IDM: Battle for thousandths of a second in Most

20.06.2023 15:49

Breathtaking duels, skin-deep finishes and action in every single class and an open paddock for the visitors. That is what the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) is all about. From 23 to 25 June 2023, Germany's top road racing series will make a guest appearance in Most, Czech Republic. The date in the neighbouring country has a long tradition. Fans have the opportunity to experience the action on the race track up close.

After two events, front-runner Florian Alt (DEU/Honda) is trying to extend his lead in the top class IDM Superbike. Because it is already clear that he will not be on the grid at the Red Bull Ring in August, as there is an overlap with a race for the FIM Endurance World Championship, which has priority for the North Rhine-Westphalian. By then he hopes to have stashed away enough points to still keep his chances of winning the title alive. His gap to second-placed Hannes Sommer (EST/Honda) in the standings is currently 27 points. But that can all change quickly. Three-time German Superbike Champion Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR/BMW), for example, has by no means given up yet. Two crashes have set the title favourite back, but experience has shown that the reckoning only comes at the very end. Despite his eighth place in the standings, Mikhalchik is a hard act to follow at the top. It is a highly exciting affair. There are four motorbike brands in the IDM Superbike: BMW, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha. The participants come from eight countries.

In the IDM Supersport, the drama is hard to beat. Dutchman Melvin van der Voort (NLD/Yamaha) won the first two races in the class in superior fashion and seemed to be going it alone, but in the second event he crashed in both heats. The 17-year-old Yamaha rider dropped to third place in the standings. His compatriot Twan Smits (Yamaha), on the other hand, raced to the podium twice, scored the full number of points and, with a 31-point lead, created a respectable cushion for himself in first place in the overall standings. And in between, German is spoken again and again. The Austrians Andreas Kofler (Yamaha) and Thomas Gradinger (Yamaha), Leon Orgis (DEU/Yamaha) from Arnsdorf and the Swiss Yves Stadelmann (Yamaha) occupy top ten positions. And the question is: When will the first Kawsaki make it onto the podium? The battle of blue against green continues. Luca de Vleeschauwer (BEL) hopes for his chance in Most with the ZX-6R. And there is a premiere this year. Two Ducati riders will be at the start.

The IDM Supersport 300 junior class is led by a Spaniard. In contrast to the larger classes, Inigo Iglesias (Kawasaki) is only three points ahead of Dustin Schneider (DEU, KTM). But if Dutchman Walid Khan (KTM) continues the way he left off last time, the current third-placed rider can take over the lead in the standings with a win. The gaps in the smallest IDM class are not only close in the overall standings, but also in the races. Not infrequently, hundredths of a second, if not thousandths, decide between victory and defeat. And it remains to be seen when and where defending champion Marvin Siebdrath (DEU/Yamaha) will make it out of the current trough. The fact that riders such as Lennox Lehmann (DEU/KTM) and Dirk Geiger (DEU/KTM), who otherwise race in the Supersport 300 World Championship, will be on the grid again in the Czech Republic will add to the thrill.

In the FIM Sidecar World Championship, the engines are still warm from last weekend's World Championship round in Spa, Belgium. Brothers Tom and Ben Birchall (GB) defended their lead and engaged in a battle with defending champions Todd Ellis/Emanuelle Clement (GB/FRA). Always very close: Stephen Kershaw/Ryan Charlwood (GB/GB). The fact is that everyone is chasing the Birchall brothers at the moment in the hope that the gap to them will narrow.
The best German team is currently Josef Sattler/Luca Schmidt in seventh position. Sattler is hoping for a lot from the World Championship round in Most, where the subordinate IDM classification, which he leads, is held at the same time. "Now we come to a track that I know and that I like," said the Bavarian.

A full programme without a break will be provided in Most by the additional Pro Superstock 1000 classes, the Supersport 300 Women's European Championship and the Northern Talent Cup. The spectators can expect the whole range of top-class top-class sport right up to the talent shows of the future. Every ticket holder has free access to the paddock.

What else is there to wait for? Admission prices range from 5.00 euros for a day ticket on Friday to 35.00 euros for a ticket for the whole weekend. Children and young people under the age of 18 are admitted free of charge.

Text: Anke Wieczorek; Fotos: Dino Eisele

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