Schrötter on countless races at Assen and his dream destinations for Euro Moto

Given his long and varied career, during which he has featured in numerous racing calendars whilst representing Assens, the TT Circuit is likely to be the track on which Marcel Schrötter has contested the most races of his career. Now he has also added a race weekend with a Euro Moto Superbike to his schedule. He followed up a fourth-place finish in the first Superbike race with a second-place finish in Race 2. In the championship, the 33-year-old Bavarian remains Tulovic’s closest challenger.

His memories of his first time at Assen have faded somewhat. Speaking to SPEEDWEEK.com, he said: “That was probably with the ADAC Junior Cup, but I can’t tell you for sure. I’ve got a few snaps from my early days of all sorts of activities, including off the track. For example, how I used to ride round on a scooter with Jasper Iwema back then. He was a mate of mine from round here at the time, and I used to stay at his house too. Those are the sort of things I still remember. As for the very first times I raced here, I can’t remember them that clearly anymore, because it just happened so often. But I do remember my time here in the IDM.”

Delving deep into his memories

From the ADAC Junior Cup through to the IDM 125, the 125cc World Championship, the Moto3 World Championship, the Moto2 World Championship and the Supersport World Championship, and now the Euro Moto Superbike, he’s ridden almost every type of motorbike here, apart from sidecars. “Actually, not quite. I’ve also missed out on MotoGP and World Superbike, but I’ve never raced in those series at all. Otherwise, as far as the series are concerned, I’ve raced just about everything here.”

For many riders, is racing on this historic circuit a career highlight? “It’s always something special to race at Assen. Simply because it’s a legendary circuit,” he says matter-of-factly. “But it doesn’t give me a special feeling. Of course, I know the circuit very well – probably better than some others. I like the circuit too, and it’s a lovely feeling to be back here. It’s just different from Oschersleben, for example, because I was last there in 2009 and back then I was only riding a small motorbike (IDM 125). Even though this is my first time riding a Superbike here, I naturally come to Assen with a different feeling.»

The circuit shrinks

But lapping the Drenthe circuit on a 1000cc bike was something new for him after all. “It was also tricky riding here on a supersport bike. But with a superbike, you simply have to pay attention to so many more things – be it wheelies, tyre wear or the electronics. With a superbike, there are just so many more aspects you have to – and can – work on. And because of the higher speeds, the track always feels smaller, tighter and more challenging.”

When listing his favourite circuits, however, he named Brno first. “It’s an amazing circuit, but Assen is of course also very cool as a Grand Prix circuit. I particularly like the fact that we can race on circuits like these with Euro Moto. I’d also love to see Spielberg on the calendar. But we know it’s very expensive to race there. Schleiz would be great too, because of the huge crowds.”

I’ve never been there myself, but it looks brilliant in the photos too.

Marcel Schrötter

As a Bavarian, Spielberg would naturally be his closest home race, but he also brought up other potential venues for the Euro Moto: “Even closer for me would be the Salzburgring. Races used to be held there in the past. In terms of the track layout, it certainly wouldn’t be the most thrilling, but perhaps in terms of the event itself.” He also mentioned Cremona in northern Italy, citing the Euro Moto’s now even more international line-up on paper as the reason. The Slovakiaring, too. “I’ve never been there, but it looks brilliant in the photos.”