Team manager Thomas Eder has racing in his blood to such an extent that he’ll be competing as a guest rider on a Yamaha at the IDM Supersport race at the Schleizer Dreieck, where his rider Thomas Gradinger will also be on the starting grid. Eder is no stranger to the scene.
So far, he has been holding back and repeatedly postponing his plans, but at the Schleizer Dreieck, Thomas Eder is getting serious and will be racing in the IDM Supersport class. “I’ve been thinking about this for a whole year,” says the 38-year-old Bavarian, “and now that the season is already well underway, it has to happen now.” He already has the necessary license, “because I’ve already competed in the Alpe Adria Cup as a guest rider,” explains the 2019 Austrian Superstock 600 class champion.
But the IDM isn’t entirely new to Eder either. As a Yamaha R6 Dunlop Cup rider in 2014 and 2015, he had the opportunity to compete in the Supersport class with two guest starts: at Schleiz and Hockenheim. Even now, he doesn’t want to stop at just one race. “I’m taking full advantage of the opportunity for three guest starts,” he says, “I also want to race at the Red Bull Ring and in Hockenheim. In Hockenheim, I’ll finally be able to have a drink again.” Eder is currently abstaining completely from alcohol. Completely voluntarily. Seven months ago, he bet 100 liters of beer and a suckling pig, which will be his if he can stick with it until the Hockenheim finale in September. Eder plans to win the bet and is actually benefiting even more from it: “I’ve never been as fit as I am now.”