Euro Moto News: International guests at the Nürburgring and former riders on tour

This coming weekend, Euro Moto will be welcoming a few illustrious guests familiar from MotoGP and WorldSBK. Others will be performing on the island or can look forward to a trip to Brazil.

Big names among the bagger riders: Ruben Xaus

Born in 1978, Spaniard Ruben Xaus has long since retired from the World Championship circuit. However, as one of the co-founders of the European Bagger League, he’ll be competing himself with his own team. The Barcelona native rides a Harley-Davidson and will also be on the starting grid at the Nürburgring. During his time in the Supersport World Championship, Xaus started from pole position four times, secured two wins, four second places and finished third on one occasion. In the Superbike World Championship, in which he competed until 2011, he contested a total of 215 races, secured his only Superbike pole position in 2003 (Imola) and won eleven races. He also finished second 13 times and came third on eleven occasions. Although Xaus was associated with Honda and BMW towards the end of his career, his name is inextricably linked with Ducati. Xaus simply got on best with the twin-cylinder bikes from Bologna; in 2003, he finished as runner-up in the World Championship as a works rider. In 2004 and 2005, the Spaniard competed in MotoGP. Riding a Desmodici GP3, he achieved his only podium finish – a third-place result – in Qatar in 2004.

Big names among the Bagger riders: James Ellison

On 19 September 2026, the Briton James Ellison will celebrate his 46th birthday. To mark the occasion, he will be competing in the Bagger European League at the Euro Moto Event at the Nürburgring. His list of achievements is long: two European Championship titles in the Superstock class, a World Endurance Championship title and numerous successes in the Supersport World Championship, the Superbike World Championship, MotoGP and, most recently, the US AMA series. “James will be riding alongside Ruben Xaus, who expertly leads the team as they head to the legendary German circuit for what is sure to be an exciting race weekend,” explains Team HSO Racing. “James will also return for the championship finale in Jerez – meaning he’ll tackle two very different circuits and have another opportunity to experience the ever-growing world of bagger racing. From MotoGP and the BSB to the 2026 European Baggers Championship, a new chapter is beginning.”

James Ellison kommt zum Nürburbring

Foto: HSO

German rising star

The FIM Intercontinental Games were first held in Jerez in 2024. Following a one-year hiatus, the 2026 Intercontinental Games will take place from 11 to 13 December in Goiânia, Brazil, at the Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna. Two disciplines are scheduled for the circuit – Supersport 300 and Supersport. Yamaha is acting as a partner and is providing identical R3 and R7 bikes. Each federation nominates four riders for each class, with at least one woman required to be included. Six teams, each with eight riders, make up a field of 48 riders, who will take part in practice and qualifying sessions as well as two races in each category. It is therefore a full-scale race weekend. The defending champions are the FIM Europe team. At that time, Valentin Folger from Germany was part of the line-up. This year, the German rising star Fynn Kratochwil has also been nominated for the European team. As the winner of the 2025 Northern Talent Cup, the 16-year-old from Thuringia is competing in the Red Bull Rookies Cup this year.

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Mathias Brunner

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Visitors from the Women’s World Championship

After a three-year absence, World Championship rider Lucy Michel is returning to the Euro Moto for a single race, accompanied by her team manager Stefan Laux, who coached Sarah Heide for many years in the IDM Supersport series. The Women’s World Championship, which holds its races as part of the Superbike World Championship, is currently on a three-month break. Following the Donington race in mid-July, the championship will not resume until 16–18 October in Jerez. To ensure she stays in practice, Michel will be competing in the Euro Moto Sportbike class. She gained her first experience in the IDM back in 2020, followed by her first full season in 2021. After spending a year training to become an X-ray assistant – a profession in which she continues to work alongside her World Championship commitments following her successful qualification – she returned to the IDM in 2023, racing for TSL Racing at the time. Since then, she has been competing on the international stage. In the World Championship, she is currently ranked 22nd with seven points.

A stop-off at the doctor’s

At Assen, Dutch World Championship rider Jeffrey Buis of Euro Moto Sportbike paid a visit on his Suzuki. The first lap of Race 1 during his home appearance will certainly be remembered, as he ploughed his way through the entire field from the very back on that first lap and established himself at the front. The Dutchman was unlucky in Race 2 when he was unable to avoid the bike of Jakob Rosenthaler, who had crashed in front of him, and crashed himself. After a brief visit to hospital, his team, Wixx Racing, confirmed that everything was fine so far. Nevertheless, Buis still has a doctor’s appointment this Thursday. Ahead of the upcoming World Championship round in France, the race doctor must still declare him fit to race.

Back to the BSB routine

For four-time IDM Superbike champion Ilya Mikhalchik, the next round of the British Superbike Championship (BSB) took place at Cadwell Park in the UK. “Another week full of progress on a truly challenging and special circuit,” he said afterwards. “In practice, we had a few minor issues with the bike, which cost us a few laps on a dry track and the chance to learn more about this circuit. I also went through the Superpole, where there was only one lap. So the real work was in the races. I experimented a lot with the bike and made progress in every race. I’m looking forward to competing in the final race against the best bikes and fast riders, who know the track much better than I do. There’s still a lot to learn in some areas, but overall we’ve got the most out of our package this week. Now we’ve got a two-week break, and then it’s off to Assen for the showdown. Thanks to Team IWR and for the special helmet from my partner Milana Pushnia. Race 1 – P10, Race 2 – P13 and Race 3 – P10.”