Action. Fun. An open paddock. These are the hallmarks of the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM). From June 2 to 4, 2023, the series will hold its second round of the season at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Following the turbulent season opener three weeks ago at the Sachsenring, the standings in the individual classes have taken on a dynamic that couldn’t be more exciting. This coming weekend, fans will have the opportunity to follow the series’ progress live at the racetrack over three days.
The IDM Superbike class is full of drama, with bikes producing around 220 horsepower and reaching top speeds of over 300 km/h. Two races will be held. Florian Alt (GER/Honda) arrives at the Magdeburger Börde as the leader. He had secured Honda’s first victory at the Sachsenring after ten years of fruitless hope. That win was preceded by a second-place finish in the first race behind Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR/BMW). The Ukrainian is already a three-time champion in the premier class and a tough competitor. But in the second race, Mikhalchik crashed in the chaos at the start. That dropped him all the way back to fourth place in the overall standings, behind Patrick Hobelsberger (GER/BMW) and Hannes Soomer (EST/Honda). So Mikhalchik will leave no stone unturned in Oschersleben to make up ground. Another duel with Alt is expected, though class rookies Hobelsberger and Soomer will also play a key role. And there are a handful more riders in the mix, with surprises included. Four motorcycle brands are at the starting line: BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha. For them, it’s all about honor and prestige.
The IDM Supersport has been revamped. What’s behind this change? It’s the technical regulations of the FIM World Supersport, which will also be implemented in the IDM 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 designs of the motorcycles with different engine displacements 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 the IDM motorcycles. Yamaha leads the field with Melvin van der Voort (NLD), Twan Smits (NLD), Andreas Kofler (AUT), and Milan Merckelbagh (NLD), before the lineup is interrupted by Luca de Vleeschauwer (BEL), who rides a Kawasaki. Blue versus green—that’s how it continues. And the first Triumph has also made it into the top ten. Where will it finish in Oschersleben? It remains to be seen.
The IDM Supersport 300 rookie class is home to the young guns. A Spaniard leads the pack here, though only by a narrow margin. Inigo Iglesias holds a three-point lead over Dustin Schneider from Saxony. Both riders have recently secured a victory, but each has also had to settle for a race without a podium finish. The battle between the two riders—as well as between Kawasaki and KTM—is on.
Lennox Lehmann and Dirk Geiger, who were also on the podium, won’t be competing this time; instead, they’ll be at the Supersport 300 World Championship in Misano. That event is taking place the same weekend. Lehmann and Geiger are full-time entrants there, and the World Championship races take priority for the teammates. However, they make the most of every spare moment to compete in the IDM as often as possible.
Defending champion Marvin Siebdrath (GER/Yamaha) believes he has a better chance than last time. After a completely botched start to the season, which has left him languishing in tenth place in the standings, the race is sure to be thrilling. Especially since the IDM Supersport 300 is known for races where victory or defeat is often decided in the final corner or even at the finish line. It’s pure thrills.
There's a lot going on at the Motorsport Arena this coming weekend, especially since the Northern Talent Cup, the Pro Superstock 1000 class, the Twin Cup, and the Yamaha R7 Cup are all on the schedule.
What are you waiting for? Ticket prices range from €5.00 for a Friday day pass to €35.00 for a weekend pass. Children and teens under 18 get in free.