New team name, same trusted crew. The name “Suzuki” is no longer part of the team’s moniker; effective immediately, the team led by Stefan Laux is now called TSL-Racing, which stands for Team Stefan Laux Racing. As in the previous season, Lucy Michel from Saxony will be riding in the IDM Supersport 300 class. She celebrated her 17th birthday two weeks ago.
Things weren't always smooth sailing between Laux and Michel. They only partially achieved their goals. Riding the Yamaha YZF-R3, Michel scored a total of 18 points across twelve races. But Laux knows what his 5-foot-0-inch racing prodigy is capable of and is investing in the future. The fact that all the sponsors have stayed on board makes things easier for the motorcycle dealer in Triefenstein, Bavaria.
“We’ve learned and implemented a lot together. Where there’s sunshine, there’s also shade, and every now and then it rains,” says Laux about the 2021 season, adding: “Lucy and I both made some mistakes, but we learned from them. That’s why we can start the new season stronger. Now we need to put in a lot of test kilometers, during which we’ll have to work through a rigorous program.” Laux is considering adding a second rider to the team who could help with data collection and drafting. “But everything has to come together.”
Michel even prefers the first test rides to the decorated Christmas tree at home in Elterlein-Schwarzbach. It’s an idyllic region where the towns are called Tannenberg, Siebenhöfen, and Dörfel. There, in the Ore Mountains, there’s even real snow in the winter. Nevertheless, Michel would rather head for the Spanish sun to rack up the miles on her Yamaha. She says, “I’ve learned how important proper communication and expression with my team are, so the mechanics can figure out what’s wrong faster. We’re getting along better and better.”