Guest rider Marvin Fritz (Bayer Bikerbox) secured pole position on his Yamaha in the IDM Superbike 1000 class. Rounding out the front row for the finale in Germany’s premier road racing class are Ilya Mikhalchik (alpha Racing-Van Zon-BMW) and Marc Moser (MGM Racing Performance, Yamaha). The second row is occupied by Bastien Mackels (Wilbers-BMW-Racing), Dominic Schmitter (Hess Racing), and Jan Bühn (EGS Moto Racing, BMW). In the third row are Pepijn Bijsterbosch (Team Dutch Comfort Houses, BMW), Jan Mohr (BCC Racing), and Erwan Nigon (Kawasaki Weber-Motos-Racing-Team).
Marvin Fritz, the 2016 champion, was surprised by his own incredible comeback. “I had imagined I’d get a spot on the front row, but not pole position,” said the Neckarzimmerer native. “Mikhalchik and Puffe are strong; I saw them in action a week ago at the Bol d’Or. And at Spa, Mackels was right up there. Moser’s lap times weren’t a surprise to me either. The field is top-notch.” At the Motodrom in Baden, Fritz took to the track for the first time on the complete race bike that championship-winning tuner Sepp Buchner had prepared for him for the IDM. During the second practice session, he had two new rear tires fitted. “After more than two years, this is the first time I’m riding on Pirelli tires.” In the FIM Endurance World Championship, where Fritz usually competes, the Yamaha is fitted with Bridgestone tires. There’s something else Fritz isn’t used to anymore: “The endurance races start with a Le Mans-style start, where the riders run to their bikes. For the sprint race, I have to completely switch gears and execute a clean start from a standstill.”
As the successful defending champion, Ilya Mikhalchik has nothing left to prove at Hockenheim. He already achieved his goal at Assen. But the 23-year-old Ukrainian wouldn’t be himself if he didn’t want to end the IDM finale with a victory. But there is no sign of his teammate Julian Puffe anywhere in Hockenheim. The 23-year-old from Schleiz was the last rider to make it into the top ten. His usual laid-back attitude seems to have vanished for now. Things aren’t going as planned. In the worst-case scenario, this could cost him the runner-up title he thought was almost certain.
Alessandro Polita (Holzhauer Racing Promotion, Honda) is a true warrior. He’s one of the old school—the kind who won’t let anything get him down. Despite a injured finger and a broken bone in his foot, he’ll still start from 15th position tomorrow.