The second race of the IDM Superbike 1000 really had it all: a false start, mechanical failures, crashes, celebrations, and tears. Most notably, for the first time, a BMW rider didn’t win. A Yamaha took the lead.
Ilya Mikhalchik had tried the same strategy as in the first race and posted some blistering lap times: The 22-year-old Ukrainian was already driving faster on his second lap than he had in qualifying, where he had secured pole position. Even more exciting: At that very moment, race control announced that a driver had jumped the start. Of all people, it was Bastien Mackels ( Wilbers-BMW), who was right behind him, who had reacted too early and was handed a drive-through penalty through the pits. The Belgian is the only driver who can still keep Mikhalchik from claiming the title, which is becoming increasingly within his grasp. A drive-through penalty was the last thing he needed, but Mackels had to serve his penalty within three laps of the decision. At that point, he had just overtaken Mikhalchik and was in first place. It was a bitter blow for the IDM runner-up that, after serving the penalty, he returned to the field in 16th place.
Mackels now had to salvage what he could. The path ahead was difficult. There were significant gaps between the riders. But there was still some action. Alessandro Polita retired from the race early with a broken Honda. Stefan Kerschbaumer crashed out of the race on his MPB Yamaha on the penultimate lap. Mackels was pushed forward somewhat and finished ninth.
Things really heated up at the front of the pack, too. Lorenzo Lanzi had been getting faster and faster on his MGM-Yamaha. Eventually, the Italian challenged Mikhalchik for the lead and made history: for the first time this year, there was no BMW victory. And it was the Yamaha team—of all teams—that pulled it off, the very same team that had recently been left without a rider. Team boss Michael Galinski jumped up and down with excitement along the pit wall.
The whole situation also had an advantage for Mackels: Lanzi had prevented Mikhalchiks from taking home the full points. Julian Puffe came in third, proving—after the events of the past few hours—that he won't be beaten.
Dominic Schmitter finished fourth, winning the internal Suzuki duel against Toni Finsterbusch. Danny de Boer had bad luck once again on his home track. Yesterday his engine exploded; today he had more problems. His bike broke down. The Kawasaki rider started from fourth position, returned from the first lap in 13th place, and eventually pulled out of the race.