When the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) heads to the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben this coming weekend, riders will once again be pushing the limits. With riders from all over the world and a variety of junior classes on the schedule, Germany’s premier motorcycle racing series guarantees spectators an entertaining show both on and off the track.
The opening races at the Sachsenring have shown that the battle for the IDM Superbike title has intensified considerably compared to last year. While the competition at the top was already tight twelve months ago, the level of competition has risen sharply once again this year. Patrick Hobelsberger (D/BMW) heads to Magdeburger Börde as the leader, holding a three-point lead over Lorenzo Zanetti (I/Ducati). Following them are Toni Finsterbusch (BMW) and Florian Alt (D/Honda). “When Florian says that I’m the one being chased now,” laughs overall leader Hobelsberger at the Westphalian’s statement, “he’s just trying to divert attention from himself and get rid of all the pressure and stress. Because we’ll do everything we can to beat him in the end when the title is on the line. He has to defend it. So he’s still the one being chased, even if I’m currently leading the championship.” Hobelsberger had already been training in Oschersleben ahead of the event and was 1.48 seconds faster than ever before in timed practice. The Superbikes reach top speeds of over 300 km/h.
Also competing in the top class are Maximilian Kofler (A/BMW), three-time champion Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR/BMW), and Leandro Mercado (ARG/Kawasaki). Things are set to get even more exciting than ever at Oschersleben. Vladimir Leonov (UAE/Ducati) has finally received his visa and will be able to travel throughout Europe without restrictions for the next two years. Hannes Soomer (EST/BMW), another seasoned veteran, is making his return. He missed the season opener due to a shoulder injury. Martin Vugrinec (CRO/Kawasaki) won’t be on the starting grid yet, but his team has found a prominent replacement rider in Federico Caricasulo. With the Italian, a veteran of the Supersport has joined the team. The 28-year-old has also raced in the Moto2 World Championship and the Superbike World Championship.
The fact is: Some races will likely once again be decided in the final meters of the last lap. The battle between the manufacturers has been at an all-time high for years anyway. Now the bar has been raised even higher. In 2024, more manufacturers than ever before will be competing in the championship. The lineup includes: BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, KTM, Triumph, and MV Agusta.
Andreas Kofler (A/Yamaha) holds a commanding 13-point lead in the IDM Supersport class. Incidentally, he is the younger brother of Superbike rider Maximilian Kofler. The fact that Daniel Blin from Poland is right behind him on the Ducati Panigale V2 comes as a huge surprise. No one had the former Supersport World Championship rider on their radar. Behind them, Dirk Geiger (Germany/Honda), Stepan Zuda (Czech Republic/Ducati), and Luca de Vleeschauwer are keeping things lively with a refreshing mix of brands.
Oliver Svendsen (DK/KTM), Dylan Czarkowski (NL/Yamaha), and Senna van den Hoven (NL/Kawasaki) have dominated the top three spots in the Supersport junior class so far. The field of riders is small but strong. At the season opener, the battle for victory came down to hundredths of a second. The Oschersleben program is rounded out by various cup classes. The IDM weekend is sure to deliver nonstop thrills.
IDM ticket prices range from €5.00 for a Friday ticket to €45.00 for a full weekend pass. Anyone who purchases an event ticket also gets free access to the paddock.
