A little bit of luck is always part of the deal. After Julian Puffe failed to impress in qualifying with a 14th-place grid position, things went all the better in the two races. The GERT56 BMW rider is even seventh in the IDM Superbike 1000 overall standings after the first round in Oschersleben.
Puffe took to the track on the brand-new BMW M 1000 RR and was the sole hope for the new IDM Superbike team, which had previously made a name for itself in the World Endurance Championship. His teammate Toni Finsterbusch had withdrawn from the race due to a foot injury. Nevertheless, the Saxon made his way to Oschersleben. He hobbled through the paddock with a walker and was involved in the race by providing commentary from the booth.
He also saw Puffe cross the finish line in fourth and eighth place. It was raining before the start of the first race. However, the weather radar predicted a dry spell for the next few minutes. Choosing the right tires for the declared wet race was a difficult decision. While on the starting grid, Puffe opted for a combination of a rain tire on the front wheel and a slick on the rear. While the competition, which had gone all-in on rain tires, struggled on the rapidly drying track, the slick helped Puffe see it through to the finish.
Having finished fourth in the first race, Puffe started the second race from pole position under the reverse grid rules applicable in the IDM Superbike 1000. The weather conditions were similar to those in the morning. However, this time the entire field had opted for slicks, and Puffe’s best result was eighth place.
“The whole team had been working hard up until then,” says Puffe. “We spent our days analyzing data, making phone calls, and completely taking the motorcycle apart and putting it back together. The next event is in Most in three weeks. We’ll go over everything again from top to bottom before then. I hope Toni Finsterbusch will be back on board by then. I think we’ll make faster progress as a team of two.”