Final rehearsal before the big show
The International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) has entered the second half of the season. From August 11 to 13, 2017, Germany's top motorcycle road racing series made a guest appearance in Assen. Thanks to the decisions made, one thing is certain: the IDM will remain exciting right up to the finish line, and another motorcycle brand will be added in 2018.
For the IDM Superbike 1000, the start in Assen was also a dress rehearsal. The top class will be making a guest appearance this coming weekend as part of the Superbike World Championship at the Lausitzring.
Almost 4,000 spectators watched the races outside Germany. While the supersport riders and sidecar contingent have a break until the next event in Oschersleben from September 1 to 3, 2017, the IDM Superbike 1000 continues on to the Lausitzring, where it will hold two races from August 18 to 20 as part of the Superbike World Championship.
Five brands are represented in the top class IDM Superbike 1000: BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha. Spectators in Assen were treated to four IDM classes and races in the Yamaha R6 Dunlop Cup, the Twin Cup, and the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Cup. Fans got up close and personal with the riders during the pit walk, autograph session, and public press conferences.
IDM Superbike 1000
Pictures from the first race of the IDM Supersport 600 on Saturday in Assen.
The start of the Superbike World Championship is a particularly hot topic for IDM leader Markus Reiterberger. The 23-year-old Bavarian is fighting for a return to the world elite. The two-time German Superbike champion had already reached the top, but internal team problems and a back injury prompted him to retire after just one year. He regained his reputation in the domestic IDM Superbike series and with his old team.
At the Lausitzring, the star of the VanZon Remeha BMW team wants to show that he is back among the world's best. Reiterberger will be taking on a dual role in Lausitz: first as a guest rider in the Superbike World Championship and second as the overall leader in the two IDM Superbike 1000 races. He extended his points lead once again with two victories in Assen.
His biggest rival Danny de Boer, who is also his teammate, was hot on his heels in the first race, but a broken chain thwarted the Dutchman's ambitions of victory. Florian Alt on the factory Yamaha finished second, followed by Pepijn Bijsterbosch. With him, a local rider finally made it onto the podium. Reiterberger won the second race ahead of de Boer and Bijsterbosch, who said, "Being on the podium at Assen is a must."
Five motorcycle brands are represented in the IDM top class: BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha. With the exception of Kawasaki, at least one rider made it into the top ten in both races. The speedy Lucy Glöckner, who brought Kawasaki out of the doldrums, crashed in both races this time, although she was not at fault in the second race.
A competitor had lost oil and the Saxon rider slipped on it, along with four other riders.
IDM Supersport 600
Pictures from the first race of the IDM Supersport 600 on Saturday in Assen.
In the IDM Supersport 600, Kevin Wahr from Nagold suffered a severe setback. While he was awarded full points for the first race, the second race ended in a zero score. Smoke clouds rose from his Yamaha. The reason: a corner joint on the oil cooler had a leak. Wahr had to leave the race. As a result, championship leader Thomas Gradinger from Austria now has such a big lead that, under normal circumstances, no opponent can take the title away from him.
IDM Supersport 300
Pictures from the first race of the IDM Supersport 600 on Saturday in Assen.
There was a change at the top of the small Supersport 300 class. Jan-Ole Jähnig replaced his teammate Maximilian Kappler at the top. And there was also plenty of movement behind them in the Yamaha-dominated class.
Troy Beinlich won the second race, pushing Sophia Liebschner out of third place in the standings. Although the field of drivers is still small, the junior class is very interesting and has a promising future ahead of it.
Next year, another manufacturer will join Yamaha and Kawasaki. KTM has expressed strong interest and wants to get involved.
IDM Sidecar
Pictures from the first and second free practice sessions of the IDM Sidecar in Assen 2017.
In the IDM Sidecar class, the team of Markus Schlosser and Thomas Hofer achieved a double victory in Assen, which even the local favorites Bennie Streuer and Gerard Daalhuizen were unable to prevent. The Dutch duo are also the defending champions, but the Swiss pair were simply unbeatable.
Impressions from the IDM race weekend
Since 1949, a World Motorcycle Championship race has been held every year without interruption at the TT Circuit Assen. The circuit is currently the only World Championship track designed specifically for two-wheelers. Some of the corners are heavily banked. The IDM is also a regular guest at the fast TT Circuit. From August 11 to 13, 2017, Germany's top motorcycle road racing series once again battled for points on the ring, which is one of the most beautiful in Europe.