KTM’s Bauer goes for Superbike title to close IDM chapter in his racing career Motorex KTM rider Martin Bauer goes into the final round of the International German Superbike Championship (IDM) on Sunday hoping to settle the title in his favor in his last appearance in this competition. The 35-year-old Austrian who starts on pole for the final two races has a comfortable 40-point lead in the overall standings heading into the final two races on the classic Hockenheim (Germany) circuit. Bauer has been a consistent visitor to the podium this season and also in 2010 when he delivered the first ever IDM victory on the KTM RC8 R Superbike and was overall third in the championship. He needs only a fifth place in each of the two final races to take the crown. If Bauer succeeds it will be a triumph for him personally and a great crowning achievement to wind up the IDM chapter of his racing career. It will also be a major achievement for KTM whose entry into the IDM Championship was the company’s first venture into international superbike competition. The company first entered the IDM with its two-cylinder Superbike 1190 RC8 R in 2009. During the first season, German rider Stefan Nebel won the vice champion’s title riding for the KTM Superbike Team Germany. In 2010 Bauer and Nebel, both riding for KTM Superbike Team Germany, won four races and at the end of the season had amassed enough points for KTM to win the prestigious Manufacturer’s title. Going into the final two 2011 races Bauer has already claimed three wins and seven other podium places. Czech rider Matej Smrz, riding for Inghart KTM Superbike Team Germany has won four races and one other podium place. KTM riders have been active for some time in the IDM 125 competition and in 2004, 2005 and 2006 KTM competitors took junior titles in the 125 with Michael Ranseder, Stefan Bradl and Robin Laesser. If Bauer wins it will be his third IDM title after winning in 2007 and 2008. Fellow RC8 R rider Smrz has a theoretical chance this weekend of finishing second overall. His Inghart teammate Nebel, who has missed some of the races through injury, is currently in tenth place. Bauer has been competing in the IDM for 11 years, seven of which were in the Superbike category and the last two years with KTM. Going into Hockenheim he has two titles, 30 race wins and 33 podium places to his credit and can now look forward to further activities in his racing career. IDM Superbike at Hockenheim 1+2 training 1, Martin Bauer, Austria, KTM on pole and on track for IDM title Sunday! 2, Damian Cudlin, Australia, BMW 3, Karl Muggeridge, Australia, Honda 4, Stefan Nebel, Germany, KTM 5, Matej Smrz, Czech Republic, KTM