Munich. The alpha Racing-Van-Zon-BMW team had twice the reason to celebrate when team principal Werner Daemen’s crew won the titlesin two international championships at the weekend. Markus Reiterberger (GER) was crowned Superstock European champion in the FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship. Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR)clinched the title in the International German Championship (IDM).For the BMW Motorrad Motorsport community, this makes it championship titles number five and six of the current season. Behind Reiterberger, Roberto Tamburini (ITA) finished second overallin the FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship (STK1000). In theIDM, the championship spots one to three all went to BMW riders;behind champion Mikhalchik came Bastien Mackels (BEL) in second,Julian Puffe (GER) in third. In addition to these successes, BMWracers picked up two wins and a total of eight podiums.
FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship at Magny-Cours, France.
Markus Reiterberger (GER) led the FIM Superstock 1000 EuropeanChampionship standings from the very first race and sealed the deal atthe Magny-Cours (FRA) finale. The team alpha Racing-Van-Zon-BMW riderwas crowned 2018 Superstock European champion. Third place in theeighth and final race of the year was enough for Reiterberger tosecure the title. “Reiti” has picked up a total of four wins and twothird-places this season.
Roberto Tamburini (ITA / Berclaz Racing Team), who celebrated hisfirst win of the season at Portimão (POR) two weeks ago, finished thefinal race in second place, just three-tenths of a second behindwinner Federico Sandi (ITA). Tamburini once again set the fastest racelap and a new lap record. In the championship standings, Tamburinisecured second place behind champion Reiterberger, clinching theone-two finish for BMW. In the manufacturer’s standings, BMW hadalready been crowned champions.
Markus Reiterberger: “It is just so amazing! Goinginto the final race, you could feel that all of us were slightlytense. I knew that I could ride relatively cautiously, meaning thatnothing could happen, but you’re not involved in the technology, butthe whole team did an outstanding job once again and provided me witha perfectly prepared motorcycle. I held back a lot on the first fewlaps because I didn’t want someone knocking me off my bike in theturmoil. Perhaps I took it too slowly there but it all worked out inthe end; we finished as European champion! I’d like to thank the wholeteam, BMW, my family, my friends, everyone who has supported me andmade this possible. I’m crazy happy to be European champion; it’ssomething quite special. I’m really proud of what we have achieved together.”
MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at Magny-Cours, France.
Magny-Cours (FRA) was the last stop in Europe for the MOTUL FIMSuperbike World Championship (WorldSBK). Loris Baz (FRA) of GulfAlthea BMW Team finished both of his home races in tenth place.
International German Championship at Hockenheim, Germany.
What Markus Reiterberger was to the STK1000 this year, his alphaRacing-Van-Zon-BMW team-mate Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR) was in theInternational German Championship (IDM) – a hot contender for thetitle. At the Hockenheim (GER) finale, the Ukrainian was crownedchampion. In the 14 races of the season, he finished on the top stepof the podium nine times. Second and third place in the championshipstandings also went to BMW racers: Bastien Mackels (BEL / WilbersRacing Team) finished second, and Mikhalchik’s team-mate Julian Puffe(GER) clinched third place overall. BMW won the manufacturer’sstandings, with a huge lead of 301 points.
In the two final races, there was once again no beating the BMWriders – they secured a one-two and a one-two-three. In race one,Mackels celebrated his fourth win of the season with Mikhalchikfinishing second. Then, in the second race, Mikhalchik won ahead ofMackels, with Puffe completing the all-BMW podium in third.
Ilya Mikhalchik: “I am very happy about this season,from the first to the last race. I want to say a big thank you to theentire team. It is an unbelievable feeling. I had the trust from thefirst race on that we can win the title with my guys – and ithappened. I am really, really happy!”
British Superbike Championship at Assen, Netherlands.
For the eleventh and penultimate event of the 2018 season, theBritish Superbike Championship (BSB) entourage headed to theNetherlands’ “Cathedral of Speed”, the TT Circuit in Assen. Only theSuperbike class (BSB SBK) competed – and the BMW S 1000 RR clinched aspot on the podium.
Peter Hickman (GBR / Smiths Racing) finished in third place in thesecond of the two races. In race one, Hickman only just missed out onthe podium, finishing fourth and setting the fastest lap of the race.Christian Iddon (GBR / Tyco BMW Motorrad) was back in action after hisinjury break, and finished the two races in eighth and tenth places.His team-mate Michael Laverty (GBR) finished eleventh in the firstrace but retired in race two.
MFJ Superbike All Japan Road Race Championship at Okayama, Japan.
The MFJ Superbike All Japan Road Race Championship (MFJ) wasscheduled to make an appearance in Okayama, Japan at the weekend.However, no races were able to take place with the event being calledoff for safety reasons with the threat of a typhoon.
