From Street Racer to Youngster
For nearly five years now, the motorcyclist known in the scene as Schmiddel has been racing in road racing events and is no longer an unknown name.
When he decided in 2011 to take the plunge into racing, the then 17-year-old faced his first hurdles. Balancing his apprenticeship and his own apartment with racing was a huge challenge at first. Especially in the beginning, it was difficult to find sponsors, as the lower entry-level classes didn’t attract much attention. Still, the hobby consumed more and more money.
This hobby gradually evolved into a full-time occupation around which the rest of his life revolved. His daily routine increasingly consisted of working, wrenching on the bike, preparing for races, and organizing everything.
"I always knew what I wanted, so I stuck with it despite the stress and the little free time."
Even during race weekends, there’s not much time to relax.
"When the other racing teams are trying to park their 40-ton trucks full of equipment and fully equipped living and sleeping areas, I show up in my old, rickety van, where I sleep on a mattress next to my motorcycle," he says with a laugh.
Still, a small family forms among the racers, and the sense of camaraderie is strong—whether you're a rider from a big team, a mechanic, or a photographer. Everyone is part of it, and everyone shares the same goal. Schmiddel also reports that he was respected from his very first race, despite the large age differences and the clear financial disparities.
