Twan Smits’s spectacular IDM farewell – World Championship contract also has a sad side

Some wishes come true faster than you can imagine. That’s exactly what happened to Twan Smits. The Dutchman had come through the ranks in the IDM and, with Team Apreco, had progressed from Supersport to IDM Superbike. At the races in Assen and at the Nürburgring, he secured four victories on his Yamaha. Despite his rapidly improving form, he was no longer in contention for the title. He was therefore able to accept the invitation from the Motorxracing team to compete in the final three WorldSBK races with complete peace of mind.

WorldSBK contract instead of IDM Superbike

Twan Smits then returned home with a contract with Team Motorxracing for the 2027 World Championship season. “It’s quite emotional,” says Twan Smits, describing his state of mind regarding his sudden departure from the IDM Superbike and Team Apreco Yamaha. It’s a step Smits has been working towards for a long time. But it also means leaving his racing home of the past.

“After six years, I’m leaving the Apreco team,” Smits explains, “to join another team on a permanent basis. A different team, a different motorbike, a different championship. Everything’s different. For me, this is a big deal. But Apreco has got me to where I am now. It feels as though I’ve spent my entire racing career with Apreco. They’ve always been there, starting out as a sponsor with their name on my helmet. You could say they’ve always been part of my family.”

That makes it all a bit of a shock.

Twan Smits

“I wouldn’t have expected,” said Smits, “that I’d be saying so soon that I’d no longer be part of the Apreco team. I’ve always worked towards the dream of moving up to the World Championship. That was always the goal. But I didn’t think the moment would come so soon. That makes it all a bit of a shock. We’d all expected another year together with the Apreco team in the IDM Superbike.” Dirk Geiger currently has to handle the job on his own. But the team is already on the lookout for a second rider for the 2027 season.

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“It’s an IDM story like so many others,” says Smits, describing the split. “It’s like one big family; everyone’s nice, everyone knows everyone else. Leaving the IDM so suddenly – the Nürburgring was my last race there, after all – is something I hadn’t expected. I didn’t know that it would be my last IDM race for the time being. That does make me feel a bit emotional, or rather sentimental. Because the IDM was also a big part of my life and, in recent years, a major chapter in my career. It was always lovely; everyone was friendly, and everything was always conducted properly.”

Smits leaves his IDM team behind

“So now I’m moving into the Superbike paddock,” Smits reassures himself once more. “It’s a completely different environment with lots of different people. Of course, it’s a brilliant opportunity and a big step in my career. I’m very positive about it. But there’s also a sad side to it, in that I have to leave my friends and my racing family behind in the IDM. It’s a big deal for me.”

“I’ll always have a sort of family bond with my IDM team boss Corine,” Smits is certain, “and I’m sure I’ll see her again at training sessions. We’ll remain close, as will the Apreco team. Even if we’re no longer racing together. I can imagine it’s a bit strange for them too. We’ve worked together for six years, travelled to every race together. She was by my side on every starting grid. Now it’s time to say ‘goodbye’. Yes, it really is a big deal. For my parents, too. Letting me go – it’s simply a new chapter.”