It’s all set. The IDM Superbike test sessions with the Wilbers BMW Racing Team have begun. For the past three days, title contender Florian Alt has been pushing the M 1000 RR to its limits on the racetrack in Almería, Spain. The hoped-for sunshine hasn’t made an appearance yet. “Instead, we’ve got wind, rain, and temperatures around nine degrees,” says Chief Engineer Burkhard Stember.
Nevertheless, Alt tested two rear shock absorbers on the BMW fitted with Pirelli SC1 tires. The functional test was a success. This was confirmed by Alt’s impressive lap times and his top spot on the timesheet. The 25-year-old finished 1.986 seconds ahead of the next-fastest Superbike rider, Peter Hickman. “Hicky” is a fixture in the British Superbike Championship (BSB). Alt felt very comfortable despite the challenging weather conditions in Almeria.
After two days of rest, the Wilbers-BMW Racing Team will continue their journey and head to Cartagena. Starting Saturday, Alt will be able to use Wilbers’ new prototype fork, the 46RR, there. The closed gas cartridge version used so far already had a new internal design, but the outer tubes were still missing. They are scheduled to be delivered to the hotel in Almería tomorrow, Thursday, and will be installed before the first test ride in Cartagena.
Marco Fetz, who joined the team last year, is not yet ready to return to racing. The 22-year-old from Bavaria was involved in a crash during the first IDM Superbike 1000 race at Assen on August 15, 2021, and suffered a broken thigh. He will be present at the spring training sessions.