With Martin Simonsen, a Dane has made a name for himself in the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM) up in the far north. But after making his debut last year, the 30-year-old now has to take a break. Family harmony is just as important as racing. A new motorcycle to be competitive in the Supersport Next Generation class is out of the question. We spoke with the Yamaha rider about his career, his ambitions, and what the future holds.
How does a Dane even end up in the IDM?
I just wanted to compete at the highest level I could manage in terms of affordability and travel costs. I just turned 30 and have spent the last eleven years of my life racing at all kinds of levels. So now the time had come for the ultimate test against Europe’s best.
Are there any racing fans in your family, or who got you into motorcycling?
I’m the only one in my family who races and owns a motorcycle. But it all started when I was a little boy, riding a scooter to and from school every day. The police caught me, and I had to take it home. A friend of mine then suggested we could go to scooter meetups at small go-kart tracks and ride there without worrying about getting caught. I was hooked on the experience, and that’s when the adventure began.
How hard were those first four IDM points in 2022 for you?
They came as a shock to me. I wasn’t focused on scoring points during the races; I just wanted to finish. We were the smallest team in the paddock—just my dad and me. We didn’t have a pit board to show me my position in the races. So I just went with the flow and passed whenever I could. I scored my first points at Oschersleben. I was told that in the Parc Ferme. So it was a great surprise, and I was really happy because I hadn’t expected it.
When you talk to your friends about the IDM, what do you tell them about the series?
I tell my Danish friends that the IDM is the place for us if we want to race at a high level. Great people, a friendly paddock, a professional setup—you really feel like you’re part of something big! I also tell them how friendly and helpful the staff is!
Which circuit is the farthest from you?
Red Bull Ring. I live in Central Denmark, and it was 1,378 km from my home to the Red Bull Ring. That was a 14-hour drive.
Danish, English, and a little German
What’s your goal for 2023?
I need to take it easy. My girlfriend and I just bought a big house in the countryside. So this year, the main focus is on renovating part of the house. Hopefully, I’ll be back to racing in 2024. I’ll do a bit of racing on go-kart tracks so I don’t lose my touch.