Munich. The alpha Racing-Van-Zon-BMW team had twice the reason
to celebrate when team principal Werner Daemen’s crew won the titles
in 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 overall
in the FIM Superstock 1000 European Championship (STK1000). In the
IDM, 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, BMW
racers 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 European
Championship standings from the very first race and sealed the deal at
the Magny-Cours (FRA) finale. The team alpha Racing-Van-Zon-BMW rider
was crowned 2018 Superstock European champion. Third place in the
eighth and final race of the year was enough for Reiterberger to
secure the title. “Reiti” has picked up a total of four wins and two
third-places this season.
Roberto Tamburini (ITA / Berclaz Racing Team), who celebrated his
first win of the season at Portimão (POR) two weeks ago, finished the
final race in second place, just three-tenths of a second behind
winner Federico Sandi (ITA). Tamburini once again set the fastest race
lap and a new lap record. In the championship standings, Tamburini
secured second place behind champion Reiterberger, clinching the
one-two finish for BMW. In the manufacturer’s standings, BMW had
already been crowned champions.
Markus Reiterberger: “It is just so amazing! Going
into the final race, you could feel that all of us were slightly
tense. I knew that I could ride relatively cautiously, meaning that
nothing could happen, but you’re not involved in the technology, but
the whole team did an outstanding job once again and provided me with
a perfectly prepared motorcycle. I held back a lot on the first few
laps because I didn’t want someone knocking me off my bike in the
turmoil. Perhaps I took it too slowly there but it all worked out in
the end; we finished as European champion! I’d like to thank the whole
team, BMW, my family, my friends, everyone who has supported me and
made this possible. I’m crazy happy to be European champion; it’s
something 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 FIM
Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). Loris Baz (FRA) of Gulf
Althea 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 alpha
Racing-Van-Zon-BMW team-mate Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR) was in the
International German Championship (IDM) – a hot contender for the
title. At the Hockenheim (GER) finale, the Ukrainian was crowned
champion. In the 14 races of the season, he finished on the top step
of the podium nine times. Second and third place in the championship
standings also went to BMW racers: Bastien Mackels (BEL / Wilbers
Racing Team) finished second, and Mikhalchik’s team-mate Julian Puffe
(GER) clinched third place overall. BMW won the manufacturer’s
standings, with a huge lead of 301 points.
In the two final races, there was once again no beating the BMW
riders – they secured a one-two and a one-two-three. In race one,
Mackels celebrated his fourth win of the season with Mikhalchik
finishing second. Then, in the second race, Mikhalchik won ahead of
Mackels, 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 the
entire team. It is an unbelievable feeling. I had the trust from the
first race on that we can win the title with my guys – and it
happened. I am really, really happy!”
British Superbike Championship at Assen, Netherlands.
For the eleventh and penultimate event of the 2018 season, the
British Superbike Championship (BSB) entourage headed to the
Netherlands’ “Cathedral of Speed”, the TT Circuit in Assen. Only the
Superbike class (BSB SBK) competed – and the BMW S 1000 RR clinched a
spot on the podium.
Peter Hickman (GBR / Smiths Racing) finished in third place in the
second of the two races. In race one, Hickman only just missed out on
the podium, finishing fourth and setting the fastest lap of the race.
Christian Iddon (GBR / Tyco BMW Motorrad) was back in action after his
injury break, and finished the two races in eighth and tenth places.
His team-mate Michael Laverty (GBR) finished eleventh in the first
race but retired in race two.
MFJ Superbike All Japan Road Race Championship at Okayama, Japan.
The MFJ Superbike All Japan Road Race Championship (MFJ) was
scheduled to make an appearance in Okayama, Japan at the weekend.
However, no races were able to take place with the event being called
off for safety reasons with the threat of a typhoon.