Florian Alt is far from happy with his eighth-place standing in the overall standings. Last year’s runner-up was forced to retire from the first race of the season on his Honda CBR 1000 RR-R due to a technical issue. In the second race, he ran out of options in the final sprint for a podium finish and ended up in fourth place. What does the future hold in the battle for the IDM Superbike title?
“We have to fight our way up to the competition, even if that seems a long way off, but that’s our only chance,” says the 29-year-old Honda rider from the HRP team, keeping his expectations in check, “above all, we have to be able to win races.” After the events in Oschersleben, however, the 1.89-meter giant is by no means discouraged, “but rather motivated. That challenges me. I’m taking on the challenge.” Alt, who has just returned home from the studio in Munich after commentating on the MotoGP races for Sky, isn’t one to let setbacks get him down.
Will the Schleizer Dreieck mark a turning point?
When the next IDM races take place at the Schleizer Dreieck this coming weekend, Alt’s Honda will be in a new configuration. “We were testing in Oschersleben; we changed the entire geometry—the seat, the handlebars, the footpegs, and the fuel tank. And Honda is pulling out all the stops to support us.” He’s still blown away by how well the competition—namely Ducati and BMW—has been performing this year.
Alt is hoping for good weather in Schleiz. “If it stays dry on Friday during free practice and Superpole, and if we’re competitive with the new chassis, we might just have a shot at a podium finish on Sunday.” That would be the best outcome in front of his relatives from Schleiz. Alt’s wife, Kim, is from the racing town. Above all, on his drive home toward the highway, the North Rhine-Westphalian would love to grab a much-loved Roster at his favorite sausage stand—depending on the result, of course.
