The first deal of 2022 is done: Vladimir Leonov will continue his career with Denis Hertrampf’s team. The Russian finished fourth overall in the IDM Superbike 1000 in the nail-biting finale at Hockenheim.
Having arrived at the Motodrom in sixth place in the standings, the 34-year-old even had a chance at the runner-up title for a brief moment. In the final race of the season, he led the field for several laps—that was as far as he could go. After 18 laps, Leonov finally crossed the finish line in third place and ended up fourth in the standings. He secured three podium finishes during the season. He was also the only rider to compete in every race and score points in every one. And there’s one more thing that sets the Moscow-based rider apart: behind the BMW trio at the top, he became the most successful rider on a different brand, riding the Yamaha YZF-R1M.
“Working with Vladimir is incredibly enjoyable and highly efficient,” says team manager Denis Hertrampf, adding, “Vladimir has played a major role in the pace of the bike’s development this season, as he provides extremely precise feedback. I’m very pleased that this partnership has evolved into a long-term collaboration.”
Hertrampf had signed with Yamaha for the first time in 2021. In a second team, he also brought a Ducati V4R Panigale into play for guest appearances outside the championship standings. Daniel Kartheininger finished in the top ten on that bike at the season finale.