As if the master’s graduate didn’t have enough on his plate already. But Max Enderlein, currently in the midst of his business administration exams, needs this. The 23-year-old from Hohenstein-Ernstthal is not only defending his title once again in the IDM Supersport 600, but is now also serving as riding coach for the young riders on Team Freudenberg-SMC WorldSSP Academy.
In the IDM Supersport 600, Enderlein will be riding a brand-new Yamaha YZF-R6. He hasn’t racked up many kilometers on it yet, but he’s already given it his all right on his home turf at the Sachsenring. “Technical issues and a crash on the first day,” he explains, adding, “On the second day, a 1:26.5-minute lap time on used tires.” By way of comparison: the leaders in the Moto2 World Championship are only three seconds faster at the Sachsenring. The big international stage remains the goal of the two-time champion.
Enderlein is thrilled about the IDM’s return to the track: “Finally, a home race again.” The six-time race winner from 2019 and ADAC Saxony’s Athlete of the Year will not be staying in the paddock this time, but will, as a special exception, spend the night at home. When he’s not out on his bike, he could even walk to the racetrack from there.
Who are his rivals in his quest to defend his title? “Marc Buchner, Sander Kroeze, Luca Grünwald, Daniel Rubin. Generally speaking, I first have to get through the season opener in Assen, because the Dutch riders have all already been training there. After that, we’ll see.”
Within the team’s internal Freudenberg Junior Academy, Enderlein is helping IDM Supersport 300 drivers Netzker, Lennox Lehmann, and Lennard Göttlich advance in their careers. Eighteen-year-old Netzker, who scored 13 points last year as a 300cc rookie—his first season in motorsports—was able to improve his personal best time at the Lausitzring by two seconds thanks to Enderlein. Enderlein had also taken the wheel of a KTM RC 390R during the test days.
For ADAC Junior Cup newcomers Lehmann and Göttlich, things have long since gotten into full swing. “We’ve already been fine-tuning the setup on my KTM,” says 14-year-old Cup winner Lennox Lehmann from Dresden. “My goal is a spot in the top 5 of the IDM, even though it’s hard to say right now!” Lehmann’s ambitions aren’t unfounded. As part of the Freudenberg crew at the 2019 Hockenheim finale, he was able to make a guest appearance in the IDM junior class, the “ Supersport 300,” and finished in the top ten in both races.
That’s where 15-year-old rookie Lennard Göttlich, who hails from Eibau in eastern Saxony, also hopes to end up after a period of adjustment. Enderlein has complete confidence in the boys’ abilities, “and above all in their intelligence. It will play a fundamental role given the intensity of the few weekends.” In terms of speed, they certainly held their own against our World Championship teammates on the team. But speed isn’t everything in the Supersport 300 class. We’ll see how the three of them fare at Assen in mid-August.”