Actually, everything was still up in the air. At the championship celebration last weekend, Luca de Vleeschauwer didn’t say a word about which team the 2024 IDM Supersport would be racing for next year. According to the two-time race winner on a Triumph, the public should be patient for a few more days. Yet the contract had been signed by both parties just one day earlier. The 22-year-old Belgian has joined forces with the Dutch Track & Trades Wixx Racing Team, making him the teammate of Wiljan van Wikselaar, who will be competing in his final season as an active rider.
The team will continue to rely on the Ducati Panigale V2 as its race bike for the upcoming season. Van Wikselaar finished last year in 14th place overall in the IDM Supersport class Supersport laying a solid foundation. Both the 28-year-old 2023 Dutch Supersport champion and de Vleeschauwer know that the bar is set high within the team and that they now need to raise their game even further.
For de Vleeschauwer, things can’t get started soon enough. “The Panigale V2 has already proven its potential time and again. The team is a good fit for my personality. That gives me a lot of confidence as a rider. After finishing as runner-up, I hope to take that final step in 2025.”
The upcoming season will also mark a final chapter for Wiljan van Wikselaar, though in a different way. Racing has been his life, as the Assen enthusiast puts it, “and so it’s a special feeling to be starting my final season as a rider next year. Of course, we’re not stopping completely. The team will continue, but I’ll be taking on a different role in the future. For now, the team is getting a new structure. With Luca by my side, I’m convinced we can achieve something great next season.”