That’s quite a feat. Luca de Vleeschauwer, who moved up from the IDM Supersport 300 class—where he finished third overall—to the higher-level Supersport class, seems to be building seamlessly on his previous success. The rookie from Team Kawasaki Weber-Motos Racing, who switched categories not least because of his 176 cm height, is astonishing his opponents.
De Vleeschauwer seems to have done everything right with his move up to the IDM Supersport class. Finishing fourth in the first qualifying session behind Max Enderlein, Thomas Gradinger, and Chris Beinlich sends a clear message to the competition. Yet everything is new for the 19-year-old Belgian: the class, the bike, the team. “But I had good opportunities to test,” says the Kawasaki rider, “even though it rained the whole time in Valencia. But I also have a practice bike at home that’s exactly like my race bike.”
De Vleeschauer has set his sights high in the IDM. “If possible, I want to finish in the top 5 of the overall standings in 2022. I don’t want to talk about the podium just yet. But then again, I think: Nothing is impossible.”
Where does this friendly and likable young man see himself in two years? He pauses to think and laughs: “That’s a tough question to answer right now. Of course, I’d love to be racing in the World Championship by then, but I suppose that’s every rider’s dream. I’ll see how things go for me in the IDM and decide from there. I still have time. I’m still young.”