The title wasn't in the cards for him, but he did snag the final victory of the season: Florian Alt (Holzhauer Racing Promotion) once again stood atop the podium at the IDM Hockenheim finale. Behind him, it was total chaos.
Alt focused on his Honda CBR 1000 RR-R and was oblivious to the drama unfolding behind him. He won the final IDM Superbike race of the year with a 0.603-second lead over Toni Finsterbusch (GERT56 by RS Speedbikes). Things could have gone terribly wrong. Alt ran out of fuel on the back straight during the final lap, and just before the checkered flag, the Honda began to sputter. It was the third victory of the season for the 2023 IDM Superbike champion, who has now finished the season as the runner-up.
This year’s new champion, Lukas Tulovic, was ready to really go all out in the second race of the day. The title was already in the bag. And that was just as well, because the 25-year-old Ducati rider went off into the run-off area on lap four after going too fast. In the second half of the race, he missed the apex in a corner and had to take a wide line. After several attempts, it made no sense to try to challenge Alt.
Tulo battled it out with Toni Finsterbusch. The Saxon, for his part, looked as though he might just win the first Superbike race of his career today. On lap 14, Tulovic ran wide and didn’t reappear until he was back in the midfield. Six bikes were in the leading group for a long time. “I fought like crazy and thought today might be the day it happens. But the front tire wore out on the right side,” said Finsterbusch. Kevin Orgis and his brother Leon had already crashed by that point. Milan Merckelbagh and Hannes Soomer had made their way back into the field after taking detours. Which didn’t change the fact that Soomer finished the season in third place overall.
In the penultimate lap, Finsterbusch was no longer battling Alt, but rather Bálint Kovács (Masteroil Alpha Van Zon BMW), who had started from pole position. Alt, on his Honda, led a group of four BMW riders across the finish line, followed by Twan Smits on his Yamaha and the new Ducati champion, Lukas Tulovic. The next project is already waiting for “Tulo.” From October 17–19, he will make a wildcard appearance in the Superbike World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. Preparations are underway with the Ducati test team.
IDM Superbike, Race 2
1. Florian ALT (GER), Honda
2. Toni FINSTERBUSCH (GER), BMW
3. Bálint KOVÁCS (HUN), BMW
4. Jan-Ole JÄHNIG (GER), BMW
5. Leandro MERCADO (ARG), BMW
6. Twan SMITS (NLD), Yamaha
7. Lukas TULOVIC (GER), Ducati
8. Soma GÖRBE (HUN), BMW
9. Jan MOHR (AUT), Yamaha
10.Roberto TAMBURINI (ITA), BMW
11.Sandro WAGNER (GER), BMW
12.Marco FETZ (GER), BMW
13.Leon ORGIS (GER), BMW
14.Hannes SOOMER (EST), BMW
15.Milan MERCKELBAGH (NED), BMW