The Battle for The Sportbike Title in The International German Motorcycle Championship (idm) Has Intensified.
At the penultimate round of the season at the Nürburgring last weekend, TRIUMPH favorites Iñigo Iglesias and Oliver Svendsen not only celebrated podium finishes but also suffered setbacks. The surprise beneficiary was Luis Rammerstorfer, a 17-year-old Austrian who also rides for TRIUMPH.
It was a tie going into the Nürburgring showdown. TRIUMPH frontrunners Iñigo Iglesias (Wematik Racing by RT Motorsports) and Oliver Svendsen (Triumph Germany Racing Team) both arrived in the Eifel region with 169 points in the overall standings.
Despite hobbling through the paddock with a brace on his left leg just three weeks ago—due to a broken shin and calf bone sustained at a private racing event—21-year-old Dane Svendsen was optimistic about winning this weekend. But it was clear he was in pain: Svendsen had to grit his teeth to deliver peak performance.
Iglesias also faced a setback. IDM stewards imposed a long-lap penalty that he had to serve in the first race. The reason dated back three weeks to Assen, where Iglesias had a fierce duel with a competitor in the final phase of the second race. After an overtaking attempt by the rival, Iglesias returned to the racing line, resulting in contact that caused the other rider to crash. Iglesias continued and was deemed at fault for the incident.
Determined to move past the penalty quickly, Iglesias served it in the second lap of the first race. After 13 laps and 47.034 kilometers, he crossed the finish line first on his Daytona 660, with a 4.927-second lead over second-place Svendsen. The blond rider was completely exhausted. “In the second lap, I hit a curb hard with my knee—the pain was unbearable. I knew I had to let Iñigo go and completely change my riding style just to finish the race.” Svendsen will never forget this race.
With the 25 points earned, Iglesias took the lead in the championship. The result was a dream for TRIUMPH: three riders from the British heritage brand made it onto the podium. Dutchman Rick Kooistra (Pearle Gebben Racing) claimed third place in the final third of the race.
The second race turned into a drama. Svendsen crashed during the warm-up lap and had to start from the pit lane after a medical check, hoping to salvage some points. Iglesias, who was leading, retired due to engine failure. Svendsen couldn’t capitalize—he wasn’t classified in the end because he hadn’t completed the required 75% of the race distance.
The 25 points for the win went to another TRIUMPH young talent. For the first time, Austrian Luis Rammerstorfer (Freudenberg RORA-PALIGO Racing) took the top spot. In the penultimate lap, he surged from fourth to first in one move. “I think I’ve been too defensive until now,” he reflected afterward, revealing that he had even received tips from Iñigo Iglesias over the weekend.
Rick Kooistra finished third again and enjoyed the chaotic race. He could even finish third in the overall standings by season’s end. The story of the 2025 season will conclude at the big Hockenheim finale on the last weekend of September.
