The reverse grid for the second IDM Superbike 1000 race meant that Jonas Folger (Bonovo action by MGM Racing), the winner of the first race, had to start from ninth position. But it was only a matter of time before the former MotoGP star emerged at the front of the field. It took an unusually long time this time, as the Yamaha rider needed four laps instead of the three turns required at the Sachsenring. That had its advantages, as the 27-year-old emphasized: “I overdid it a bit at the start and was pushed way out wide. But I liked that it meant I had a few riders around me that I could pass.” Afterward, his victory lap was once again a one-man show, even though the softer tire compound wasn’t the right choice compared to the harder one in the first race.
A slip-up by Mikhalchik could have allowed Folger to clinch the title early. But Mikhalchik avoided any major mistakes, and the title will be decided in two weeks at the IDM finale in Hockenheim from September 25 to 27. Folger, however, can use his wildcard appearance in the Superbike World Championship in Barcelona this coming weekend as a springboard to build his future.
Mikhalchik crossed the finish line seven seconds behind Folger. The Ukrainian had a two-second lead over the riders behind him. Behind him, the battle was on between Erwan Nigon (Kawasaki Weber-Motos Racing), Dominic Schmitter (Hess Racing, Yamaha), Florian Alt (Wilbers-BMW), and Vladimir Leonov (EGS-alpha-Van Zon-BMW).
When Alt overtook Leonov on the tenth lap, he was back on track for a podium finish.
He had finished on the podium after every race so far, and that’s exactly how it turned out in the end.
In the final lap, Schmitter and Leonov caught the unsuspecting Nigon off guard. With these results, both Alt and Nigon have bid farewell to this year’s IDM Superbike 1000. When the Hockenheim finale takes place, they will compete in the World Endurance Championship, which is being held concurrently in Estoril, Portugal. Alt, however, seemed satisfied: “We showed our potential.”
Race 2, IDM Superbike 1000
1. Jonas Folger (GER), Yamaha, 16 laps in 26:33.315 min
2. Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR), BMW, +7.279 sec
3. Florian Alt (GER), BMW, +9.380 sec
4. Dominic Schmitter (CH), Yamaha, +12.770 sec
5. Vladimir Leonov (RUS), BMW, +13.244 sec
6. Erwan Nigon (F), Kawasaki +13.747 sec
7. Alessandro Polita (I), Honda, +19.160 sec
8. Marc Moser (D), Yamaha, +26.681 sec
9. Stefan Kerschbaumer (A), BMW, +29.836 sec
10. Ricardo Brink (NL), Yamaha, +30.020 sec