Toni Erhard got off to a flying start in the 2018 IDM Supersport 300 championship by winning the title. But now the 22-year-old from Schwarzenberg is retiring from racing. The decision to retire is a difficult one for the Saxon, but he has been hinting at it for some time.
Toni Erhard says: “I look back on a wonderful chapter in my life. For a full twelve years, motorcycle racing shaped my daily life. It’s a time for which I am incredibly grateful. Looking back, I can hardly believe that I, of all people, made it this far. International German Champion in 2018. If someone had told me that in 2011, I wouldn’t have thought it possible. The starting conditions weren’t the best either. No one in my circle had ever had anything to do with racing before. We had to figure everything out for ourselves and grow into the scene. Over the years, we spent many hours immersed in racing even off the track. In addition to regular fitness training, this involved things like working on the bike, reading the rules, and handling PR and sponsor acquisition. All of these were essential building blocks without which my successes wouldn’t have been possible.”
It all started with a test session for the ADAC Pocketbike Cup at the Sachsenring. From there, Erhard worked his way up through the Mini Bike Cup and the ADAC Junior Cup to the Northern Talent Cup (NTC). With the Kiefer Team, he eventually made his way into the IDM Supersport 300 and to the top of the junior class. He also made a few guest appearances in the World Championship. Looking back, these were experiences Erhard wouldn’t want to have missed. However, a second championship title in the IDM remained out of reach, even though that goal was his top priority last year.
The prospects seemed better than before. The winter tests in Spain had given cause for optimism. Then came the fateful crash during testing at Oschersleben: a broken ankle, surgery, and a ten-week layoff. Erhard missed the first few races. His foot healed progressively better over the course of the season, but the now-Kawasaki rider could no longer match the performance levels he had before the crash. This also caused him mental struggles. “Although I felt good on the track, I lost that crucial last second to my subconscious,” says Erhard, adding: “Given that my chances of ever making money from racing are dwindling, and the organizational, time, and financial demands are simply too high to keep competing at this level indefinitely, that was ultimately the trigger for me to quit.”