Things are going like clockwork for Andreas Kofler (M32 Racing). World Championship points at Most, an IDM victory at the Red Bull Ring, and now his first pole position in the Supersport class at Assen in the Netherlands. The 19-year-old Austrian is now in the running for the title. Twan Smits (Team Apreco) and Melvin van der Voort (Team SWPN) finished second and third in qualifying for the penultimate IDM round of the 2023 season.
Melvin van der Voort trails leader Twan Smits by just two points in the overall standings. Andreas Kofler is only four points further back. With his victory at the Red Bull Ring, the Yamaha rider has propelled himself into the ranks of the title contenders. And now he’s in pole position—on a track where the Dutch usually call the shots. The TT Circuit is like a second home to them. But Kofler says he wants to keep his feet on the ground, even when it comes to the title. “It wouldn’t be bad to have it, but whether it opens doors for me is another matter.” Kofler would like to see himself in the Supersport World Championship in 2024, but another year in the IDM isn’t out of the question either.
For Twan Smits, who finished second in practice, the race for the top of the standings is getting tighter and tighter. His lead in the overall standings has been steadily shrinking. He finished on the podium in every race so far. That streak ended at Schleiz. If he wants to win the title, he’ll need to finish ahead of van der Voort and Kofler tomorrow.
Melvin van der Voort, who started third on the front row, has been the highly touted title favorite in the IDM Supersport series since the start of the year, but initially squandered his chances with two crashes. With a lot of determination, the 18-year-old has fought his way back to the front. Theoretically, he could have been on pole position at his home track as well, but on his fastest lap he briefly went off the track and it was disallowed.
Julius Caesar Rörig (MCA Racing), starting from the third row, was annoyed that Leon Orgis (Yamaha cRU bLU IDM by Kiefer Racing) cut him off on the final lap. “Second would have been nice, but I achieved my goal,” said the only Honda rider in the field. He has a two-year contract and is expected to finish in the top 10. “That’s still within reach, and compared to the other races, I’m satisfied with today’s result.” Rörig is currently eleventh overall.
IDM Supersport, Qualifying
1. Andreas KOFLER (AUT), Yamaha
2. Twan SMITS (NLD), Yamaha
3. Melvin VAN DER VOORT (NLD), Yamaha
4. Thomas GRADINGER (AUT), Yamaha
5. Luca DE VLEESCHAUWER (BEL), Kawasaki
6. Leon ORGIS (GER), Yamaha
7. Julius Caesar RÖRIG (GER), Honda
8. Milan MERCKELBAGH (NLD), Yamaha
9. Christoph BEINLICH (NLD), Yamaha
10.Michal PRASEK (CZE), Triumph
