This coming weekend in Schleiz, the asphalt will be sizzling at the season’s highlight of the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM). And sidecar fans are in for a real treat. Two IDM races will be held in the series’ “green living room.” The icing on the cake is the arrival of the world’s top riders, who won’t miss the chance to race on the natural track in front of the massive crowd, even if only as guests and thus outside the official standings.
On the iconic track in Thuringia, the focus is entirely on points in the IDM standings, for which teams whose greatest sporting successes are still ahead of them are eligible to compete. The French duo Ted Peugeot and Vincent Peugeot have accumulated 91 points after four races, 13 more than Lukas Wyssen and Ema Salmon (CH/FRA). Lennard Göttlich and Lucas Krieg are in third place in the standings. At 19 and 21 years old, respectively, the two Germans are by far the youngest team. In fourth place is Patrick Werkstetter, who is also just 19, with his French passenger Valentin Pirat. The sidecar racing field, which had been aging in recent years, has become significantly younger again.
Even though they won’t be scoring points and are just guests, the Schleizer Dreieck is once again a magnet for stars from the Motorcycle World Championship. Championship leader Markus Schlosser says, “Why am I going there? Because it’s special and it’s fun.” The former world champion knows his way around the region by now, as his partner lives near Gera. And riding alongside the Swiss rider is none other than 20-year-old Luca Schmidt, who began his career in Zeulenroda and has now moved directly to Schleiz. With a direct connection to the track, so to speak. He aims to compete for the world championship title alongside Schlosser. Schmidt has had a remarkable career. Three years ago, he won the IDM title as Josef Sattler’s passenger. Never before in the history of the German Sidecar Championship had there been such a young rider or passenger. And now they’re already reaching for the World Championship crown.
Will Schlosser do everything in his power to win here as well during his guest appearance in Schleiz, where he won’t be earning any points? “That’s what my co-driver wants,” laughs the Swiss driver, “but my main goal is to learn more about my car, test it, and practice. If everything works out, then of course I’d love to.” Schlosser has also gotten defending world champions Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clément excited about the track. “I highly recommended it to them. It’s quite an experience.”
Bennie Streuer, the 2015 world champion, will take about nine hours to travel from Assen to Schleiz. “I’ll be arriving on Wednesday.” The car is pulling the trailer with the sidecar behind it. The Dutchman likes to drive on the Dreieck and will meet up there with his German passenger, Kevin Kölsch. “The races are a good opportunity to train one more time. I won’t have a chance to do so before the World Championship round in Assen. I still have a few things to try out. I hope the new parts are better.” Streuer has a new shock absorber linkage. On Saturday, he also spoke on the phone with Pekka Päivärinta and knows that the five-time sidecar world champion from Finland is already heading to the Schleizer Dreieck on Monday. It takes a little longer from Helsinki.
