Felix Kauertz was actually in Spain at the time, testing for a manufacturer. Then his phone rang while he was out jogging. By the next morning, the deal was sealed: The 24-year-old will be racing for the ERC Team in the Sportbike class at the EURO MOTO race weekend in Oschersleben on short notice.
The ERC team reacted quickly to Oliver Svendsen's last-minute withdrawal. Felix Kauertz will take the Dane's place at the upcoming race weekend in Oschersleben, marking his debut in the Sportbike class.
The German is no stranger to the motorsports scene or the paddock. In 2023, Kauertz claimed the runner-up title in the Twin Cup as well as the overall victory in the GTT Open. In 2024, he followed that up with the runner-up title in the Yamaha bLU cRU R7 Cup. In 2025, the 24-year-old competed in two races in the IDM Sportbike series before financial considerations led him to switch to the Kawasaki Ninja ZX4 RR Cup, where he secured the championship title right away.
This year, Kauertz is competing in the Kawasaki Ninja ZX6 R Cup, where he currently sits in second place in the overall standings, just one point behind the leader. Since the Cup is on hiatus at Oschersleben, he had a last-minute opportunity to race in the EURO MOTO Sportbike series.
A Last-Minute Call, a Big Opportunity
The request came as a complete surprise to Kauertz. “I’ve been in Spain for a few days testing for a manufacturer. I got a call while I was out jogging last night. The next morning, we sorted everything out quickly so that I can race this weekend on a Kawasaki ZX6 R in the EURO MOTO Sportbike class,” says Kauertz.
“I’m really looking forward to the weekend and am excited to try out the motorcycle and see how it rides compared to the Kawasaki from the ZX6 R Cup,” the German says, looking ahead. The trip won’t be entirely stress-free, though. Kauertz will have to hurry on the way back: “My flight doesn’t leave until Thursday, and I’ll have to really step on it to make it in time for the riders’ briefing that evening.”
This gives the Kevelaer native the chance to make his debut on the EURO MOTO stage and compete against the strong field in the sportbike class. Just how quickly he can adapt to his new motorcycle—a Kawasaki ZX-6R 636 with new electronics and a different suspension setup—will become clear as early as the first free practice session on Friday at 11:05 a.m.