Seit dem Auftakt auf dem Sachsenring am vergangenen Wochenende ist die Saison der Internationalen Deutschen Motorradmeisterschaft (IDM) wieder im vollen Gange. Neben den Superbike- und Supersport-Klassen gingen nicht zuletzt die Teams der IDM Sidecar sowie der FIM Superside World Championship an den Start. Auch in diesem Jahr sind beide Klassen mit namhaften Fahrern besetzt.
Back in the World Championship are the two defending champions, Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement. There’s no question that defending their title is their goal this year. However, they aren’t the only contenders for the top spot: With Harry Payne/Kevin Rousseau and the 2021 world champion Markus Schlosser—who has returned from retirement and is driving with his new co-driver Luca Schmidt—the competition is particularly strong this season.
All three Christie brothers are back in the mix as well. While Sam and Tom Christie were right up there at the front and put in a stellar performance at both the season opener in Le Mans and at the Sachsenring, Adam Christie—now riding in Pekka Päivärinta’s sidecar—was just a hair behind them. It also remains to be seen whether Bennie Streuer and Kevin Kölsch, who were plagued by technical issues in 2023, will bounce back this season. One thing is certain: it’s going to be exciting at the top of the World Championship.
The roar and rumble can once again be clearly heard in the IDM Sidecar class. A total of ten teams have entered the IDM Championship—and all of them are also competing in the World Championship.
Leading this year's championship are defending champions Ted and Vincent Peugeot, who secured their first victory in the season opener last Sunday. Last year's runners-up, Lennard Göttlich and Lucas Krieg, are also back in the mix.
But there are also some new faces and team lineups. Ondrej Sedlacek, who previously rode in Peter Kimeswenger’s sidecar and finished third in the championship in 2023, is now racing in the IDM alongside Markus Venus. Kimeswenger, on the other hand, has stepped back from racing for the time being. So it worked out well for Sedlacek that Venus had to part ways with his passenger Patrick Werkstetter, as the latter has hung up his co-pilot’s hat and will now be behind the wheel himself. Together with Valentin Pirat, 19-year-old Werkstetter is starting his first year as a driver under the banner of the team led by new young talent promoter Josef “Sepp” Sattler. With a third-place finish in Sunday’s race, he has already celebrated his first podium finish.
French rider Pierre Leguen has replaced his previous passenger, Christophe Darras, with Leopold Rouby. New to the field are the French team of Paul Leglise and his passenger Marjorie Cescutti, as well as Swiss rider Lucas Wyssen, who will now be competing alongside 18-year-old Ema Salmon. Wyssen already has World Championship experience and raced with Thomas Hofer until 2022. Other new faces in the IDM Sidecar series are brothers Samuel and Jack Laidlow from Great Britain.
The changes continue: Rubert Archer is now teaming up with Belgian Ruben Janssen. Previously, Archer had been racing with Adam Christie, who has since moved to Pekka Päivärinta’s boat and will only be competing in the World Championships.
The first races at the Sachsenring are already history, but the season is still young. Three more race weekends are on the schedule as part of the IDM series: Most, Schleiz, and Assen. The season will conclude with the Sidecar Festival in Oschersleben in October, which, as always, will serve as the grand finale of the IDM Sidecar Championship.
The 2024 Starting List – World Championship
#3 Markus Schlosser (CHE)/Luca Schmidt (GER), LCR Yamaha
#6 Todd Ellis (GBR)/Emanuelle Clement (FRA), LCR Yamaha
#11 Markus Venus (GER)/Ondrej Sedlacek (CZE), LCR Yamaha
#21 Bennie Streuer (NLD)/Kevin Kölsch (GER), ARS Yamaha
#25 Pierre Leguen (FRA)/Leopold Rouby (FRA), LCR Yamaha
#33 Paul Leglise (FRA)/Marjorie Cescutti (FRA), LCR Yamaha
#34 Sam Christie (GBR)/Tom Christie (GBR), LCR Yamaha
#35 Patrick Werkstetter (GER)/Valentin Pirat (FRA), ARS Yamaha
#41 Lukas Wyssen (CHE)/Ema Salmon (FRA), LCR Yamaha
#42 Lennard Göttlich (GER)/Lucas Krieg (GER), ARS Yamaha
#44 Pekka Päivärinta (FIN)/Adam Christie (GBR), ARS Yamaha
#45 Harry Payne (GBR)/Kevin Rousseau (FRA), ARS Yamaha
#70 Rupert Archer (GBR)/Ruben Janssens (BEL), ARS Yamaha
#74 Ted Peugeot (FRA)/Vincent Peugoet (FRA), LCR Yamaha
#84 Samuel Laidlow (GBR)/Jack Laidlow (GBR), LCR Yamaha
#111 Kevin Cable (GBR)/Charlie Richardson (GBR), LCR Yamaha
The 2024 Starting List – IDM Sidecar
#11 Markus Venus (GER)/Ondrej Sedlacek (CZE), LCR Yamaha
#25 Pierre Leguen (FRA)/Leopold Rouby (FRA), LCR Yamaha
#33 Paul Leglise (FRA)/Marjorie Cescutti (FRA), LCR Yamaha
#35 Patrick Werkstetter (GER)/Valentin Pirat (FRA), ARS Yamaha
#41 Lukas Wyssen (CHE)/Ema Salmon (FRA), LCR Yamaha
#42 Lennard Göttlich (GER)/Lucas Krieg (GER), ARS Yamaha
#70 Rupert Archer (GBR)/Ruben Janssens (BEL), ARS Yamaha
#74 Ted Peugeot (FRA)/Vincent Peugoet (FRA), LCR Yamaha
#84 Samuel Laidlow (GBR)/Jack Laidlow (GBR), LCR Yamaha
#111 Kevin Cable (GBR)/Charlie Richardson (GBR), LCR Yamaha