The “Supersport Next Generation” motorcycles are hitting the track. Jerry van de Bunt is the first rider in the IDM Supersport class to sign a full-season contract with Team LJ Racing. The team’s namesake sponsor covers the cost of the entry fee, which is a prerequisite for any brand to participate in Germany’s top motorcycle series. This also paves the way for other MV Agusta riders who want to compete for championship points.
Last season, Jerry van de Bunt competed as a guest rider in three IDM Supersport events. The 30-year-old Dutchman managed to finish in the top ten in the first race of the big Hockenheim finale.
But he didn't score any points, since as a guest rider he was not eligible for the standings. Now, however, it's full steam ahead into the next—and this time complete—IDM season, with every single championship point on the line.
The founder of LJ Racing is Jan Lübbering, a passionate MV Agusta collector from Lower Saxony. This enthusiastic motorsports fan is personally bringing to life his vision that the Italian motorcycle brand should be a permanent fixture in the IDM. The MV Agusta F3 800, ridden by Jerry van de Bunt, is a treat both visually and technically. For the past year, it has also been allowed to compete in the IDM thanks to the Supersport regulations. Since many manufacturers have not been adhering to the original specifications for several years anyway—such as the requirement that four-cylinder bikes have 600 cc or three-cylinder bikes be equipped with 675 cc—a sophisticated balancing rule now brings all approved models under the umbrella of “Supersport Next Generation.” To ensure a level playing field among the motorcycles, torque limitation plays a key role. To explain this using a hypothetical example: The rider opens the throttle fully, but the throttle valves open only 90 percent.
LJ Racing is championing MV Agusta in the IDM, and other riders on this brand can benefit from this pioneering role. If they register for the championship on a permanent basis, there are no additional costs—other than a modest increase in the entry fee—to be eligible for points.