A new date, but nonstop action and excitement. This year, the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) will take place at the Schleizer Dreieck from May 30 through June 1. This is where the thrill of racing comes to life, and crowds of spectators traditionally flock to one of Germany’s oldest natural race tracks. On this challenging course, it’s not just the top-tier riders who push themselves to the limit between “Buchhübel” and “Seng”—the fans’ enthusiasm does too. At the second IDM event of the season, drama on the track is guaranteed.
Who would have thought it? Hannes Soomer (Masteroil Alpha Van Zon BMW) is the man to beat in the IDM Superbike class. The 27-year-old Estonian from Tallinn arrives in Thuringia as the championship leader in the top motorcycle class. A win and a second-place finish at the season opener in Oschersleben have catapulted the BMW rider to the top of the standings. Toni Finsterbusch (GERT56 by RS Speedbikes) and Lorenzo Zanetti (Triple M Racing Ducati Frankfurt) also got a taste of the podium. The big surprise: Neither of the top title favorites, Florian Alt (Holzhauer Racing Promotion) nor Lukas Tulovic (Triple M Racing Ducati Frankfurt), finished the first race. Both the rider from North Rhine-Westphalia and the rider from Bavaria were forced to retire due to a technical problem with their motorcycles.
Although Tulovic won the second race in commanding fashion on the Panigale V4R, he’s missing the points from the first race and is currently only fifth in the overall standings. Adding to his concerns is the fact that the Masteroil Alpha Van Zon BMW team trained with its full lineup at the Schleizer Dreieck last weekend. “I’ll have to put in an enormous number of laps in Friday’s free practice to make up for lost training time. That’s tough. Schleiz will be a whole new experience for me anyway, since I haven’t ridden there in what feels like an eternity,” “Tulo” reveals, but quickly adds: “If everything works out again in Schleiz, we’ll have a realistic chance to fight for the title.”
Florian Alt, on the other hand, is practically racing on home turf. His wife, Kim, is from Schleiz. However, the 29-year-old Honda rider isn’t talking about the title. The 2024 runner-up is keeping his expectations in check: “We first have to fight our way to the top and be in a position to win.” After the season opener, he’s only eighth overall, “but I’m not discouraged—I’m actually motivated to take on the challenge.” Depending on how things turn out this coming Sunday, Alt will stop by his favorite sausage stand in Schleiz and sink his teeth into a much-loved Thuringian roast pork sandwich.
The IDM Superbike series features all the big names in the sport. Riders like Leandro Mercado from Argentina, Jan-Ole Jähnig from Lehndorf in Thuringia, and South African Sheridan Morais compete on BMW, Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, and Kawasaki bikes. And right in the thick of it is Chris Beinlich from Pößneck, who has moved up to Germany’s top class. His younger brother Troy was killed in a crash last year, but this well-known family simply can’t live without racing. The little “11” is always there with him.
The Supersport in the IDM Supersport class Supersport no less spectacular, albeit with slightly less power. In the middle displacement class, defending champion Andreas Kofler (Yamalube Motorsport Kofler) has already made his mark, but had to concede defeat to Dirk Geiger (MCA Racing) in the second race. The Mannheim native on his Honda crossed the finish line with a lead of 95 thousandths of a second on the clock. The IDM Supersport a shark tank where exceptional talents like Luca de Vleeschauwer, Melvin van der Voort (Track and Trades Wixx Racing), and Lennox Lehmann (Apreco Ten Kate Yamaha Racing) are waiting in the wings, ready to strike at just the right moment.
The introduction of the new IDM Sportbike class has proven to be a huge hit. It has replaced the previous junior class, IDM Supersport . Normann Broy, Head of Motorsports at Motor Presse Stuttgart, explains: “The new class is very interesting for motorcycle manufacturers, as the models raced have significantly greater market relevance than the 300cc bikes.” The format—which the FIM had originally planned for 2026 as part of the World Superbike events—will make its debut at all IDM events in 2025. This guarantees excellent preparation. The various motorcycle designs in this class will be standardized to a uniform power level of approximately 95 PS, ensuring a level playing field for all riders. The races are usually decided in the final corner or right at the finish line. True to this spirit, the daring Dane Oliver Svendsen (Triumph Germany Racing Team) secured a one-two finish at the season opener.
Do you still have the energy for more thrilling races? Then Kawasaki’s brand-new ZX-4RR Cup, the Twin Cup, and the Pro Superstock 1000 offer exactly the kind of varied and exciting lineup the IDM is known for. Your admission ticket also grants you access to the paddock and automatically includes participation in the Fan Walk. Nowhere else can you get as close to the riders as you can at the IDM. After all, the IDM is all about being right in the thick of the action, not just watching from the sidelines.
Tickets are still available for advance purchase at https://vivenu.com/seller/idm-internationale-deutsche-motorradmeisterschaft-ejt3
Advance ticket prices: 25.00 euros for a Saturday ticket, 35.00 euros for a Sunday ticket, and 45.00 euros for a weekend ticket. Admission is free for children 14 and under.
Can't make it because of work or other commitments? You can watch the IDM races via a free live stream at www.idm.de/live .
2025 Dates:
May 9–11, 2025 – Oschersleben
May 30–June 1, 2025 – Schleiz
June 20–22, 2025 – Most (CZ)
July 4–6, 2025 – Oschersleben
August 15–17, 2025 – Assen (NL)
September 5–7, 2025 – Nürburgring
September 26–28, 2025 – Hockenheim