Another top-three lock-out for BMW riders in the IDM – more wins and podiums in Great Britain, Spain and the US.

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 was decision time in the British Superbike Championship (BSB): Peter Hickman (GBR) reached the best six riders’ Showdown. Two wins and five 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 his fourth win of the season. In addition, Travis Wyman (USA) raced onto the podium in the MotoAmerica (MA).

International German Championship at Assen, Netherlands.

The famous TT Circuit at Assen in The Netherlands, hosted the penultimate round of the International German Championship 2018 (IDM). BMW racers recorded a top-three lock-out and a total of five podium finishes 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, finishing over nine seconds ahead of his closest rival. Second place went to Bastien Mackels (BEL / Wilbers BMW Racing), while local hero Pepijn Bijsterbosch (NED) completed the top-three lock-out of BMW riders.

The second race saw a podium without a BMW rider on the top step for the first time this season. Victory had always gone to the BMW S 1000 RR up to that point. The winner this time was the Italian Yamaha rider Lorenzo Lanzi, who came out on top after a thrilling duel with Mikhalchik. Mikhalchik crossed the line in second place, just 0.256 seconds behind. His team-mate Julian Puffe (GER) secured the third podium spot.

In the overall standings, three BMW riders are out in front with three weeks to go until the season finale in Hockenheim (GER). Mikhalchik leads with 269 points, 31 ahead of Mackels (238). Puffe is in third place with 176 points.

British Superbike Championship at Silverstone, Great Britain.

One of the most important race weekends of the British Superbike Championship (BSB) season took place at Silverstone (GBR). The ninth meeting of the season was the decider as to which six riders will be competing for the title in the BSB Showdown. One of the six sought-after spots is now confirmed as going to a BMW rider. Having completed nine out of the season’s twelve events, Peter Hickman (GBR / Smiths Racing) is now sixth in the overall standings and is one of those who will be starting the final three events of the season with extra points.

Hickman had arrived at Silverstone in sixth position and was able to stay there, despite a tricky weekend. After the three races had taken place on Saturday and Sunday, he was four points ahead of his nearest rival in seventh place. Hickman was the best-placed BMW rider in race one, crossing the line in eighth place. However, he was forced to retire just before the end of the second race after problems with the oil pressure sensor. In race three, he gave a strong chase through the field but then his gear lever broke leaving him stuck in third gear. Hickman nursed the bike to the line and finished 19^th.

Tyco BMW rider Christian Iddon (GBR) also had a chance of claiming a Showdown place and displayed impressive fighting spirit on the Silverstone track. Iddon suffered a bad fall in the second qualifying session, resulting in a triple fracture of the collarbone. However, he gritted his teeth after receiving the all-clear from the medical team and scored points in all three races, finishing 15^th, fifth and tenth. Iddon just missed out on qualifying for the Showdown by a few points. 

Peter Hickman: “It’s been a dramatic weekend but we’ve made it. Huge thank you to Smiths Racing BMW. To make it to the Showdown for the second year in a row is incredible. We’ve had some problems on Sunday but the Smiths Racing BMW team has done a fantastic job and to be honest the bike had not really missed a beat all year before so I can’t complain too much. We had really good pace and I think we could have finished inside the top five in any of the races but it didn’t work out that way. We had a bad qualifying which was partly my fault but I am more than happy to get into the Showdown again. Thanks to all of the sponsors and fans for their support. Now it’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 to everyone 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 the season strong.“

A marathon race and a normal race took place in the Superstock class (BSB STK) at Silverstone. Saturday's marathon race consisted of two separate 24-lap races, which took place consecutively. In part one, the two BMW riders Alex Olsen (GBR / ASTRO – JJR Racing) and Keith Farmer (GBR / Tyco BMW Motorrad) finished second and third to reach the 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 win on Sunday. Farmer was behind double-winner Olsen, claiming the third podium 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 successful run. Morales celebrated his fourth win of the season on the Graphenano EasyRace SBK team BMW S 1000 RR. He finished nearly two seconds ahead of his closest rival. Pedro Rodriguez (ESP / Castromaroto Racing) claimed ninth place. Julian Miralles (ESP / Graphenano EasyRace SBK Team) secured second place in the Open class (tenth place in the overall standings). Morales has extended his lead in the championship standings with two races still to take place at the season finale in Jerez (ESP).

Carmelo Morales: “I am delighted with this win. We have had a good feeling since we arrived in Valencia. I started the race calmly, which was important. I started out following polesetter Xavier Pinsach and tried to avoid making any errors while concentrating on scoring as many points as possible. I was able to overtake him at the end and claim victory. I would like to thank the team, 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 Superstock class (MA STK). Travis Wyman (USA / Weir Everywhere Racing) secured second place in the race at New Jersey Motorsports Park (USA). In the two 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 of Melbourne (AUS), hosted the sixth and penultimate event of the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) season. 19-year-old rookie Ted Collins (AUS), from the NextGen Motorsports team, recorded his best ASBK result to date when he crossed the line in seventh place in the first race. The young BMW driver also reached the top-ten in race two, finishing in tenth place.