Actually, they already know each other pretty well. “They” are Christian Kellner, Thomas Eder, and Thomas Gradinger—two Bavarians and one Austrian. However, “Kelle” never in his wildest dreams imagined that he would one day become the riding coach for the two IDM riders at Eder Racing. But sometimes things just turn out differently than you expect.
Somehow, things had to move forward for Supersport rider Thomas Eder and newcomer to Superbike Thomas Gradinger. After much deliberation, Eder signed up for a full season on his Yamaha. Gradinger is making his debut in the IDM’s top class. So what could be more natural than hiring their buddy Christian Kellner as their riding coach ahead of the season? During the winter, the trio meets regularly at Kellner’s place nearby to ride motocross in an indoor arena—and it never hurts to ask.
But the 52-year-old Kellner, who drove his first race in the ADAC Junior Cup at the Nürburgring in 1994, won the 125 ccm³ class in the German Championship in 1996, and finished Supersport in 2000, politely declined. “I really didn’t want to,” Kellner says, shaking his head. “We had a beer together, and I still turned it down. After the third time, I finally agreed. Now I watch the guys from the sidelines and take videos, which we then go over together.” Team boss Thomas Eder is thrilled. “It’s paying off. You can really say that.”
Kellner himself has retired from active racing. He competed in his final race in the IDM Supersport class in 2010 Supersport bid farewell at Hockenheim with a podium finish. His Yamaha from the legendary 2000 World Championship season—in which he finished fourth, just 14 points behind his teammate and world champion Jörg Teuchert—is now at his home near Waging am See. “I rode it last year at the Oldtimer GP in Schwanenstadt. But that’s about it,” says “Kelle.”
