Racing News

Markus Reiterberger (GER), four-time IDM Champion, returns to the EuroMoto (IDM) Championship with the Masteroil – Alpha – Van Zon – BMW team. His comeback is a major boost for a series that continues to grow in strength and popularity. The last time Reiterberger contested a full IDM season, he claimed the title in 2022. He also made a guest appearance in Masteroil’s instantly recognisable black-and-yellow colours in 2024 at Schleiz. Now back with Werner Daemen’s BMW Motorrad supported team, the aim is clear: more trophies for the trophy room. For 2026, the team’s pit box is packed with firepower. Hannes Soomer (EST) is back on board and will once again be a championship contender, having shown his capabilities last year. Jan Mohr (AT) returns to the team, while Milan Merckelbagh (NL) continues for another season, aiming to build on a solid and promising debut year with the team in…

From IDM to EURO MOTO Motor Presse Stuttgart launches a new European Racing Platform for Superbike, Supersport and Sportbike With the introduction of EURO MOTO, Motor Presse Stuttgart is expanding its motor sporting portfolio from 2026 onwards. Building on the successful development of the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM), EURO MOTO represents the logical next step in advancing European circuit racing across the Superbike, Supersport and Sportbike categories. The new platform aims to attract a more international grid, increase visibility across key markets and deliver even more exciting and competitive racing. Over the past several years, the IDM has evolved into a leading championship in terms of both sporting quality and organizational standards. The performance levels across the Superbike, Supersport and Sportbike categories have reached a truly international benchmark. “The IDM has proven to be a launchpad for riders with World Championship ambitions,” says Normann Broy, Series Manager and initiator…

The 2025 International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) season began in May and came to an end last weekend at the Hockenheimring. The Masteroil-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team, led by Belgian Werner Daemen, was represented in the IDM Superbike by Leandro “Tati” Mercado (Argentina), Hannes Soomer (Estonia), Bálint Kovács (Hungary) and Milan Merckelbagh (Netherlands). At the end of the weekend, they were able to celebrate victory in the manufacturers’ classification together with BMW. Ricardo Brink (Netherlands/BMW), Julius Ilmberger (Germany/BMW) and Ouri Bikkems (Belgium/BMW) were once again competing in the Pro STK 1000.   Leandro Mercado arrived at the Hockenheimring motivated to finish the season in style and had even picked up his family during a short detour to his adopted home of Italy to celebrate the final with them and the team. The Argentine made life difficult for himself in practice. A slip-up demanded everything from his team to get him back on track…

The penultimate round of the 2025 International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) took place at the Nürburgring last weekend, and the Eifel region provided unusually abundant sunshine. Werner Daemen, head of the Masteroil-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team, was back at the start with a full team. Hannes Soomer (Estonia), Leandro Mercado (Argentina), Bálint Kovács (Hungary) and Milan Merckelbagh (Netherlands) competed in the top Superbike class. Ricardo Brink (Netherlands), Julius Ilmberger (Germany) and Ouri Bikkem (Belgium) took on the Pro Superstock 1000.   Hannes Soomer had used the break since the Assen trip to recover from his injury to his right hand. His top times in practice showed that he had made a full recovery. ‘With the extra day of testing, it was a slightly different IDM weekend,’ he said before the start. “I will fight for victory until the last race. Last year went well for us at the Nürburgring.”   Things also…

The summer break for the International German Championship (IDM) came to an end last weekend. The TT Circuit in Assen, Netherlands, was the destination for the Masteroil-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team with its Belgian boss Werner Daemen. As always, he had his Superbike squad with Leandro Mercado (Argentina), Hannes Soomer (Estonia), Bálint Kovács (Hungary), and Milan Merckelbagh (Netherlands). Ricardo Brink (Netherlands), Julius Ilmberger (Germany), and Ouri Bikkems (Belgium) competed for the BMW team again in the Pro Superstock 1000. Leandro Mercado had a short but successful summer break. The Argentinean traveled to Japan at the beginning of August and brought home a trophy for second place in the Superstock classification from the World Endurance Championship race in Suzuka. “The Suzuka party is over,” said Mercado in good spirits before leaving for Assen, “now it’s back to focusing fully on the IDM. I really like Assen. I’ve adjusted my goals in the meantime.…

