Happy New Year! But how do our EURO MOTO riders actually celebrate the New Year? We spontaneously asked around during the countdown to 2026 and were quite surprised by what we heard.
Markus “Reiti” Reiterberger is kept busy on the last day of the year. “We buddies traditionally go on our Kreidler riders’ trip to Obing. We’re heading to a friend of mine’s place. He has a woodshop, and we’ll hang out there, drink that Bavarian staple, and eat ‘Weisswürscht.’ In the afternoon, we’ll take another short ride on the moped—no matter what the weather’s like. In the evening, I’ll celebrate New Year’s Eve with my little family. We’ll set off some kids’ fireworks. For dinner, we’ll make raclette. I’m not really sure what you can put in it, but there’s a lot.” Reiterberger and his partner have been parents to little Valentina for two years.
Daniel Rubin was heading really far away—all the way to Chile, where part of his girlfriend’s family lives. “On New Year’s Eve, we’re in Viña del Mar, where there’s a huge fireworks display over the ocean. The family has an apartment where we’ll all celebrate, eat, and drink together. For example, pastel de choclo and pisco sour.” The former is a corn casserole, and the latter is a cocktail made with grape brandy.
Superbike runner-up Forian Alt is ringing in the New Year about 12,000 kilometers away from home as the crow flies, but he won’t be meeting up with Daniel Rubin. That’s because the Honda star has flown to Indonesia in Asia instead of Chile in South America. He has already spent the night in the jungle on the world’s largest archipelago. He will ring in the New Year in Medan with his wife, Kimberly. The city is located on the island of Sumatra, more specifically in the northeast of the island. By the time we ring in the New Year here in Germany, it will have already happened in Indonesia. The time difference is seven hours ahead.
Two-time Supersport Andreas Kofler is keeping it in the family. “We’re celebrating in a very small group with our parents. And my brother’s girlfriend will be there, too. We’ll have raclette and maybe play a few board games together. Nothing special, but nice.”
Christof “Fifty” Höfer sends his regards from southern Europe. He’s in Spain—in Andalusia, to be exact—not far from the Tabernas Desert. He’s staying with his Race Camp participants on a gorgeous sandy beach and celebrating at the hotel’s Irish pub as part of the Bike Promotion events. “It’s a mix of people—some you didn’t even know before, and others you’ve known for what feels like an eternity. You really can’t help but feel at home.”
For the Orgis family—including brothers Leon and Kevin —the New Year’s Eve celebrations are a quiet affair. That’s because “Edgar” is the boss of the house. The family dog can’t stand firecrackers or fireworks at all. So things tend to stay pretty quiet. As is tradition, they pass the time until midnight eating raclette until everyone is full.
Meat and vegetables cooked in small pans are also served at the home of Dresden’s super-athlete Lennox Lehmann. Anyone familiar with this Saxon whirlwind might expect a wild—or at least lively—party. But think again. Lehmann Jr. is staying home, completely relaxed.
Superbiker Marco Fetz and his girlfriend have been the proud owners of their own home since this year. And now they’re throwing a housewarming party with eight friends. What’s on the menu? You get one guess: raclette.
Patrick “Pax” Hobelsberger is having a blast under the Spanish sun. But only in a figurative sense. “There are quite a few dogs in Almería, and people don’t make much noise there. We’ve brought ours along, too. Never without him! So there won’t be any major special effects. I don’t know yet what we’ll be eating, but it should give us energy, because my first road bike training session is scheduled for January 1, 2026.”
Pro Superstock rider Paul Fröde is a repeat offender when it comes to ringing in the New Year with his girlfriend and friends at a small venue in Chemnitz. “There are about 15 of us. We’ll have a little music to set the mood. I won’t be setting off many fireworks—that’s not really my thing.”
Richard Irmscher is celebrating the New Year in a relaxed atmosphere with his family. “I’ll eat whatever’s on the table. I’m not a fan of fireworks. I just don’t think they’re necessary. I’ll watch the other people do it—that’s enough for me.” Irmscher is sixteen years old and completed his first year in his Supersport in 2025.
The EURO MOTO-TEAM wishes the riders, teams, and fans of the championship all the best for the new year and a fantastic start to the new racing season.