Munich. BMW racers have completed another successful weekend.They celebrated a top-three lock-out in the International German Championship (IDM) and a total of five podium finishes. It wasdecision time in the British Superbike Championship (BSB): PeterHickman (GBR) reached the best six riders’ Showdown. Two wins andfive podiums were scored in the British Superbike Championship Superstock class (BSB STK). Defending champion Carmelo Morales (ESP)increased his lead in the Spanish Championship (RFME CEV) after hisfourth win of the season. In addition, Travis Wyman (USA) raced ontothe podium in the MotoAmerica (MA).
International German Championship at Assen, Netherlands.
The famous TT Circuit at Assen in The Netherlands, hosted thepenultimate round of the International German Championship 2018 (IDM).BMW racers recorded a top-three lock-out and a total of five podiumfinishes at the “Cathedral of Speed”.
Championship leader Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR / alpha-Racing-Van-Zon-BMW)dominated race one. He claimed his eighth win of the season, finishingover nine seconds ahead of his closest rival. Second place went toBastien Mackels (BEL / Wilbers BMW Racing), while local hero PepijnBijsterbosch (NED) completed the top-three lock-out of BMW riders.
The second race saw a podium without a BMW rider on the top step forthe first time this season. Victory had always gone to the BMW S 1000RR up to that point. The winner this time was the Italian Yamaha riderLorenzo Lanzi, who came out on top after a thrilling duel with Mikhalchik. Mikhalchik crossed the line in second place, just 0.256seconds behind. His team-mate Julian Puffe (GER) secured the thirdpodium spot.
In the overall standings, three BMW riders are out in front withthree weeks to go until the season finale in Hockenheim (GER).Mikhalchik leads with 269 points, 31 ahead of Mackels (238). Puffe isin third place with 176 points.
British Superbike Championship at Silverstone, Great Britain.
One of the most important race weekends of the British SuperbikeChampionship (BSB) season took place at Silverstone (GBR). The ninthmeeting of the season was the decider as to which six riders will becompeting for the title in the BSB Showdown. One of the sixsought-after spots is now confirmed as going to a BMW rider. Havingcompleted nine out of the season’s twelve events, Peter Hickman (GBR /Smiths Racing) is now sixth in the overall standings and is one ofthose who will be starting the final three events of the season withextra points.
Hickman had arrived at Silverstone in sixth position and was able tostay there, despite a tricky weekend. After the three races had takenplace on Saturday and Sunday, he was four points ahead of his nearestrival in seventh place. Hickman was the best-placed BMW rider in raceone, crossing the line in eighth place. However, he was forced toretire just before the end of the second race after problems with theoil pressure sensor. In race three, he gave a strong chase through thefield but then his gear lever broke leaving him stuck in third gear.Hickman nursed the bike to the line and finished 19th.
Tyco BMW rider Christian Iddon (GBR) also had a chance of claiming aShowdown place and displayed impressive fighting spirit on theSilverstone track. Iddon suffered a bad fall in the second qualifyingsession, resulting in a triple fracture of the collarbone. However, hegritted his teeth after receiving the all-clear from the medical teamand scored points in all three races, finishing 15th, fifthand tenth. Iddon just missed out on qualifying for the Showdown by afew points.
Peter Hickman: “It’s been a dramatic weekend butwe’ve made it. Huge thank you to Smiths Racing BMW. To make it to theShowdown for the second year in a row is incredible. We’ve had someproblems on Sunday but the Smiths Racing BMW team has done a fantasticjob and to be honest the bike had not really missed a beat all yearbefore so I can’t complain too much. We had really good pace and Ithink we could have finished inside the top five in any of the racesbut it didn’t work out that way. We had a bad qualifying which waspartly my fault but I am more than happy to get into the Showdownagain. Thanks to all of the sponsors and fans for their support. Nowit’s time to look forward to a less dramatic round next weekend!”
Christian Iddon: “I don’t know what to say right now.This weekend has been the most crazy rollercoaster ever. I’m sorry toeveryone who supports me that I didn’t make the Showdown but I tried.Congratulations to the title fighters. Now to get fixed up and end theseason strong.“
A marathon race and a normal race took place in the Superstock class(BSB STK) at Silverstone. Saturday’s marathon race consisted of twoseparate 24-lap races, which took place consecutively. In part one,the two BMW riders Alex Olsen (GBR / ASTRO – JJR Racing) and KeithFarmer (GBR / Tyco BMW Motorrad) finished second and third to reachthe podium. Olsen celebrated his first win of the season in part two.This seemed to spur him on, as Olsen doubled up to record another winon Sunday. Farmer was behind double-winner Olsen, claiming the thirdpodium spot.
Spanish Championship at Valencia, Spain.
The fifth and penultimate event of the Spanish Championship 2018(RFME CEV) took place at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo at Valencia (ESP) – and reigning champion Carmelo Morales (ESP) extended his successfulrun. Morales celebrated his fourth win of the season on the GraphenanoEasyRace SBK team BMW S 1000 RR. He finished nearly two seconds aheadof his closest rival. Pedro Rodriguez (ESP / Castromaroto Racing)claimed ninth place. Julian Miralles (ESP / Graphenano EasyRace SBKTeam) secured second place in the Open class (tenth place in theoverall standings). Morales has extended his lead in the championshipstandings with two races still to take place at the season finale inJerez (ESP).
Carmelo Morales: “I am delighted with this win. Wehave had a good feeling since we arrived in Valencia. I started therace calmly, which was important. I started out following polesetterXavier Pinsach and tried to avoid making any errors whileconcentrating on scoring as many points as possible. I was able toovertake him at the end and claim victory. I would like to thank theteam, BMW and Dunlop for the great work this weekend.”
MotoAmerica at New Jersey Motorsports Park, USA.
The weekend also saw a podium finish in the MotoAmerica Superstockclass (MA STK). Travis Wyman (USA / Weir Everywhere Racing) securedsecond place in the race at New Jersey Motorsports Park (USA). In thetwo Superbike class (MA SBK) races, BMW rider Danny Eslick (USA /Scheibe Racing) finished tenth and eighth respectively.
Australian Superbike Championship at the Winton Motor Raceway, Australia.
The Winton Motor Raceway, around 200 kilometres to the north ofMelbourne (AUS), hosted the sixth and penultimate event of the 2018Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) season. 19-year-old rookieTed Collins (AUS), from the NextGen Motorsports team, recorded hisbest ASBK result to date when he crossed the line in seventh place inthe first race. The young BMW driver also reached the top-ten in racetwo, finishing in tenth place.
