The countdown has begun. From September 28–30, 2018 takes place in Hockenheim that International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) Final is taking place. Although cooler temperatures are forecast, the atmosphere at the Motodrom is electric once again. Two races will be held in each of the four premier classes. In none of them has the title been decided early. It feels like it’s been an eternity since that happened. The Motor Presse Stuttgart pulled out all the stops as the promoterto make the season finale a huge spectacle both on and off the track.
Public press conferences, autograph sessions, pit walks, and the race party with live music on Saturday on the pit roof will really get the crowd going. And test rides on the latest models from BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha will give interested riders a real taste of the action. The IDM comes alive in all its facets and offers fans a non-stop program. But the most exciting part is: Who will be crowned champion in the Superbike 1000, Supersport 600, Supersport 300, and Sidecar classes? All the titles will be decided this weekend.
In the IDM Superbike 1000 The air is electric. In Germany's top class of motorcycle road racing, the five brands BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha represented by high-performance motorcycles with over 200 horsepower. There’s a lot of prestige at stake here. It’s already a foregone conclusion that the title will go to a BMW rider at the end of the season. The only question is: which one? Two riders still have a chance: Ilya Mikhalchik, a 22-year-old Ukrainian from the alpha Racing-Van Zon-BMW team, and Bastien Mackels, a 33-year-old Belgian from Wilbers-BMW. The young rider holds a clear advantage with a 31-point lead in the overall standings. Mackels recently received a time penalty in Assen for a false start, which set him back significantly. Mikhalchik, on the other hand, had a rough race at the IDM in Zolder. What will happen at Hockenheim? One thing is certain: Mackels will fight for his chances until the checkered flag drops for the last time. And it’s not just up to the two title favorites how the 2018 season ends in the top class.
Could Julian Puffe be the deciding factor in the title race? The 22-year-old from the racing town of Schleiz has nothing to lose on the S 1000 RR. He has already secured third place overall in the championship, but he still needs a win to cap off the season. Things could still get very exciting in the standings behind him. The gaps between Dominic Schmitter (Suzuki), Stefan Kerschbaumer (Yamaha), Pepijn Bijsterbosch (BMW), Jan Halbich (Kawasaki), and Toni Finsterbusch (Suzuki) are extremely narrow.
In the IDM Supersport 600 Leader Max Enderlein can count himself lucky. The Saxon had to sit out a race at Assen due to a broken collarbone. He feared that his Yamaha rival Marc Buchner would make significant ground during his absence. Instead, Daniel Rubin emerged as a complete surprise winner, claiming two victories and even pushing Buchner down to second place in the standings. The injured Enderlein will now be back on the track at Hockenheim and still holds a twelve-point lead. Will that be enough to secure the IDM title in the end?
The competition is even tighter in the junior division IDM Supersport 300 At the IDM weekend in Assen two weeks ago, Toni Erhard took the lead in the championship for the first time. He won both races and overtook Victor Steeman at his home race, of all places. Erhard, the 17-year-old talent from the Kiefer Racing Team, heads into the decisive weekend with a ten-point lead. The minimum age for these young guns is 15. In 2018, the smallest IDM class also features, for the first time, KTM a partner.
In the IDM Sidecar Defending champions Bennie Streuer and Gerard Daalhuizen had to relinquish the lead to Josef Sattler and Uwe Neubert without a fight. Streuer’s sponsors insisted that he compete in the World Championship round in Rijeka, which was taking place at the same time, rather than in the IDM race in Assen. Is there still a chance to salvage the season?
The Superstock 600 Cup, the Twin Cup 700, and the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Cup round out the IDM lineup. All spectators are invited to attend Friday’s practice sessions free of charge. Saturday tickets start at 19.00 euros. Admission for the entire weekend costs 35.00 euros. These prices apply to spectators 18 years of age and older; admission is free for those under 18.