After a short break, the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) resumed last weekend. The venue was the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben for the second time this year. The fourth event of the year marked the halfway point of the 2025 season. Once again, the Masteroil-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team with Belgian team boss Werner Daemen was right in the thick of the battle for the IDM Superbike title. His quartet of riders was complete with Hannes Soomer (Estonia), Leandro Mercado (Argentina), Bálint Kovács (Hungary), and Milan Merckelbagh (Netherlands). There was also a reunion with their BMW colleagues from the Pro Superstock 1000, Ricardo Brink (Netherlands), Julius Ilmberger (Germany), and Ouri Bikkems (Belgium). Hannes Soomer had extended his lead in the overall standings at the last IDM meeting in Most. However, the Estonian knew that his rivals, especially Florian Alt and Lukas Tulovic, were hot on his heels. After practice, the Estonian was in…

Fans and riders gathered in Most, Czech Republic, last weekend for the third of seven events in this year’s International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM). Belgian team boss Werner Daemen travelled to the Superbike class races with his quartet of riders from the Masteroil-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team, consisting of Hannes Soomer (Estonia), Leandro Mercado (Argentina), Bálint Kovács (Hungary) and Milan Merckelbagh (Netherlands). With summer temperatures in full swing, Sunday’s races were particularly heated.   After round 2 of the IDM, holding a one-point lead in the overall standings, Hannes Soomer headed to Belgium for the Spa 8H, where he claimed victory in the Superstock class of the Endurance World Championship. From there, he travelled to Suzuka, Japan, to take part in a BMW test for the world championship campaign. Then it was straight back to Most for the next IDM challenge. «A lot of kilometres on different motorcycles», was how the Estonian…

IDM Schleiz: Not for the faint-hearted The Masteroil-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team travelled to Thuringia last weekend. The riders and thousands of fans of the International German Championship (IDM) gathered at the Schleizer Dreieck for the second of seven race weekends in the 2025 season. Belgian team boss Werner Daemen travelled with the entire IDM Superbike quartet for the first time this year: Hannes Soomer from Estonia, Leandro Mercado from Argentina, who lives in Italy, Milan Merckelbagh from the Netherlands and Bálint Kovács from Hungary. Our Pro Superstock 1000 team kicked off the season at Schleiz with a fantastic weekend: Ricardo Brink secured a double victory, while Julius Ilmberger Jr. and Ouri Bikkems showed significant improvement throughout the weekend. Hannes Soomer travelled to Schleiz as the overall leader after a successful start to the season at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben and, like his colleagues and competitors, had completed a few test laps on…

The winter break for the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) lasted eight months before the 2025 season finally got underway last weekend at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, with the hunt for points and trophies resuming. With a new name and a new look, but with the same motivation as ever, the most successful team in the series, led by team boss Werner Daemen from Belgium, was back on the Superbike grid. This year, Team Masteroil-Alpha-Van Zon-BMW will be fielding Argentinean Leandro Mercado, Estonian Hannes Soomer, Dutchman Milan Merckelbagh, and Hungarian Bálint Kovács in the race for the championship crown. The winter break for the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) lasted eight months before the 2025 season finally got underway last weekend at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, with the hunt for points and trophies resuming. With a new name and a new look, but with the same motivation as ever, the…

Points as part of the International German Motorcycle Championship IDM will not be awarded until May 2025. But Team Masteroil-Alpha-Van Zon-BMW, owned by Belgian Werner Daemen, is already preparing for the new season. Last year, the BMW team with Ukrainian Ilya Mikhalchik once again took the title in Germany’s top motorcycle racing category, the ninth team success overall. The team also ended 2024 in first place in the manufacturers’ championship. In the upcoming 2025 season, the team Masteroil-Alpha-Van Zon-BMW wants to reach for the double victory again. ‘We are sending two top riders into the race,’ explains team manager Werner Daemen. Leandro “Tati” Mercado from Argentina and Hannes Soomer from Estonia will fight for points and victories for BMW. Even though Soomer, who has already competed in the World Cup, will once again be wearing his distinctive blue outfit for IDM races, he is fully integrated into Daemen’s IDM team.…