Here is the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s IDM Superbike 1000 race: Florian Alt (Wilbers-BMW) will start from pole position ahead of Vladimir Leonov (Hertrampf MO Yamaha Racing Team) and Markus Reiterberger (BCC Racing). This puts Alt in a comfortable position. Since Luca Grünwald (Kiefer Racing) will be behind him on the grid and is also one point behind in the overall standings, Alt is getting closer and closer to his goal of securing the runner-up title in the premier class at the season finale. The mood in the Wilbers-BMW team is excellent.
Alt, who won both races at the Red Bull Ring, and Grünwald will battle it out for the podium spots in the overall standings behind champion Ilya Mikhalchik (EGS-alpha-Van Zon-BMW). But it’s not over until it’s over.
Mikhalchik didn’t get off to a great start in qualifying. There was no obvious reason for it. However, it must be gnawing at him that his teammate Jan Mohr will be starting right next to him in fifth place. The Austrian really rose to the occasion at the Motodrom. He hadn’t been this strong all year, and now he’s lining up alongside Mikhalchik. Guest rider Lukas Tulovic (Team SWPN) rounds out the second row of the grid. The Moto2 European Championship rider was quite amazed during his IDM Superbike debut. “With a 1:26 lap time, you would have definitely been on the front row here a year ago. Now Florian Alt is already clocking 1:25 at the front.”
Tulovic, who stepped in for the injured Bastien Mackels, quickly got the hang of the Yamaha, but noted: “I have too much cornering speed and then accelerate out of the corner too slowly. I’m already trying to adjust my Moto2 riding style.”
IDM Superbike 1000 Qualifying Results:
1. Florian ALT (GER/BMW)
2. Vladimir LEONOV (RUS/Yamaha)
3. Markus REITERBERGER (GER/BMW)
4. Ilya MIKHALCHIK (UKR/BMW)
5. Jan MOHR (AUT/BMW)
6. Lukas TULOVIC (GER/Yamaha)
7. Philipp STEINMAYR (AUT/Yamaha)
8. Luca GRÜNWALD (GER/BMW)
9. Marc MOSER (GER/Yamaha)
10. Toni FINSTERBUSCH (GER/BMW)