A completely new dynamic in the IDM Superbike 1000: A Yamaha rider is on pole position for the finale at the Hockenheimring, but it’s not Jonas Folger as usual—it’s Dominic Schmitter. With a time of 1:40.342, the Swiss rider set by far the fastest lap time in qualifying despite challenging weather conditions.
Vladimir Leonov (EGS-alpha Van Zon-BMW) finished second and guest rider Bálint Kovacs (Bayer-Bikerbox powered by Yamaichi) third. Jonas Folger (Bonovo action by MGM Racing) will start from the second row for the first time and will line up tomorrow alongside Ilya Mikhalchik (EGS-alpha Racing-Van Zon-BMW) and Daniel Kartheininger (HPC-Power Suzuki). Kartheininger has never been this far up the grid with his GSX-R 1000 this year.
Schmitter’s initial problems were completely gone by the afternoon. The Öhlins technician had softened the suspension on the Yamaha. “When I accelerated out of the corner, it felt like I was sitting on a soft sofa. The riders in front of me weighed 60 kilos or more,” laughed the 26-year-old. Schmitter has completely dedicated his life to racing. “That’s what it takes if you want to be successful,” he knows full well. The Yamaha has trained itself down to a fighting weight of 59 kilograms and even stuck to a two-month soup diet to achieve it.
The track conditions during Superbike qualifying, however, were anything but to Jonas Folger’s (Bonovo action by MGM Racing) liking. On a rainy morning, the 27-year-old Bavarian had clocked the fourth-fastest time in practice. “I slid out badly and my front wheel almost buckled,” he said, describing the situation. Since the Bavarian needs only seven more points to clinch the title, there’s no need for alarm. Even the fact that he dropped to sixth place in the second qualifying session on the YZF-R1M is no cause for concern. He has long since proven that he can move up the field from any starting position.
Guest rider Bálint Kovács made a brilliant debut with a third-place finish. The Hungarian Yamaha rider is right in the thick of the BMW frontrunners, sandwiched between Vladimir Leonov and Ilya Mikhalchik.
Both races will take place on Sunday, September 27, 2020, and will be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook at www.idm.de/live.
Update from Kevin Sieder: The Austrian rider crashed during free practice yesterday and underwent surgery on his hand that evening. The Suzuki rider had some tissue from the palm of his hand transplanted into the injured finger on his left hand. An MRI scan was also performed due to his back pain. The results were normal. Sieder was discharged from the hospital today, Saturday.
IDM Superbike 1000
Q1 + Q2 Results
1. Dominic Schmitter (CHE, Hess Racing) on Yamaha, fastest lap: 1:55.964
2. Vladimir Leonov (RUS, EGS-alpha-Van-Zon-BMW) on BMW, +0.911 sec.
3. Bálint Kovács (HUN, Team Bayer-Bikerbox powered by Yamaichi) on Yamaha, +0.473 sec.
4. Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR, EGS-alpha-Van-Zon-BMW) on BMW, +1.232 sec.
5. Daniel Kartheininger (D, HPC-Power Suzuki Racing) on Suzuki, +0.476 sec.
6. Jonas Folger (D, Bonovo Action by MGM Racing) on Yamaha, +0.267 sec.