It was clear from the start that the battle in today’s first IDM Superbike race would be between Ilya Mikhalchik (Champion Alpha BMW) and Florian Alt (HRP-Honda). However, it came as a surprise that the Ukrainian would win by a margin of six seconds at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Bálint Kovács (Champion Alpha BMW) finished third. For the Hungarian, it was his first podium finish in Germany’s top motorcycle racing class.
“This weather is really getting on my nerves. We could have skipped the test here two weeks ago, and Florian could have stayed home with his cold,” said Honda team boss Jens Holzhauer, shaking his head. The data collected so far was completely useless today. It wasn’t really drizzling yet, but it wasn’t completely dry at the start of the first race either. In racing circles, they call it “precipitating fog,” because the air was anything but clear.
IDM leader Patrick Hobelsberger (GERT56) started by sending a shout-out to his grandmother from the starting grid—it’s her birthday today—before turning his attention to the race, which he had to tackle from the fifth row after yesterday’s practice and Superpole disaster.
Right after the start, pole-sitter Mikhalchik once again took the lead ahead of Alt. Jan-Ole Jähnig surged from fifth to third place in one go. He was followed by teammate Toni Finsterbusch, Bálint Kovács, Leandro Mercado (Kawasaki), Hannes Soomer (BMW), Thomas Gradinger (Yamaha), Vladimir Leonov (Ducati), and Lorenzo Zanetti (Ducati). “Pax” Hobelsberger, further back, hadn’t gained a single position.
Mikhalchik consistently posted lap times in the low 1:25s throughout the race. Unlike last year, the 27-year-old Ukrainian ran like clockwork. Twelve months ago, he suffered a bitter defeat at Oschersleben after crashing in both Superbike races. Today things went exceptionally well for him, “even though at the start I didn’t know whether I should push or not.” Mikhalchik won the race with a lead of exactly 6.196 seconds over defending Honda champion Alt. The rider from North Rhine-Westphalia had run out of tire grip halfway through the race. “We’ve had a new chassis since the races at the Sachsenring. We’ll be making a few minor adjustments before the second race.”
While Mikhalchik and Alt secured their trophies without any pressure from the front or the back, the battle for third place was much more intense. Soomer, who had missed the season opener due to injury, improved significantly over the course of the weekend and even managed to finish fifth. Zanetti and Gradinger overtook Mercado, though Gradinger subsequently lost a few positions. Finsterbusch’s tires wore out. Ultimately, his 23-year-old teammate “JO” Jähnig was the best driver from the GERT56 team. He finished fourth. It wasn’t enough for the podium, however, as none other than Bálint Kovács proved too strong in the final laps. He said, “The tires were the key to success today.”
What else happened: Luca Grünwald has been struggling since his move to BMW and pulled into the pits with a mechanical issue two laps before the finish. Federico Caricasulo, the replacement rider for the injured Martin Vugrinec on the Skach Motors Kawasaki, has barely made an impression so far. During the race, the Italian was forced off the track by Milan Merckelbagh. Merckelbagh received a penalty from race control and was handed a long lap for the second Superbike race. This means he must pass through an additional chicane. And what of “Pax” Hobelsberger? Sixth after 18 laps. And he still holds a one-point lead in the overall standings heading into the second race.
IDM Superbike, Round 1:
1. Ilya MIKHALCHIK (UKR/BMW)
2. Florian ALT (GER/Honda)
3. Bálint KOVÁCS (HUN/BMW)
4. Jan-Ole JÄHNIG (GER/BMW)
5. Hannes SOOMER (EST/BMW)
6. Patrick HOBELSBERGER (GER/BMW)
7. Lorenzo ZANETTI (IT/Ducati)
8. Leandro MERCADO (ARG/Kawasaki)
9. Vladimir LEONOV (UAE/Ducati)
10.Toni FINSTERBUSCH (D/BMW)
11. Thomas GRADINGER (AUT/Yamaha)
12. Leon ORGIS (D/Yamaha)
13. Max SCHMIDT (D/BMW)
14. Philipp STEINMAYR (AUT/BMW)
15. Kevin ORGIS (D/BMW)
