IDM Superbike 1000 title contenders opt for future deal

In two weeks' time, the International Motorcycle Championship (IDM) will kick off its 2021 season, and the lights are green for the scheduled races at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. For Florian Alt of the Wilbers-BMW Racing Team, this also marks the start of the title fight in the IDM Superbike 1000 from May 21 to 23, with every single championship point theoretically important for Alt. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old will already be absent from the following event in Most, Czech Republic, and will take part in the 24-hour race at Le Mans instead. The classic race, which is part of the World Endurance Championship, is also held on the third weekend in June.

Due to the date clash of the recently postponed Le Mans event with the IDM in Most, the Wilbers-BMW Racing Team is in a quandary. Florian Alt is set for both series. But where should he ride now? Team manager Benny Wilbers has found a pragmatic solution for this. He says: "There is a big question mark behind the event in Most. The Czech Republic is currently classified as a risk area and there is a travel warning. Le Mans is the safer option for us as a destination and Florian Alt will start in France."

Wilbers reached an understanding with Werner Daemen, team principal of the EGS-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team, before making the decision. The Belgian will also send his IDM Superbike title candidate, Ilya Mikhalchik, into the 24h fight. Wilbers and Daemen are planning closer cooperation in the Endurance World Championship in the future. Details are already being fine-tuned.

"Of course we risk our title chances in the IDM title fight with the deal," Wilbers knows, "and we are also sorry for the competition to take two top riders from the premier class in Most, but as teams we are not completely missing. For Wilbers-BMW-Racing in any case youngster Marco Fetz will be at the start. If the event in the Czech Republic is cancelled because of the COVID-19 situation, everything will dissolve into thin air. Otherwise, Alt and Mikhalchik will continue to fight for the IDM Superbike 1000 crown later under the same conditions."