Breathtaking battles, nail-biting finishes, and non-stop action in every single class, plus a paddock open to visitors. That’s what makes the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) so special. From June 23 to 25, 2023, Germany’s premier road racing series will make a stop in Most, Czech Republic. The event in our neighboring country has a long tradition. Fans will have the opportunity to experience the action on the racetrack up close.
After two rounds, championship leader Florian Alt (GER/Honda) is looking to further extend his lead in the premier IDM Superbike class. It is already clear that he will not be on the starting grid at the Red Bull Ring in August, as the race conflicts with a round of the FIM Endurance World Championship, which takes priority for the North Rhine-Westphalia native. By then, he hopes to have amassed enough points to still keep his title hopes alive. His lead over second-place Hannes Sommer (EST/Honda) currently stands at 27 points. But that can all change quickly. Three-time German Superbike champion Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR/BMW) is far from giving up, either. Although two crashes have set the title favorite back significantly, experience has shown that the final reckoning comes only at the very end. Despite his eighth-place standing in the standings, Mikhalchik remains a serious contender at the top. It’s a highly exciting race. The IDM Superbike series features four motorcycle brands: BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha. The participants come from eight countries.
The drama in the IDM Supersport class Supersport hard to beat. Dutch rider Melvin van der Voort (NLD/Yamaha) won the first two races in the class in commanding fashion and seemed to be running away with the title, but he crashed in both races at the second round. The 17-year-old Yamaha rider dropped to third place in the standings. Meanwhile, his compatriot Twan Smits (Yamaha) raced onto the podium twice, raked in the full points, and built a comfortable lead of 31 points to take first place in the overall standings. And in between, German is spoken time and again. Austrians Andreas Kofler (Yamaha) and Thomas Gradinger (Yamaha), Leon Orgis (GER/Yamaha) from Arnsdorf, and Swiss rider Yves Stadelmann (Yamaha) occupy spots in the top ten. And the question arises: When will the first Kawasaki make it onto the podium? The battle between blue and green continues. Luca de Vleeschauwer (BEL) is hoping for his chance at Most on the ZX-6R. And there’s a first this year: two Ducati riders will be at the starting line.
The IDM Supersport junior class is led by a Spaniard. In contrast to the larger classes, Inigo Iglesias (Kawasaki) holds a lead of just three points over Dustin Schneider (GER, KTM). However, if Dutch rider Walid Khan (KTM) continues where he left off, the current third-place rider could take the lead in the standings with a victory. The gaps in the smallest IDM class are tight not only in the overall standings but also in the races. It’s not uncommon for hundredths of a second—if not thousandths—to decide victory or defeat. And it remains to be seen when and where defending champion Marvin Siebdrath (GER/Yamaha) will climb out of his current slump. Adding to the excitement is the fact that riders like Lennox Lehmann (GER/KTM) and Dirk Geiger (GER/KTM), who normally compete in the Supersport , will also be on the starting grid in the Czech Republic.
In the FIM Sidecar World Championship, the engines are still hot from last weekend’s World Championship round at Spa, Belgium. Brothers Tom and Ben Birchall (GB) defended their lead and traded blows with defending champions Todd Ellis and Emanuelle Clement (GB/FRA). Always hot on their heels: Stephen Kershaw and Ryan Charlwood (GB/GB). The fact is that right now, everyone is chasing the Birchall brothers in the hope of closing the gap on them.
The top German duo is currently Josef Sattler and Luca Schmidt, sitting in seventh place. Sattler has high hopes for the World Championship round in Most, where the secondary IDM championship—which he leads—will also be held. “Now we’re heading to a track that I know and like,” said the Bavarian.
The additional Pro Superstock 1000 class, the Supersport Women’s European Championship, and the Northern Talent Cup will ensure a full program with no breaks in Most. Spectators can look forward to the full spectrum of top-level racing, from elite competition to the talent pools of the future. Every ticket holder has free access to the paddock.
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.