Seven classes, seven times the excitement. When the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) returns to the Sachsenring this coming weekend after a two-year hiatus,
the German motorcycle
mecca will be buzzing with excitement. Especially since several local riders will be on the starting grid. For three days, fans will be treated to an extremely
varied program.
When Germany's top road racing series, the IDM Superbike, hits the corners, the excitement is palpable.
Stars such as Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR/BMW), Florian Alt (GER/Honda), Leandro “Tati” Mercado (ARG/Kawasaki), and Vladimir
Leonov (UAE/Yamaha) are taking turns at the front. They are also the clear favorites to win the title. For the four motorcycle brands competing in the class, it’s all about honor and prestige. The high-performance race bikes boast over 220 horsepower and reach top speeds of over 300 km/h.
Right in the thick of the action is Paul Fröde, a 20-year-old Honda rider from Hohenstein-Ernstthal. For him, the race track is just a stone’s throw away. When he drives there by car, the engine isn’t even halfway warmed up by the time he reaches his destination. At his home race, however, the superbike rider from the HRP Junior Team will face a challenge unlike any other. “I’m sure I’ll have lots of visitors and guests. It’s the best thing ever to be able to race on your home track,” says Fröde, who is expecting family, friends, sponsors, and supporters. “I’m looking forward to it, even though it’s both a blessing and a curse. I have to focus on riding, after all. But it’s no different in MotoGP, and they manage it just fine. So will I.”
Fröde has been working through a rigorous training regimen over the past few weeks. After breaking his collarbone during winter testing in Valencia, Spain, his season was effectively over, and the Saxon rider was forced to take a four-week break. “Plate in, back on the left, same as always,” he says, alluding to the same incident in 2022. “But now I don’t feel a thing.” He has since trained in Most, at the Sachsenring, and in Oschersleben. The first real test comes this coming weekend at the German motorcycle stronghold, whose track also hosts the Motorcycle World Championship. Here, it will be a head-to-head battle to see who brings the best package to the starting line.
Moritz Jenkner and Kevin Orgis, two drivers from Saxony who usually compete in other classes, have signed up as guest drivers to showcase their skills in front of their home crowd.
In the IDM Supersport class, Max Enderlein from Hohenstein-Ernstthal has left the series
following his third championship title, clearing the way for new podium contenders. There’s something worth noting here: from now on,
spectators will be able to see brand-new motorcycles on the track. The reason is the technical regulations of the FIM World Super-
sport, which will be implemented in the IDM starting in 2023 with minor national variations. The IDM Supersport is entering
the “Next Generation.” This means it allows the use of motorcycles that do not fit into the traditional 600cc class
such as the Triumph Street Triple 765 RS. To ensure that all brands in the class have an equal chance
, the various motorcycle designs are balanced against one another. This is achieved through a sophisticated
balancing rule. Similar to the World Championship, standard electronics are now also installed in IDM motorcycles.
The IDM Supersport 300 rookie class is where the young guns compete. Spectators won’t want to miss these battles, as they often come down to a photo finish at the checkered flag. There’s plenty going on at the Sachsenring this coming weekend, especially with the Northern Talent Cup, the Twin Cup, and the Yamaha R7 Cup also on the schedule.
The icing on the cake of the schedule is the Sidecar World Championship, which the IDM promoter and organizer—
which Motor-Presse Stuttgart has only recently taken over in parallel. With many title holders from
In the German-speaking world, the discipline has a very successful history, which is now entering a new chapter—
are coming. World champions Todd Ellis and Emanuelle Clement, or Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes, aren't about to let that happen either
will miss out, just like the German champions Josef Sattler and Luca Schmidt.
What are you waiting for? Ticket prices range from €5.00 for a Friday day pass to €35.00 for a weekend pass. All racing fans who already have a valid ticket for the MotoGP World Championship will receive a 10% discount on their IDM ticket when purchasing in advance. The discounted ticket can only be purchased at the Sachsenring Event GmbH advance sales office at Hohensteiner Straße 18 in Oberlungwitz at the Sachsenring. It’s very simple: show your GP ticket, purchase your IDM ticket at the special price. Done.