The season finale for the IDM solo classes took place in Hockenheim at the end of September 2023. However, the IDM Sidecar champions will be crowned this weekend at the MotorsportArena in Oschersleben. In the Magdeburger Börde region, sponsor Bonovo action is once again hosting the Sidecar Festival on October 7–8, featuring over 160 sidecars from around the world. In addition to the Sidecar World Championship and the IDM Sidecar series, the Camathias Cup and the Sidecar Trophy will also hold their races there.
While this marks the penultimate race weekend of the 2023 FIM Sidecar World Championship, the IDM Sidecar class is set for its grand finale at the Sidecar Festival. Ted and Vincent Peugeot arrive as championship leaders with 152.2 points. Although they hold a 23.5-point lead over their pursuers, they cannot afford any serious mistakes or a DNF at Oschersleben. If they do, things could get tight again for the father-son team. That’s because the French duo has the German sidecar pair of Lennard Göttlich and passenger Uwe Neubert hot on their heels. Neubert is replacing the injured Lucas Krieg. Göttlich, who has had to deal with a few setbacks in his second IDM season, is all the more motivated to finish the year as the winner.
The Sidecar World Championship is far from decided. The race is particularly tight at the top between defending champions Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement and their pursuers, Ben and Tom Birchall. Only nine points separate the two teams. At the Sidecar Festival, Tom Birchall returns to his familiar spot as the passenger in the sidecar alongside his brother after a ten-week injury layoff, so they can join forces to continue their charge and capture their fifth world championship title. Who will ultimately hold the coveted golden trophy in their hands is not expected to be decided until October 28–29 in Estoril.
The FIM Sidecar races can be watched for free via live stream on both days. The first race begins on Saturday at 4:50 p.m., followed by the second race on Sunday at 2:05 p.m.
For more information and tickets for the Sidecar Festival in Oschersleben, click here.
The FIM Superside livestreams from the bonovo sidecar festival: