IDM 2021: 9 events planned

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IDM 2021: 9 events planned
Dino Eisele

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Motorsport

IDM 2021: 9 events planned

The IDM continues to improve
9 events planned for 2021

A good 30 international drivers in the IDM Superbike and the strongest field of drivers in the IDM Superbike 1000 class – the IDM will continue to improve in the 2021 season.


Anke Wieczorek

02/05/2021

Stuttgart, February 5, 2021 – The starting fields for the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) 2021 are developing very well: “In the IDM Superbike alone, I expect around 30 international riders”, reports series manager Normann Broy. Even after IDM champion Jonas Folger’s promotion to the Superbike World Championship, almost three months before the start of the season, the strongest field of drivers in the IDM Superbike 1000 has been emerging for a long time. The season opener is scheduled for April 30th to May 2nd, 2021 at the Lausitzring. The IDM is organized and marketed by the special-interest media company Motor Presse Stuttgart.

If the two-time IDM Superbike champion Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR) has its way, the championship season could start immediately. The 25-year-old BMW driver has his sights set on the third IDM title. “I’m hungry after finishing second last year”, says the Ukrainian, who wants to win his third IDM title after 2018 and 2019. The runner-up remains loyal to the EGS-alpha-Van Zon-BMW Team (BEL) from master maker Werner Daemen.

The level in the IDM has risen sharply

In addition to his involvement in the IDM, the Ukrainian is also one of Daemen’s driver trio in the endurance world championship. In 2021, however, the focus will be on his IDM title. “For this I have been training very hard in the last few weeks, because the level in the IDM has risen sharply.” His team also played a big part in this: Daemen races four BMW S 1000 RRs at the same time. In addition to Mikhalchik and Tim Eby (Blumberg), the Dutchman Pepijn Bijsterbosch (NLD) and the 22-year-old youngster Jan Mohr (AUT) compete for the factory-supported BMW team.

But the second BMW top team in the IDM is also increasing. In addition to his regular rider, ex 125cc champion Florian Alt (Wiehl), suspension specialist Benny Wilbers (Nordhorn) is giving IDM superbike talent Marco Fetz (Kleinbreitenbronn) a chance. The 21-year-old Franconian is switching from a Suzuki to a BMW after his SBK debut season. The already strong BMW faction gets additional clout with the long-distance world championship switch GERT54 (Pirna). As in the last World Cup, the team from Saxony relies on the Le Mans stock sport winners Toni Finsterbusch (Hohenossig) and Lucy Glockner (Zschopau), who are both celebrating their IDM comeback.

Yamaha is also strongly represented in the IDM Superbike 2021. With the ambitious Swiss comrade Dominic Schmitter (CHE), last year’s IDM third-placed team is in pursuit of the strong BMW drivers, led by Ilya Mikhalchik and Florian Alt.Like both comrades-in-arms, Schmitter remains loyal to his team and competes in one season for the second time YZF R1-M from Konrad Hess’s team. Last year, the 26-year-old Yamaha rider was the only rider who managed to get a pole position from the high-flyer Jonas Folger and who crossed the finish line just five seconds behind the ex-MotoGP rider. One reason for Schmitters self-confidence when he says: “Of course, that makes me a candidate for the title.” The championship team Bonovo action / MGM Racing continues to rely on the services of Marc Moser (Dieburg) in the IDM and brings Philipp Steinmayr (AUT) in as a teammate.

Kawasaki is also expanding its commitment. Emil Weber’s team is now using not just one, but two Ninja ZX10-RRs: Valentin Debise (FRA) succeeds his compatriot Erwan Nigon and with Nico Thoni (AUT) the first overall winner of the Pro Superstock Cup joins the IDM King class on. A lot of work in the new Honda CBR 1000 RR-R “Fireblade” team boss Jens Holzhauer (Wittenberge) invested over the winter. How many motorcycles he will use has not yet been determined. Only audience favorite Alessandro Polita (ITA) has been confirmed so far.

Suzuki exit from IDM

After Suzuki’s official exit from the IDM, only Denis Hertrampf’s (Nordhorn) team will probably remain in the IDM. The motorcycle dealer could contest the season with a different brand because his company is diversified. The new IDM starter field for the Superbikes promises great class and exciting races, which will be broadcast via livestream as in 2020.

IDM Supersport 600

But a top field is not only emerging in the IDM premier class. In the IDM Supersport 600, too, the air at the top is even thinner. It is not yet clear where last year’s champion Luca Grunwald will drive. But with the Croatian runner-up Martin Vugrinec (Bochum) on a Yamaha, an extremely success-hungry rider is applying for the successor. In addition, with the two-time IDM champion Max Enderlein (Hohenstein-Ernstthal) and his new team-mate Jan-Ole Jahnig (Altenberg) there is a new, extremely strong driver pairing who also rely on Yamaha. The two ex-Freudenberg pilots founded their own team.

Team FuSPORT RT Motorsports by SKM Kawasaki is new in the class, but not unknown. So far it has only been involved in the 300 class for the offspring. Now there is an additional step up. With the Dutchman Rob Hartog (NLD) and Dino Iozzo (ZAF), the bosses Rob Vennegoor and Frank Krekeler have secured two particularly fast drivers. At Bonovo action / MGM Racing, points will be scored on Yamaha with the World Cup experienced Patrick Hobelsberger (AUT) and, as in 2020, with Milan Merckelbagh (NLD). Marcel Brenner (CHE) starts at Hess Racing. From this season on, the motorcycles of the 600 series as well as the Supersport 300 will be converted to slick tires from supplier PIRELLI. These tires are also used in the world championship.

Junior class Supersport 300

Even in the IDM junior class Supersport 300, the competition is moving even closer together. The team of Michael and Carsten Freudenberg (Bischofswerda) relies on the fast KTMs with defending champion Lennox Lehmann (Dresden), Dirk Geiger (Mannheim) and the world championship driver Victor Steeman (NLD). After a year-long excursion in the more powerful IDM Supersport 600, the 20-year-old Dutchman has returned to the Saxon KTM team. The 16-year-old Leo Rammerstorfer (AUT) completes the driver quartet as a new addition. Marvin Siebdrath (Wildenfels), Luca de Vleeschauwer (BEL) and Jorke Erwig (Gescher) are all set at FuSPORT RT Motorsports by SKM Kawasaki. The decision for fourth driver’s seat is still open, as is the successor to the Kawasaki of Australian Harry Khoury at Benjan Racing (NLD), who will be promoted to the World Championship.

Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Cup

In addition to the IDM junior class, the IDM is also developing into the stage for the next generation of motorcyclists. The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Cup, which will be held in Germany for the first time, will take part in the IDM four times. The Northern Talent Cup (NTC) will be there three times and the Austrian Talent Cup, which will also be held on a KTM R4C, will have its final run on the IDM weekend at the Red Bull Ring.

Frame race

In the framework races, the Twin Cup and the Pro Superstock Cup are still on board. Despite Suzuki’s withdrawal from the IDM, motorcycles of the brand are still allowed in the Twin Cup. The IDM Sidecar Championships will also remain in the program. It is still open at which events the teams will start. The IDM season opener with all championship classes is planned from April 30th to May 2nd at the Lausitzring.

IDM dates 2021 at a glance

  • 04/30 – May 2nd Eurospeedway Lausitzring
  • 07.05. – 09.05. ADAC Sachsenring Classic (IDM Superbike 1000)
  • 05/20 – 23.05. Speedweek Oschersleben (IDM SBK 1000, SSP / SST 600, SSP 300)
  • 06/11 – 13.06. Autodrom Most (CZE)
  • July 16 – 18.07. Truck Grand Prix Nurburgring (IDM Superbike 1000)
  • 07/23 – 25.07. Schleizer triangle
  • 07/13 – 15.08. TT Circuit Assen (NLD)
  • 08/27 – 29.08. Red Bull Ring (AUT)
  • 24.09. – 26.09. Hockenheimring

The IDM is the highest German road racing series for motorcycles and has been organized and marketed by Motor Presse Stuttgart since 2018.

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