Exactly ten years ago, Kevin Wahr won the Supersport class title. Even after that, the Nagold native was always good for race wins and surprises. He competed in his last full season in 2018, but Wahr regularly appeared as a guest rider in the International German Motorcycle Championship (IDM). However, things have been quiet for the now 34-year-old Swabian for the past two years. Until now. Because at the big IDM finale from September 22–24, 2023, in Hockenheim, he wants to see what he’s still capable of. Wahr has registered with Triumph Emsland.
“I miss riding motorcycles; I just can’t quite let go,” admits Kevin Wahr. Even though his priorities have long since shifted. His career and family come first. He and his wife, Sonja, now have two children: Marlene is three years old, and Karl is just eleven months old. But Wahr still feels the itch. His throttle hand hasn’t lost its touch. So he has to get back in the game. However, he points out: “I raced for the last time in 2021 at Hockenheim. Since then, I’ve only ridden a pit bike or taken the BMW sidecar out with my daughter on board.” He adds with a laugh: “If I’m a total loser at Hockenheim, at least I’ll have an excuse.”
Wahr is thrilled that the IDM is following the Next-Generation regulations, which means that Triumph, MV Agusta, and Ducati are also eligible to compete in the “ Supersport ” class. After several discussions, he seriously began sounding out who might be up for such an exotic endeavor. The project is kicking off with Triumph Emsland. The motorcycle shop from Emsbüren has put together a crew for the race and rented a pit where everything will revolve around Wahr and the Street Triple RS. “We met at the Hockenheimring a week ago, and the test was enough to establish the basic setup,” says Wahr. “The motorcycle ran flawlessly right from the first lap. So I won’t be riding some clunker or something unreliable at Hockenheim. But it will be interesting to see how I’ll perform on an unfamiliar motorcycle after a two-year break.”