What's happening in the highly competitive middleweight class? There have been a few changes to the Supersport class for the 2022 season that every fan should know about. The big IDM season opener will take place at the Lausitzring from May 6–8.
With around 135 horsepower and top speeds exceeding 270 km/h, the action is heating up in the middleweight class of Germany’s premier motorcycle road racing series. For competition in the IDM, the currently registered production bikes from Kawasaki and Yamaha may be fitted with racing fairings and a different exhaust system.
Have you noticed? We’re now referring to the Supersport class instead of the former Supersport 600. There’s a reason for the shorter name. Effective immediately, “Supersport Next Generation” motorcycles—such as the Ducati Panigale V2, MV Agusta F3 800, MV Agusta F3 Superveloce, Triumph Street Triple RS, and the Suzuki GSX-R750—are now permitted to compete in the Supersport World Championship, provided they are modified to meet the regulations. In the IDM, guest starts with these motorcycles are initially permitted, provided the respective brands do not expand the IDM pool. What has proven itself will remain the same in the future, and that is the technology in the Supersport class. Modifications to the front fork and rear shock absorber are permitted. Special damping kits are permitted on the front fork, and a different shock absorber is allowed on the rear swingarm. Aftermarket control units, larger radiators, and a few other modifications are permitted compared to the production models. As with the big Superbikes, data recording is also permitted in IDM Supersport.
The bikes will be equipped with slicks from IDM tire supplier Pirelli. The same tires are also used in the Supersport World Championship. And airbags will be mandatory in the middleweight class starting immediately.
Who are the top contenders for the 2022 IDM Supersport title? With reigning champion Patrick “Pax” Hobelsberger moving up to the World Championship, two-time champion Max Enderlein and his M32 Racing Team teammate Jan-Ole Jähnig on Yamaha are almost automatically the favorites. But Thomas Gradinger from Austria also has a title under his belt. That title also helped him advance to the World Championship, but after a few setbacks, the 25-year-old has to start over. The MVR Team from the Netherlands is fielding three riders: Koen Meuffels, Roy Voermans, and Leon Lambing. The youngest rider in the field is Julius Caesar Rörig. He’ll celebrate his 16th birthday on June 10.
Just under 30 riders have signed up so far for the 2022 Supersport season, the majority on Yamahas. The Kawasaki contingent taking them on is small but mighty. The 2020 championship-winning team, Kawasaki Schnock, is banking on the 17-year-old Austrian talent Andreas Kofler. Rookie Micky Winkler from Kawasaki Weber-Motos Racing impressed during the first tests, and his teammate Luca de Vleeschauwer is no stranger to the scene either. By the season opener at the Lausitzring, the first clues will emerge as to who will make the shortlist for the title race.
IDM SSP (as of April 20, 2022):
#12 Martin Simonsen (DEK), Simonsen Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6
#13 Philipp Stich (DEU), PS13 Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6
#16 Jakob Furtner (DEU), Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R
#17 Koen Meuffels (NLD), MVR-Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6
#18 Roy Voermans (NLD), MVR-Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6
#19 Andreas Kofler (AUT), Kawasaki Schnock Team Motorex, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R
#20 Melvin van der Voort (NLD), Team SWPN, Yamaha YZF-R6
#21 Bastian Ubl (GER), MCA Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6
#29 Anne van Galen (NED), RR Socia Racing TeamNL, Yamaha YZF-R6
#30 Noah Lequeux (LUX), Jracingsupport, Yamaha YZF-R6
#32 Max Enderlein (GER), M32 Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6
#33 Severin Bingisser (CHE), Kawasaki Schnock Team Motorex, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R
#35 Tom Kohnen (BEL), DDB racing, Yamaha YZF-R6
#36 Thomas Gradinger (AUT), Eder Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6
#37 Rick Dunnik (NLD), Zuwi-HDRacing, Yamaha YZF-R6
#41 Jan-Ole Jähnig (DEU), M32 Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6
#44 Milan Merckelbagh (NLD), Hertrampf MO Yamaha Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6
#45 Luca de Vleeschauwer (BEL), Kawasaki Weber Motos Racing, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R
#51 Wiljan van Wikselaar (NLD), RR Socia Racing TeamNL, Yamaha YZF-R6
#53 Nicolai Kraft (GER), Racing Team Kraft, Yamaha YZF-R6
#58 Patrik Carda (CZE), MotoLife, Yamaha YZF-R6
#71 Christoph Beinlich (GER), Roto-Store BRT, Yamaha YZF-R6
#74 Leon Lambing (AUT), MVR-Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6
#85 Twan Smits (NLD), Team Apreco, Yamaha YZF-R6
#86 Micky Winkler (GER), Kawasaki Weber Motos Racing, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R
#97 Yves Stadelmann (SUI), Kiefer Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6