Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes (Adolf RS Yamaha) also won the second IDM sidecar race in the 600 ccm class. But it was Sattler/Neubert (Adolf RS Kawasaki) who stole the show.
The German team had updated the control unit before the race. This had unexpected consequences. During the formation lap, the pit lane speed limiter kicked in and would not turn off. The pit lane speed limiter is designed to restrict speed in the pit lane so that no penalties are incurred. Sattler/Neubert were now creeping around the track at a snail’s pace of 60 km/h and quickly pulled into the pits before the race to fix the problem. However, they weren’t at their designated starting position in time for the start and consequently had to trail the field out of the pit lane in last place. The next problem was already on its way: the automatic gearbox failed on the track. But that didn’t stop Sattler from moving up from 19th to seventh place. In the 600cc class, this actually meant fourth place, as three 1000cc sidecars—which are classified separately—had crossed the finish line ahead of him. Although Sattler was unable to cap off his spectacular comeback with a podium finish, he was celebrated as a hero.
Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes, No. 77, won the small-displacement class with a five-second lead over Markus Schlosser/Marcel Fries (LCR Yamaha). Schlosser said: “In terms of pace, we’re just as fast as we are in the World Championship races. It’s just that we don’t attack as aggressively in the IDM. Otherwise, I would have gone head-to-head with the 1000cc teams, but in the end, that wouldn’t have done me any good. I still wouldn’t have been able to beat Reeves. We need to fine-tune our sidecar even better.” Bennie Streuer and Kevin Rousseau (LCR Kawasaki) crossed the finish line in third place with a comfortable lead.
In the 1000 ccm class, the joy knew almost no bounds. A woman stood on the top step of the podium. Co-driver Anna Burkard celebrated her victory alongside Mike Roscher (LCR BMW). The remaining spots were filled by familiar faces from yesterday’s race: John Smits and Gunter Verbrugge (RCN Yamaha) finished second again, and Andres Nussbaum and Manuel Hirschi (LCR Suzuki) took third for a change.