Pauli Pekkanen may have taken a step into the unknown in 2007, but he refused to let his lack of experience show as he waltzed off with the inaugural KTM Super Duke honours at the end of his maiden season of competition in the UK.
The young Finn began the campaign as a rank outsider and almost total unknown on the British racing scene, but three wins and one championship crown later, he made sure his was one of
the names on people's lips in the British Superbike paddock.
“I had this opportunity about one-and-a-half weeks before the first race,” the 24-year-old explained, speaking to
Crash.net Radio. “KTM offered it to me, and I said straightaway ‘yes I want to do it!' The first time I ever saw the bike was the first race at Silverstone!”
That being the case, his progress throughout the season – not triumphing until round five, but scoring points in all-but one outing and making the podium on no fewer than seven out of ten occasions – was all-the-more remarkable. And learning the tracks was far from the only hurdle he had to overcome during the year…
“Every circuit was new for me,” Pekkanen added, “but there are many good tracks like
Donington for example, and there's certainly no place like Cadwell! The first lap around there – with the jump and everything – I was so lost! I learned it quite quickly though, and won both races there, so it was good in the end.
“I also did four Supersport races here, and three back in Finland. It wasn't so difficult [to swap between KTM and Supersport]. It's just a little bit different because one is bigger and heavier, but it wasn't too difficult – both bikes have two wheels!”
“Nothing is sure yet, but hopefully I can continue racing here in England next year.”
