Superbike rider Dominic Schmitter announced his retirement from racing in an emotional video message at the start of 2022. The Swiss rider competed professionally from 1998 to 2021.
His career began when he was three years old, progressing from pocket bikes to the ADAC Junior Cup. He raced in Moto3, Moto2, the R6 Cup, the Swiss Championship, and the premier class of the IDM. “I’ve always been extremely lucky to have received such great support from my sponsors. I’m well aware of that,” says Schmitter, looking back. The sponsors, even the small ones, were not just financial backers but were always by his side with passion and dedication.
He is most grateful to team manager Konrad Hess (on the right in the photo), whose help enabled him to break the lap record at Dijon during the Swiss Championship and secure a victory in the IDM Superbike 1000 at Most.
So why is Schmitter retiring now? “I was able to lead the class standings in the IDM. That was a major goal of mine. I became the first Swiss rider ever to win a race in the premier class.”
The 2021 season could have been even more memorable after securing a total of three podium finishes in the first two races. But during the third race, the 27-year-old from Altstätten suffered a serious crash in qualifying at the TT Circuit in Assen. He later recounted: “I was unconscious for 20 to 30 minutes, but I can remember the crash itself. First, I want to mention that no other rider was involved. There was some speculation, but that wasn’t the case. The crash was my own fault. I was leaning too far over, I opened the throttle too much, and I also felt the rear of the bike slip out from under me. Then it regained traction. I tried to break my fall, but it didn’t work. I also saw the Yamaha coming toward me as I fell, and then it hit me in the neck. I can’t remember anything after that.” Schmitter broke his hip and suffered from vision problems for a while.
Schmitter is a trained mason, but he recently completed training to become a driving instructor.
Career milestones:
2012 IDM Supersport 600, 8th overall and Best Rookie
2013 FIM Superstock 600 European Championship Rookie of the Year and Best German-Speaking Rider
2014 Completed apprenticeship as a bricklayer, three wildcards in the Supersport World Championship, 14 World Championship points
2015 Supersport World Championship, Rookie of the Year, 14th in the World Championship, 46 World Championship points
2016 Superbike World Championship, first Swiss rider in 17 years to finish in the top 15, 27th in the World Championship, 5 World Championship points
2017 IDM Superbike 1000, 8th overall
2018 IDM Superbike 1000, 4th overall, Swiss Superbike Champion
2019 IDM Superbike 1000, 9th overall, Swiss Superbike Champion,
2020 IDM Superbike 1000, 3rd overall
2021 IDM Superbike 1000, victory at Most