The IDM Superbike 1000 will be the racing highlight of 2021. The field of riders includes the European elite. Now another top rider has announced his participation: Vladimir Leonov. The 33-year-old Russian from Moscow got a taste of Germany's top motorcycle road racing series last year. Now he is joining the Hertrampf MO Yamaha Superbike Team.
It's the surprise of the season: Vladimir Leonov had been completely off the radar in terms of the 2021 IDM premier class. Now he's riding the YZF-R1M for the Hertrampf Mo Yamaha Superbike Team. Team boss Denis Hertrampf has thus secured the services of an established top rider alongside young talent Max Schmidt. Leonov brings with him several years of experience from Grand Prix racing and the Superbike World Championship. In the IDM, he finished third in the second race at the Sachsenring in 2020, flanked by fourth and fifth places.
His mission for 2021: to compete for the title, but at the same time to support his 18-year-old teammate Max Schmidt on his way to becoming a successful Superbike rider. The exchange of data between the two is to be 100 percent transparent. Testing will take place at the Hockenheimring on April 18-19, 2021.
"At 33, Leonov is at the prime age for racing," says team boss Denis Hertrampf, adding: "I am delighted to have a driver of this caliber in the team. As the collaboration with him came about at very short notice, it presents a significantly greater organizational challenge, but his signing is an absolute win for us. However, preparing all the equipment for two drivers at short notice is only possible with a very good network – fortunately, we have that."