Nach einem verlängerten Startprozedere in der IDM Supersport auf dem Schleizer Dreieck gewann Melvin van der Voort (Team SWPN) auch den zweiten Lauf des Tages. Der Beinahe-Sturz des Meisterschaftsführenden Twan Smits (Team Apreco) könnte nun große Auswirkungen im Kampf um den Titel haben.
Kurz vor dem Rennen fing es leicht an zu tröpfeln. Die Supersport-Fahrer kamen aus der Einführungsrunde zurück und es gab keine Startfreigabe. Einer fehlte. Martin Vugrinec (ART DREIER RACING TEAM) war an der Stelle gestürzt, auf die nach dem Sidecar-Rennen Bindemittel gestreut worden war.
The starting procedure began all over again. Then the race finally got underway. The first scare came as early as the second turn. It was extremely tight. Thomas Gradinger (Eder Racing) nearly crashed but managed to get back on his Yamaha, while championship leader Twan Smits careened off into the field on his YZF-R6, which set him far back in the race.
As expected, Melvin van der Voort returned from the first lap in the lead, followed by Andreas Kofler (M32 Racing), Leon Orgis (Yamaha bLU cRU IDM by Kiefer Racing), Luca de Vleeschauwer (Kawasaki Weber Motos Racing), and Milan Merckelbagh (Hertrampf Yamaha Racing). Gradinger was in 13th place and Smits only in 19th, meaning he was even outside the points.
Van der Voort and Kofler soon pulled ahead. Smits now had to make sure he scored as many points as possible today, because with every additional victory by van der Voort, his lead in the overall standings is shrinking.
De Vleeschauwer is in third place when things start to heat up behind him. Orgis tries to pass Merckelbagh to avoid being overtaken by the approaching Gradinger. It works for a while, but then Orgis can no longer withstand the pressure from the Austrian. Gradinger also manages to get past de Vleeschauwer, who is finally starting to make up ground again.
Third place was a relief after the serious crash a year ago, and Gradinger says: “The team had my back; the fact that I made it to the podium here of all places is great. I tried to ride for the win, but that fell through as early as the second turn.”
Andreas Kofler had already crossed the finish line 6.399 seconds ahead of him and said, “It was tough, but I took advantage of the situation in the second turn to break through and stay on Melvin’s tail for as long as possible. When I saw that I couldn’t keep it up forever, my priority was to finish safely.”
As a double winner, Melvin van der Voort is the big winner at the Schleizer Dreieck. He is now just seven points behind the overall leader, Twan Smits, who finished in tenth place. It is likely only a matter of time before van der Voort makes up for his string of crashes at Oschersleben and takes over the lead from Smits.
IDM Supersport, Round 2
1. Melvin VAN DER VOORT (NLD), Yamaha
2. Andreas KOFLER (AUT), Yamaha
3. Thomas GRADINGER (AUT), Yamaha
4. Luca DE VLEESCHAUWER (BEL), Kawasaki
5. Leon ORGIS (GER), Yamaha
6. Christoph BEINLICH (GER), Yamaha
7. Jonas KOCOUREK (CZE), Triumph
8. Milan MERCKELBAGH (NED), Yamaha
9. Michal PRASEK (CZE), Triumph
10.Twan SMITS (NED), Yamaha