IDM Superbike 1000: Mikhalchik Sits Out the First Race but Still Secures Pole Position for the Fourth Time

IDM Superbike 1000: Mikhalchik Sits Out the First Race but Still Secures Pole Position for the Fourth Time

Something seems to be taking shape here for the future. Honda team manager Jens Holzhauer thinks highly of his new rider, Alessandro Polita. Text: Anke Wieczorek; Photo: Dino Eisele

That morning, he had kept a low profile in the rain and hadn't even left the pit in the drizzle, but by the end of the day, he had Ilya Mikhalchik secured pole position for the fourth time this year. The Ukrainian from the alpha Racing-Van Zon-BMW Team is impossible to stop. Bastien Mackels (Wilbers-BMW) had also held back and set the second-fastest time on the track that afternoon, Julian Puffe the third. So the usual suspects are lined up on the first row of the grid. Behind them are Daniel Kartheininger and Stefan Kerschbaumer two Yamaha-Teammates (mpb Racing) as well as Toni Finsterbusch (Suzuki Mayer).

Just under half the field had taken to the track that morning. Alessandro Polita (HRP Honda) and Jordan Weaving (Suzuki Alber-Bischoff) had even dared to run on slicks and ended up being the fastest. In the second qualifying session on a dry track, however, the results were quickly put into perspective. Jordan Weaving dropped to 13th on the grid, and Alessandro Polita to ninth. This puts the Italian one spot ahead of his predecessor, Jan Halbich—who now rides for the Kawasaki Schnock Team Motorex —but also one spot behind Kawa newcomer Danny de Boer of Weber Motos. This means that all five motorcycle brands competing in the IDM Superbike 1000 are represented in the top ten.