Illya Mykhalcyk is a four-time winner of the Internationale Deutsche Motorradmeisterschaft Superbike title after a victory and a second-place finish at the Nürburgring last weekend gave him the points he needed to seal the deal.
Riding for Werner Daemen’s Champion-alpha-Van Zon-BMW team, the Ukrainian had to bide his time before taking to the German track due to fog and rain delaying the event timetable. Despite his lack of preparation time and the fact he hadn’t ridden at the Nürburgring for five years, the 28-year-old took pole position before he beat Hannes Soomer to victory in the opening contest.
“In the first five or six laps, I was able to ride my race and pace as planned,” Mykhalchyk said following his eighth win of the season. "But then someone crashed and I saw the yellow and red striped flag, and I thought, ‘oh, maybe an oil slick. There were also parts lying around and I had to go wide to avoid riding over them. Then Soomer came past and I had a look at it. And I started to think about it a bit. Don't push too hard, don't go over the limit. I had everything under control and started to push harder at the end. And I won.”
Although Mykhalchyk had to give best to the impressive Soomer in race two, second place was enough to become IDM champion for the fourth time.
“I had won the start, but then Soomer came past again,” Mykhalchyk said. “I waited because it had become very hot in the meantime. I then got past again, but I had pushed my tyres a little too hard. I just wanted to finish and Hannes fought really hard. Second place is also good and I'm also happy for Hannes and his first win. I've won the championship and I'd like to thank my team. We were fast every weekend, no matter the conditions, the bike was always fantastic.”
Mykhalchyk will join forces with Soomer and Markus Reiterberger at BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team for next week’s FIM Endurance World Championship season-deciding Bol d’Or (12-15 September).
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
