The International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) is back in action. Not even the impact of the coronavirus pandemic can stop Germany’s premier road racing series. Although many safety requirements must be met due to COVID-19 and the season has been shortened from eight to four events, the number of participants registered is the highest it has been in several years. The first races will take place from August 14 to 16, 2020, at the TT Circuit in Assen.
The Motor Presse Stuttgart team, led by series manager Normann Broy, has done a fantastic job. The IDM season opener in the Netherlands is shaping up to be a spectacular event. In the IDM Superbike 1000 class alone, 30 riders have registered. That’s a third more than last year. Just how high-caliber the top class is—with bikes boasting over 200 hp and capable of speeds exceeding 300 km/h—is evident from the fact that Jonas Folger has decided to make his racing comeback here. The former MotoGP rider and test rider will compete on a Yamaha for the Bonovo Action by MGM Racing team. The GP star is considered the benchmark and the favorite to win the title going into the season. But will defending champion Ilya Mikhalchik, riding the S 1000 RR BMW of the EGS-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team, be intimidated by this? The 23-year-old Ukrainian from Kyiv has been unbeatable over the past two years and is focused on achieving maximum success. To ensure nothing gets in the way, he is staying in Belgium near the team’s base until the fall. He is foregoing flights home to Eastern Europe to avoid any potential travel restrictions. The competitors will face off for the first time in Assen.
The battle at the top won’t be complete without Julian Puffe (Honda), Erwan Nigon (Kawasaki), Bastien Mackels (Yamaha), Florian Alt (BMW), Daniel Kartheininger (Suzuki), and local riders Ricardo Brink (Yamaha) and Pepijn Bijsterbosch (BMW). What makes the situation even more intense: No one can afford to make a major mistake, because the season is too short this time to make up for it.
In the IDM Supersport 600 class, Max Enderlein (Yamaha) aims to defend his title. Here, too, the field has become noticeably more competitive, with riders coming from all over Europe. The Superstock 600 class, in which less engine tuning is permitted but which races in the same field with separate scoring, was upgraded in 2020. The previous cup was granted IDM status.
If you want to see top-notch racing, you can’t miss the IDM Supersport 300 junior class. In Assen, 35 riders will line up at the start, and they’re all out to win. According to FIM regulations, the minimum age to compete is 13. The smallest IDM class, with engines producing around 50 horsepower, has become a hit, and it’s not uncommon for the final corner to decide the winner and the loser.
Even stars like eight-time Sidecar World Champion Tim Reeves have discovered the IDM. The multi-time champion competes in the 600cc class against Markus Schlosser, Bennie Streuer, Pekka Päivärinta, and Josef Sattler. A significant portion of the field from the Sidecar World Championship has found another playground here. Although only 600cc engines are permitted in the World Championship, the IDM is still open to sidecars with 1000cc engines, which are classified separately.
The groundwork for the IDM title race is laid in Assen, a series that has paved the way to the World Championship for many riders. The schedule features two races per class. The IDM’s supporting program offers a glimpse into grassroots racing, with the Pro Superstock Cup and the Twin Cup competing for points.
Due to COVID-19 regulations, the grandstands at the racetrack will remain empty this year, but fans can follow all the races live via livestream and live timing. The opening races in the IDM Supersport 300, IDM Supersport 600, and IDM Superstock 600 classes will be broadcast on Saturday at www.idm.de/live. Starting at 3:55 p.m., the action will come thick and fast. On Sunday, prime time begins at 12:00 PM. Viewers can watch the Twin Cup, the top class IDM Superbike 1000, the Pro Superstock Cup, the IDM Supersport 300, the two 600cc classes, and the sidecars. The nearly five-hour broadcast is a tribute to all the fans who have to stay home this year.