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| May 22, 2011 | |
| POLE POSITION AND DOUBLE PODIUM FOR ALBERTO CERQUI IN PORTIMAO | |
| 22/05/2011 - Solid performance by Alberto Cerqui in Portimao (Portugal) in the second round of the Superstars International Series.
The young driver from Brescia of BMW Team Italy showed all his intention from free practice where he set the fastest time of the second session (1'52.222). In qualifying, Cerqui has been perfect and secured the pole position (1'51.174) with a lap showing the awareness of his means extraordinary for a rookie. The great performance continued in race one where Alberto exploited the start and came out of turn one on top and kept a constantly high rhythm matched only by his team mate Thomas Biagi and by Andrea Bertolini (Maserati). During lap seven the leadership went to the reigning champion and positions stabilized until the chequered flag that confirmed the second place and the first podium of Cerqui as BMW official driver. Very strong performance also in race two, when Alberto started again perfectly and got the lead of the race before succeeding to Bertolini's attacks with the latter free from the sportive ballast and to Thomas Biagi. After the retirement of Maserati's driver at lap seven, Biagi and Cerqui progressively pulled away and ended in a parade that celebrated, thanks also to Stefano Gabellini's result, two triplets for BMW Team Italy. Alberto Cerqui: "It has been a great weekend. I did not raced before on this track and the pole position was a huge satisfaction; I also managed to keep constantly a high race pace and I harvested two podiums that give me even more motivation for what is becoming the most thrilling and stimulating season of my career. All men of the team did a great job as always and the credit for this weekend's results goes also to them". In the general standings Cerqui is currently sixth with 48 points, 28 adrift the leader Biagi; he is leading the rookies classification with 18 points, 8 clear of Francesca Linossi. The Superstars Series will be back on track next 5 June in Misano for a round valid for the Italian Championship only. | |