He’s been away for two years, but now he’s back: Martin Vugrinec, 24, originally from Croatia, now living in Bochum. He wants Supersport fun racing in the IDM Supersport this year. His next big step is already set in stone: the Yamaha rider plans to move up to the IDM Superbike class.
Sometimes things turn out differently than you expect. Last year, he raced in the Spanish Supersport, secured podium finishes, suffered three engine failures, and ultimately finished sixth overall. 2023 was supposed to be his first year in the Moto2 European Championship on a Kalex-Honda. “The offer from the team we were negotiating with was very expensive, but affordable, so we accepted,” says Vugrinec. But right after the first race, they parted ways. Vugrinec’s motivation plummeted.
The best option was to return to the IDM to recharge my batteries and get back into the swing of things. “Right now, I just want to ride and have fun without having to worry about championship points. We’ve already missed the Sachsenring races, so the title fight is no longer a factor for us,” says the speedy Croatian in excellent German during his first appearance this year. However, the decisions at the top are unlikely to be made entirely without Vugrinec, as he is expected to be a force in the front pack and his presence should make for even more intense battles.
However, he doesn't Supersport stay in the IDM Supersport class indefinitely. For 2024, the Yamaha rider has his sights set on a higher class: IDM Superbike.