In the Supersport class, Czech rider Štěpán Zuda will not be continuing despite his two podium finishes at Most. Instead, the 20-year-old will now join Team Freudenberg RoRa – Paligo Racing in the EURO MOTO Sportbike class. The Saxon team has thus signed a fourth rider on short notice.
Triumph instead of Yamaha. A sportbike instead of a supersport bike. Zuda is making a fresh start in the lower class. What remains is a familiar face by his side. Crew chief William Fricke, with whom he worked last year, had already joined the Freudenberg team before him to bolster the team’s roster. That makes working together easy for both of them.
With this signing, team manager Carsten Freudenberg is sending a clear message. “With Štěpán, we’re gaining a very experienced and fast rider who fits perfectly into our lineup. Together with Ruben Bijman, we now have two riders who come from the Supersport category and bring a wealth of experience to our Triumph sportbike project.”
Four drivers from four countries
The Freudenberg RoRa – Paligo Racing driver lineup is thus both international and diverse: a Czech, an Austrian, a Dutch, and a German driver make for an exciting mix for the upcoming season. Alongside Zuda, the team includes Luis Rammerstofer, Ruben Bijman, and Mika Siebdrath.
Zuda is enthusiastic: “I’m really excited to become part of a team with a strong track record in the IDM and at the World Championship level—it’s both motivating and challenging. I’m preparing as thoroughly as possible, whether at the gym, playing hockey, or skiing. I’m going in without expectations, but I have clear goals—the most important thing for me is enjoying the ride, because that’s when I’m at my strongest. The switch from Supersport to a sportbike will be a challenge, but I want to get a quick grasp of the bike and adapt to it as best as I can.”
