Matějovský won the victory at the Most circuit, despite adversity in qualifying |
- 26. 8. 2007, Most -The O2 Motorsport team's first-priority driver Michal Matějovský has been bedevilled by bad luck and technical troubles for quite some time. And, it seemed that this would also hold true for the races that took place last weekend within the 2007 Matador Czech Truck Prix, the largest of the motor-sport events held at the Autodrom Most Circuit. However, in front of the fantastic 70,000 audience, Michal proved to be a driver with excellent tactical skills, a strong opponent under any circumstances. In the first race, he managed to fight his way from the last spot of the grid to claim the point-scoring eighth place. And, in the second race, he even won the victory, in a fully competent manner. The problem arose as early as in the Saturday qualifying when the electronic system of Michal Matějovský's car broke down and the car even caught fire. The team's mechanics succeeded in making the repair, but Michal Matějovský was not able to complete the qualifying session. Consequently, he had to start the first race on Sunday from the back of the grid. Right after the start, he began to move up, passing one car after another. Nevertheless, after a short while, he witnessed the spine-chilling accident of his team-mate Laura Hájková, who, without any fault on her part, got involved in the collision of Bareš and Skalický. Despite the fact that she was trying hard to avoid the two drivers, one of them hit her car, causing it to go up in the air. The car turned over and landed on the wheels again. Fortunately, Laura immediately got out of the damaged vehicle, not assisted by the medics. The race went on, without being interrupted. Michal Matějovský gradually fought his way ahead to finish in eighth. It was Erik Janiš that won the race, ahead of Brejla and Došek. In the second Cup Race, Michal made a good start. At the end of lap one, he was already running fourth, behind Jirásek, Gottwald and Došek. Owing to his excellent driving style, Michal gradually moved up to take the lead. In the second half of the 17-lap race, he was even increasing his advantage, ahead of Aleš Jirásek. In the end, Michal won, by an imposing margin of 6.293 seconds, with Jirásek in second. 'In both races, I was driving in a tactical manner, trying hard to avoid collisions and to save the tyres. In the first race, after starting from the last spot of the grid, I was even running around the fifth position for a while. In the end, I came eighth. I was satisfied because this was a good position for the second race, which I won by a wide margin. From my point of view, everything will be determined at the last racing event, which is held at the Brno circuit in three weeks. It is certain that Erik Janiš has already secured the first prize for himself, but I managed to dramatize the contest for the second place. And, that is why I am looking forward to the last racing event in Brno,' said Michal Matějovský, content after the races at the Most circuit. Before the last racing event in Brno (22 - 23 September), Erik Janiš is first in the overall standings, with 179 points. Václav Brejla (127 points) is second, 23 points ahead of Michal Matějovský, who is third. And, Michael Vorba is fourth, with 93 points. |
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