In the IDM opening practice session at Oschersleben, BMW rider Bastien Mackels set the fastest lap, but the 32-year-old Belgian remained humble today. “Yes, I was first, but there was a lot of wind on the track and none of us have shown what’s really possible yet.” His team, Wilbers-BMW, considers Mackels a podium contender. “A spot in the top 3 is realistic,” confirms Technical Director Burkhard Stember. Mackels is happy to be racing for Wilbers-BMW again after a year with MGM Yamaha. With the team, he finished fifth overall in the IDM Superbike in 2016. Last year, he didn’t achieve such results. The comeback at Wilbers is intended to bring Mackels back to the front, even if he has to readjust to Pirelli tires after using Dunlop. But the plan seems to be working. In any case, Mackels is in top shape. One might get jealous: the model athlete, standing 176 cm tall, weighs almost exactly 66 kilograms—and his favorite dish is French fries.
Photo: Anke Wieczorek