Team manager Benny Wilbers is a big advocate and fan of the IDM, but now he’s facing a real challenge. The fact that the IDM will now use exclusively Pirelli tires temporarily threw the Dutch-born manager off balance. He had been one of the first to commit to the 2018 season and had signed Belgian rider Bastien Mackels to ride the BMW S 1000 RR—albeit with a lucrative Dunlop contract. Wilbers now faces a decision: switch series or ride on Pirelli tires in the future?
Wilbers is testing Pirelli tires
It’s something that needs careful consideration, but Wilbers is giving the Pirellis a shot. The team is currently testing in Spain through March 19. The stops are Valencia and Cartagena. Things are going well. The other riders on the track—none of whom are from the IDM—have been left behind by Mackels so far. “But it’s not like you switch to a new tire and set the fastest times right away,” Wilbers says, keeping his feet on the ground.
The decision will be made after the test days in Cartagena.
Just because something worked in Valencia doesn’t mean it will work elsewhere. That’s why we’ve chosen two racetracks with completely different layouts. We need to be sure of what we’re doing in the future.
The team truck and the motorcycle still bear the Dunlop logo. Switching to Pirelli would create a budget shortfall for the team. Wilbers is currently in talks with many potential sponsors and hopes that BMW Motorrad headquarters would still provide additional funding if the team switches to Pirelli.