The second IDM Superbike race at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben turned into an emotional roller coaster. Lukas Tulovic (Triple M Racing Ducati Frankfurt) secured a one-two finish in the Magdeburger Börde in his first Superbike season. In the overall standings, however, the Ducati Panigale V4R rider trails Florian Alt (Holzhauer Racing Promotion), the only Honda rider in the field. Hannes Soomer (Masteroil Alpha Van Zon BMW) is the big loser of the weekend.
The Estonian was missing from the starting grid for the second race. In the first race this morning, he had been battling for second place with Florian Alt on the black-and-yellow BMW when he crashed. Soomer broke two fingers on his right hand. Another finger was scraped down to the bone. The 27-year-old is now in a hospital in Magdeburg and hopes for a speedy recovery.
The 18-lap race without Soomer proved to be a challenge for Lucas Tulovic, who immediately pulled away, along with Florian Alt, Leandro Mercado (Masteroil Alpha Van Zon BMW), Jan-Ole Jähnig, and Toni Finsterbusch (both GERT56 by RS Speedbikes), Lorenzo Zanetti (Triple M Racing Ducati Frankfurt), and a determined Bálint Kovács (Masteroil Alpha Van Zon BMW).
Alt, who started from the second row, first had to pass Jähnig to get up to speed. Then Mercado stood in his way. The Argentine spread out like a bus driver, and Alt just couldn’t get past. Until a braking maneuver that left everyone gasping for breath finally paid off. Mercado braked so late that his rear wheel was in the air, but Alt braked even later.
At times, Alt had been just as fast as Tulo, who had long since pulled away. But by the time the final maneuvers were over, it was clear that Tulo was no longer within reach. He was simply too far ahead on his Ducati.
For a long time, Toni Finsterbusch was right up there with the leaders. On a really fast lap, however, the Saxon started sliding badly and nearly went off the track. Finsterbusch regained his composure, but had lost a few meters. Zanetti had already fallen back some time ago.
On the twelfth of 18 laps, Mercado—who had stubbornly stayed right behind Alt—launched a surprise attack that paid off. Alt wasn’t about to settle for third place so easily. The only way to get back to the front was to put the Argentine on the brakes. Mercado was driving aggressively, but Alt also saw the risk in passing him at that moment. “It would have been possible at the corner entry, but I didn’t want to endanger anyone. One more corner and I would have attacked again.”
Tulovic won the race, earned 25 championship points, and celebrated his first double victory of his Superbike career. Mercado finished second, earning 20 points, and once again made it clear that he intends to win another race this year. Alt received 16 points for third place. At the halfway point of the season—that is, immediately after this morning’s first race—the rider from North Rhine-Westphalia had taken the lead in the overall standings from Soomer and continues to hold it. Alt leads the standings with 139 points, ahead of Tulovic (136), Soomer (112), Finsterbusch (101), Mercado (85), and Jähnig (81).
IDM Superbike, Race 2
1. Lukas TULOVIC (GER), Ducati
2. Leandro MERCADO (ARG), BMW
3. Florian ALT (GER), Honda
4. Bálint KOVÁCS (HUN), BMW
5. Toni FINSTERBUSCH (GER), BMW
6. Jan-Ole JÄHNIG (GER), BMW
7. Lorenzo ZANETTI (ITA), Ducati
8. Twan SMITS (NLD), Yamaha
9. Milan MERCKELBAGH (NLD), BMW
10. Martin VUGRINEC (CRO), Kawasaki
11. Maximilian KOFLER (AUT), Yamaha
12. Leon ORGIS (GER), BMW
13. Marco FETZ (GER), BMW
14. Sandro WAGNER (GER), BMW
15. Christoph BEINLICH (GER), BMW