still consistent Cup newcomer Mario Diethelm.

A driving instructor who shows what he can do: Rolf Tremp drove into the middle of the leading group for the first time.

Heiko Leiber just made it into the top ten behind Roli Graf, from which Ralf Henggeler (12th) dropped out for the first time in the fifth race. Respectable also the 16th place of Sepp Schönbächler, normally successful in the IKSM on a rear-wheel drive Cadett.

What does "Santi" do?
For any slalom specialist, competing in the Suzuki Swiss Racing Cup is a challenge, and Manuel Santonastaso is the next to take on the challenge. Last year's Swiss slalom runner-up knows the New Swift Sport from the LOC race last October in Ambri. Hats off that he, like title opponent Martin Bürki, is now also taking on the Cup competition.