Austrian Andreas Meklau’s World Superbike win at his home Österreichring in 1993 on a privateer Ducati had to be one of the most unexpected victories in the history of the series.
Meklau raced select World Superbike rounds in 1991 and ’92 and finished no better than 12th. Then he took an off weekend from racing a ROC Yamaha in 500cc Grand Prix in ’93 and suddenly out of nowhere he raced his Team Ducati Schnyder to victory on a rainy day in Zeltweg ahead Kawasaki factory riders Aaron Slight and Scott Russell.
He continued racing World Superbike though the year 2000. His best season was 1994 when he finished sixth in the WSBK final standings.
Along the way, he scored two more podiums, both at Österreichring.
In 2001 Meklau came to America to race AMA Superbike with HMC Ducati. He finished a credible 10th in the final standings with his best result a fourth in race two at Road America.
In this shot Meklau is trying to keep a trio of Harley-Davidson VR1000s at bay at Mid-Ohio. Chasing the Austrian is Mike Smith (911), Pascal Picotte (21) and Jordan Szoke (101). Meklau crossed the finish line in front of the VRs.
