Exactly a decade ago, at the tender age of 19, Markus Reiterberger secured his first championship title in the IDM Superbike class, making his debut season in the German championship a resounding success. Since then, the Upper Bavarian from Obing has become a familiar face in the IDM. Over the past 10 years, the Bavarian has been a fixture in the racing series for a total of six seasons. He is currently competing successfully in the EWC (Endurance World Championship) and ARRC (Asia Road Racing Championship).
To mark his 10th anniversary as an IDM champion, we spoke with the BMW rider. Here’s a sneak peek: If you’re interested, you’ll be able to see him again soon…
IDM: Hi there! How's it going?
Markus Reiterberger: Hi there, hello. I’m doing great! Everything’s going well. I’m actually on my way home from Japan right now (Editor’s note: Markus has been there for the past few days testing with his EWC team for the Suzuka 8 Hours race).
You’re currently racing in the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, with whom you’re currently third in the overall standings. And the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) has welcomed you back this year, where you’ve also been leading the standings since the last race at Sugo in Japan. What are the specific challenges you face in each of these two championships?
In the World Endurance Championship, you have to drive consistently, economically, carefully, and with endurance—all at the same time—over a long period. In the ARRC (Asian Road Racing Championship), it’s actually just like in the IDM. It’s all or nothing!
You always have to give it your all here. That’s actually the biggest difference between the two leagues. But both are cool in their own way.
Switching back and forth between the two is quite a challenge. Adjusting to the different tires and motorcycles is also pretty tough. Dunlop Europe and Dunlop Asia are very different.
Well, and then all that traveling all the time…
Ten years ago, in 2013, you won your first IDM Superbike title. Would you say the IDM served as a springboard for your future racing career? If so, how exactly did that help you develop?
That was definitely a stepping stone! Up until then, I’d been doing everything myself with my family and sponsors, and I’d also been financing everything myself. Then I won the title, and that was the last year I had to put my own money into it. Starting in 2015, I rode motorcycles professionally and have been able to make a living from it ever since. From then on, I’ve always worked closely with Werner Daemen and was able to turn my hobby into a career while also building a second source of income with my Kreidler Tuning business. Racing made all of this possible for me.
What moment from your career so far would you like to relive?
There were so many wonderful moments, and it’s hard to pick just one. I always have fond memories of the IDM, and the weekends in Schleiz were especially meaningful to me. In a career like this, there are certainly things you’d love to experience again, but there are also plenty of things that weren’t so great and that you’d rather not remember. Off the top of my head, though, I can’t think of anything specific.
After six seasons of racing in the IDM, you’re a familiar face. What do you appreciate about the IDM compared to other championships you’ve competed in?
The IDM makes me feel right at home. There’s less travel stress, and everyone speaks the same language. The local fans are there to cheer us on. It’s just a cool championship with awesome race tracks and a familiar atmosphere.
You won't be competing in the IDM in Schleiz, but you're coming anyway—which, of course, makes us happy. What brings you here?
Actually, I really wanted to put together my own team with my fan club and compete in Schleiz. I’m sure it all would have worked out, but it just took too much time, and I need to focus on my current commitments. I’m happy just to be there as a guest, take a breather, and have a good time with the guys from my fan club. We’ll be there with my merchandise. I’m also a member of MSC Schleizer Dreieck e.V., so it goes without saying that I’ll be there for some good conversations on the occasion of the racetrack’s 100th anniversary. I’m looking forward to the weekend at the IDM.
What are your plans for 2024? Do you have anything concrete in mind yet?
I don't have any concrete plans for 2024 yet. I'll definitely stick with long-distance racing, and I'd also like to compete in sprint races again somewhere, but nothing is set in stone at the moment. I'll be turning 30 next year, so I'll have to see what's still possible. In any case, I'm very motivated and excited to see what the future holds.