At 66, life is just beginning. For Fritz Heuser, it was coming to an end. The beloved Yamaha physical therapist has passed away. The man from Hesse, who helped so many people, was powerless against his insidious cancer. What remains are countless memories and the knowledge that Fritz Heuser was still able to enjoy his life to the fullest, even if it was all too short.
At 53+, the owner of a naturopathic practice in Frankfurt-Bornheim had stopped counting his years. “You’re as old as you feel” was his motto. And in spirit, he never grew a year older. It wasn’t just his immense knowledge, his enthusiasm, and his sometimes unconventional methods that got the race car drivers ready for their next race—it was also his pithy sayings, delivered with plenty of humor. What made Fritz Heuser who he was were his experiences, but also his way of dealing with people. If someone smoked, well, they smoked. He would have been the last person to lecture his patients for hours on end about the harmful effects of cigarettes. He didn’t want to change anyone—the charismatic Eintracht Frankfurt fan wouldn’t even let himself be changed.
Fritz Heuser war seit ewigen Zeiten im Rennsport tätig, massierte Grand Prix-Fahrer Carlos Lavado, war in der Langstrecken-Weltmeisterschaft zur Stelle. Als Jörg Teuchert im Jahr 2000 den Supersport-WM-Titel holte, landete Heuser abends bei der großen Party irgendwann am Tresen der deutschen Yamaha-Mannschaft und danach auch gleich im Yamaha-Cup. Es war der Beginn einer innigen Beziehung. Fritz Heuser gehörte dazu und der Cup war irgendwann seine Familie. An vielen Siegen und Titeln hat er seinen Anteil. Er war kein studierter Doktor, aber eines Tages hing über seinem mobilen Praxiszelt im Fahrerlager in bunten Valentino-Rossi-Farben eine Buchstabenkette mit dem Schriftzug „The Doctor“. In den Augen seiner Patienten war er das.
This year, Fritz Heuser wanted to be part of the Yamaha community once again, in addition to running his practice in Frankfurt. The trip to the IDM season opener at the Lausitzring had already been planned, but he passed away unexpectedly just one day before the race was set to begin. The IDM paddock has lost its knowledgeable and dependable “Doctor”—a friend. He will be missed, but never forgotten. We will raise a glass of Appelwoi in his honor—his favorite drink.
The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 28, at 9:00 a.m. at the Bornheim Cemetery in Frankfurt am Main, located at Dortelweiler Straße 104.