With Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) and Troy Alberto (Füsport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki), two riders from the World Supersport (WorldSSP) are joining the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) this race weekend in Most, Czech Republic. For both, this is their first year in the World Championship, which is why they are using Germany’s premier road racing series for training and to gain experience, among other things.
How has the World Championship season gone for the two of them so far? Lennox Lehmann made an impressive debut on the track. The 2020 and 2021 IDM Supersport champion finished third in both races on his debut. Currently, the Dresden native—who plans to focus entirely on his racing career after graduating from high school this year—is ranked 8th in the overall standings.
Qualifying is the only thing still causing problems for the 16-year-old in the World Championship. Although he’s racking up points in the races like there’s no tomorrow, 20th place has been his best starting position so far. “That makes every race a lot harder. I’m sure I could score even more points if I could start from further up the grid more often,” says Lehmann, adding: “The only way to fix that is to gain more practical experience. After all, this is my first year in the World Championship.” Competing in the IDM is meant to help him improve.
Things are going better for Troy Alberto, though. At least when it comes to qualifying. His best result so far: 14th on the grid. However, the Filipino is struggling with the battles that take place within the groups during the races. He still lacks a bit of that competitive edge. “That’s why I’m racing in the IDM, since it comes closest to the level of the World Championship,” says the 21-year-old, who competed in the Philippine Superbike Championship last year.
The first free practice sessions on Friday went well for Alberto. He finished sixth in FP2. “This is my first time racing at Most, and I have a good feeling about the track. I hope I can fight for a podium finish,” says the Kawasaki rider. With his guest appearance at the IDM this weekend, Alberto is also preparing for the WorldSSP race, which will be held at the Autodrom Most from July 29 to 31.
Team manager Frank Krekeler is also confident about his new rider’s performance: “Right from the start, we were pleasantly surprised by his raw speed, which is very high. Now he has to learn how to hold his own against 20 other strong riders. But he’s a quick learner.” The results speak for themselves: Alberto scored his first World Championship point at Misano.
The first race of the IDM Supersport will take place on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., and the second on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. Both races will be broadcast free of charge via the IDM live stream.