In the weekend from 20 to 22 May the EAB Racing rode his third race of the season at the Portuguese Circuito Estoril. It was a good weekend for the 21-year-old Dutchman who once again showed good speed. With a seventh place in race one and eighth in race two, the EAB Racing Team can look back on a good weekend.
Friday afternoon the EAB Racing Team rider Glenn started his first free practice of the weekend. During the first-time practice Glenn was hasn’t had the right feeling on the Yamaha YZF-R6. After some adjustments to the bike things went a lot better for Glenn during the second free practice. We saw the rider from Hoogkarspel back in fifth place overall after the two free practice sessions.
Saturday morning at 11:15 the Superpole started. Glenn did a good qualifying in Estoril and set a time of 1’39.952. He was allowed to start the races from a third starting position. He was able to improve continuously throughout the session and on his last lap he put the Yamaha on the front row of the grid. An excellent performance from the EAB Racing team rider.
The first race on Saturday afternoon. During the start Glenn managed to hold his rhythm and came through in fifth place after the first lap. The following lap, EAB Racing Team rider passerd Jules Cluzel for third place. Then he got into the fight for the lead. Glenn showed excellent speed and passed Dominique Aegerter fighting for place one. Unfortunately due to a crash, his podium chances were lost. But Glenn didn’t hesitate for a moment and picked up his Yamaha YZR-R6 to finish in a neater seventh place.
In race two we saw different weather conditions. It was a race, where splashes of rain made spectacular situations. In the first few opening laps Glenn lost some ground. He closed the gap towards the leading group but got stuck at the tail of the group. The EAB Racing Team rider finished the weekend in Portugal in eighth place.
Glenn: “Overall it was a good weekend in Estoril. Friday morning started off difficult and I couldn’t quite find my way. In the second free practice session, I found more confidence in the bike and with a good tire we were again in good rhythm. I had a perfect Superpole, on my last lap I came in third place. In race one we had a good rhythm until I crashed. Fortunately I was able to pick up the bike and fight my way back to seventh. Race two was a tough race, I had some grip problems throughout the race which resulted in eighth place. We have again secured important points for the championship. Thanks to the EAB Racing Team for this weekend.”
EAB Racing Team and Glenn van Straalen are now fourth in the championship standings. The team will be back on Italian soil in the weekend of June 10-12. Then the fourth race of the season will take place on the circuit of Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”.