Cross-training on Wednesdays and on the weekends, and just recently a test at Oschersleben to prepare for the IDM: Things are going well for Christoph “Chris” Beinlich.
When Chris Beinlich wants to see the local motocross track in Pößneck, Thuringia, all he has to do is open the window. In theory, the 25-year-old from Team Roto-Store BRT can watch the comings and goings on the track, but he prefers to ride himself—at least once a week. He’s gearing up for the battle in the IDM Supersport . “We’ve never had so many strong riders at the top before,” he notes, looking at the entries. Where does he rank himself on the Yamaha R6? “Realistically, in the top ten, even if that’s tough to maintain over the long haul,” he says, playing it down for now.
Beinlich is feeling optimistic following last weekend’s test at Oschersleben. “Jan-Ole Jähnig and Max Enderlein. Marc Buchner, Dino Iozzo, and Rob Hartog were there at the same time, and I was able to make my first comparisons,” reports Beinlich. “Jan-Ole and Max were the fastest; I was on par with Rob Hartog, but faster than the other drivers in our class.”
Beinlich spent two days at the Motorsport Arena. On Saturday, he broke in the race engine. On Sunday, he hit the track at full throttle—but only for three laps. “It had started to rain,” Beinlich says, adding cheerfully: “Maybe I could have done even better otherwise. It was good that we 600cc riders started together and pulled out of the pits at the same time. That way, you always had someone right in front of you. At the same time, my opponents realized I was there too—I fended off their attacks.”
Still, Beinlich doesn’t dare to really assess his rivals in the IDM Supersport . “There was a practice session at Oschersleben, not an IDM race. That’s something else entirely.” Technically, the Yamaha rider is on the same level as Enderlein and Jähnig. He rebuilt the motorcycle last year.