Thomas Gradinger has noticed that the IDM Supersport 600 series is at an “incredibly high level.” He likes that. It’s not far off the World Championship. The Upper Austrian would like to return to the World Championship, but not at any cost. He can’t raise the necessary funds on his own.
After parting ways with the World Championship team, Gradinger returned to the IDM just a few weeks ago thanks to a last-minute deal with Eder Racing. It was supposed to be a guest appearance at Most in the Czech Republic, but the 25-year-old is now registered as a permanent rider with the number “36” and is therefore also earning championship points. He had hoped for more of those. In Most, he had to concede defeat to Patrick Hobelsberger, but Gradinger knows the Bavarian from the World Championship and knows that he is incredibly fast.
Later, he scored nine points at Assen. “How can you be satisfied with that?” Gradinger wonders, adding: “At the TT Circuit, we had real problems with the Yamaha’s setup. The team is new, we lack experience, and I wasn’t strong enough to make up for the points.”
Gradinger is now looking forward to his race at the Red Bull Ring. However, he doubts that being Austrian gives him any advantage on his home track. “Of course I know the track—it’s the easiest one in the world. You get to know it very quickly. I was there for a day and a half of testing in July and another two days in August. That’s when I also met Max Enderlein and Jan-Ole Jähnig.”
As far as a World Championship comeback goes, not much is happening right now. “I’m talking to various people, but I’m not in negotiations with any specific team. It always comes down to the same thing: I have to bring at least 100,000 euros or more to be able to race. I don’t have that kind of money,” Gradinger explains.
Would the IDM be a long-term alternative? “Yes, definitely. The World Championship is the goal, but if it doesn’t work out, then it doesn’t work out.”