Sheridan Morais's Superbike Yamaha remains unridden for the time being. The South African hasn't appeared on the starting grid since the season opener in Oschersleben, even though he has been on site at every event. His priorities have shifted.
One point at Oschersleben instead of at least a top-ten finish—the result from the season opener really gnawed at Lars Sänger, team manager of Motorradtke GYTR by Penz13. “We were very frustrated by what happened. Finishing at the very back wasn’t the plan. What we’re missing is a proper test. We desperately need one; otherwise, we might as well not even start again. We have to make sure Shez can compete at the front.”
It won’t happen by next weekend, when the next IDM event takes place in Oschersleben from July 4–6, 2025. If only because all attention is currently focused on Justin Hänse’s performance in the new Sportbike class. In the six races so far, team junior Justin Hänse has already stood on the podium three times. “It would be unfair to him and our second rider, Cedric Holme Nielsen, if the Superbike project—which isn’t even finished yet—were to consume the resources we need for the Sportbike class. They’re needed more urgently there right now. Justin is the top Yamaha rider, and we’re thrilled with the results,” explains Sänger.
Only the final round in Most, Czech Republic, threw the 22-year-old Yamaha rider off his game. In the first race, he crashed, and his bike rolled on unmanned until it slammed into the air fence. It was still rideable, though. That was enough to get it back on its wheels with the help of a track marshal and finish the race, even if he had no chance of achieving anything spectacular. In the second race, Hänse botched the start.
Sheridan Morais is out and about in the paddock as a spectator and serves as a welcome riding coach for his teammates Lennox Lehmann in the IDM Supersport Twan Smits in the IDM Superbike. “But he’s still racing,” Sänger promises firmly, “Shez will be there on the YZF-R1. We’ve got a score to settle.”