For now, Toni Erhard’s title hopes have been put on hold. The Kawasaki rider from Team Roto Store BRT broke his ankle during practice at Oschersleben. The 21-year-old from Saxony will not be able to compete in the season opener at the Lausitzring in three weeks.
Erhard had imagined the Easter weekend would be different. He had actually hoped to build on his past successes in 2022. In 2018, the Schwarzenberg native had raced to the title in the IDM Supersport junior class with three wins and seven additional podium finishes. Instead, he has to rest his injured ankle and find the earliest possible surgery date.
Erhard crashed on his Kawasaki early in the morning during the first practice session at Oschersleben, right at the left-hand bend after the start-finish straight. “It was a highside,” he recalls, “but we don’t know how it happened.” The Ninja 400 didn’t look too good afterward, but it’s already been repaired and is ready to go. Erhard, on the other hand, will be out for a while. Over the Easter weekend, he was able to avoid a prolonged hospital stay and was allowed to go home, but after the holidays, every option will be explored to expedite a surgery date for his broken ankle.