Currently filming Rick Kooistra is currently doing laps on the racetrack in Spain. During the first days of testing, the Dutch rider is intensively preparing for the new season in the sportbike class of the new EURO MOTO series—with clear goals in mind.
The 24-year-old made quite an impression last year: In his very first IDM season, he finished his debut year in the sportbike category with a razor-thin lead over the German Justin Hänse in third place in the overall standings. A strong result for the rider from Assen, whose upward trend became apparent midway through the season.
So will the Dutchman be back on the starting line—this time for EURO MOTO?
The answer is clear: “Yes, definitely. Because there’s much more for us to achieve this year,” says Kooistra, whose signature look on the track has long been a familiar sight: a white helmet paired with an orange leather suit. While the Dutchman is satisfied with the results of his first IDM season, he knows full well that he is far from having reached his full potential. “The first year was, of course, heavily marked by trial and error. Everything was new to us; we first had to get used to each other and the bike,” explains Kooistra. “Toward the end of the season, we could say that we were slowly getting the hang of it. But by then, most of the races had already been run.” Notably, Kooistra brought his Triumph across the finish line in every single race.
The goal for the upcoming season has now been clearly defined: the focus is on the future and on victory. The groundwork laid during the debut year is complete; now the package consisting of rider, motorcycle, and team needs to be further developed and fine-tuned. However, this will no longer be a one-rider team: during testing in Spain, the Pearle Gebben Racing also presented itself with two riders for the first time. Alongside Rick Kooistra, Julian van Kalkeren will be on the starting grid.
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