Ein Überflieger ist laut Definition jemand, der überdurchschnittlich erfolgreich ist. Nach zwei gewonnenen IDM-Titeln in Folge und einem sensationellen Einstieg in die Supersport 300-Weltmeisterschaft passt der Begriff Überflieger wie maßgeschneidert auf den 16-jährigen und jüngsten IDM-Meister Lennox Lehmann. Im April trat der KTM-Pilot vom Team Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing im Motorland Aragon sein Debüt als Stammfahrer in der Weltmeisterschaft an und schaffte es direkt in beiden Rennen mit Rang drei aufs Podium. Nach seinem zweiten WM-Rennen in Assen (8/10) begab er sich als Vierter in der Gesamtwertung auf den Heimweg. Einen besseren Einstand in die Weltmeisterschaft hätte der IDM Supersport 300-Champion nicht geben können. Der IDM bleibt Lehmann trotz WM-Teilnahme weiterhin treu. Vor dem Saisonstart am Lausitzring an diesem Wochenende, haben wir mit dem Dresdener gesprochen.
Lennox, your debut at the World Championship in Aragon exceeded all expectations. How did it feel for you?
“I felt really great. I did crash in the Superpole races in Aragon and therefore had to start the races way back in 25th position, but I went into the races feeling relaxed and without any pressure to perform. That paid off for me. The same thing happened to me in Assen during Superpole, where I was able to fight my way back into the points from 25th on the grid.”
What went wrong in the two Superpole races?
“In Aragon, I pushed too hard and was desperate to go fast. That came back to haunt me when I went down over the front wheel. It was similar in Assen, except that there was a strong gust of wind in the corner, which caused me to lose feel for the front wheel and crash.”
You celebrated your World Championship debut in Aragon with two podium finishes and finished in the top 10 in both races at Assen. Were you surprised by your results?
“Yes, I was definitely surprised by my own performance. Even though the pace in the World Championship isn’t that different from the IDM. The biggest difference is that there are a lot more riders competing at the front, which makes it harder to hold your own. The battle at the front is much tougher, and the riding is more aggressive. You have to get used to that and learn how to hold your own.”
How did you prepare during the winter break for the upcoming season and for competing in two championships?
“I did a lot of training and rode quite a bit. Over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, we were at the kart track in Spain. In the spring, I spent a week in Valencia, where I rode various motorcycles in different classes, and then went to Cartagena for pit bike training. That was a really good preparation period for me.”
What is your goal for the 2022 season, both in the IDM and the World Championship?
“The IDM is the perfect way to train under race conditions. It’s much more beneficial for me than riding on the track without any competition. That’s why I’ve decided to compete in the IDM alongside the World Championship, provided the schedules don’t conflict. Of course, I want to try to defend my IDM title, even though I won’t be able to participate in two race weekends. For the World Championship, my goal is to finish in the points in every race.”