Marcel Brenner from Switzerland is no stranger to the scene. The rookie in the IDM Supersport 600 most recently competed in the European Moto2 Championship. His goal remains the same: The 23-year-old from the canton of Bern wants to make the leap to the World Championship. He’s not giving up on his dream.
Over the past few months, Brenner has learned what it’s like when things don’t go his way. A hand injury, COVID-19, financial problems, no races. He had to sit out the European Championship races in Aragón and Valencia because his budget wouldn’t allow it. Although he made a sincere effort to find sponsors online, the money from his backers wasn’t enough to cover the rest of the season. Seven points in the 2020 Moto2 European Championship were the meager haul from an entire year—all earned in a single race. The previous year, Brenner had finished eleventh in the overall European Championship standings.
But giving up is definitely not an option for the Swiss rider after this setback. On the contrary: The former Kalex rider has joined the Swiss racing team Hess Racing, is switching to a Yamaha YZF-R6, and will compete in the IDM Supersport 600. Brenner says: “While I was naturally very disappointed that I can no longer race in the European Championship, I’ve found new motivation.” Plan B is now in motion. Instead of securing a spot in the Grand Prix paddock, Brenner is now working toward entering the Supersport World Championship. He aims to make the leap as early as 2022. The IDM Supersport 600 is the ideal preparation.
Brenner's second source of income is his job as a reserve rider with Team Bolliger Switzerland in the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC). There, Brenner will ride a Kawasaki ZX-10RR Superbike for the first time.