Sattler/Schmidt’s comeback: “Sepp, the old hand, hasn’t lost his touch”

Last year, Josef Sattler received his LCR BMW back from Jürgen Röder’s private museum – the bike on which he had won the sidecar class of the International German Championship alongside Uwe Neubert in 2018. As a motorbike is meant to be ridden rather than just left standing, the Bavarian came up with the idea of making a comeback in the International Sidecar Trophy at the Red Bull Ring.

Two-time World Championship runner-up Luca Schmidt, with whom he had won the IDM Sidecar in 2021 and 2022, came on board as his passenger. “AHHHH… I can’t tell you how delighted I am to finally be able to write these lines! It’s now official: Sepp and I will be on the starting grid on the first weekend in August!” said the young Thuringian, unable to hide his enthusiasm.

“When Sepp rang me and asked if we wanted to ride together, that was it – I was sold. I think my grin stretched all the way across my face – and inside, I’d probably already done the first lap. After three years, we’re finally back in the sidecar together. To be honest, it feels as though no time has passed at all. And our plan? Quite simple: helmet on, visor down and full throttle!”

Further appearances not ruled out

Sattler, who had to hang up his helmet in 2023 following a serious accident in Schleiz – where, although he escaped relatively unscathed, the sidecar was completely destroyed – didn’t need to be asked twice. No other team came anywhere near his practice time of 1:38.242 minutes. “Sepp, the old hand, hasn’t lost a trick,” was the delighted reaction even from his own team at his performance.

In both races, too, no one could hold a candle to the pair. In the first race over seven laps, held in difficult conditions – the track, wet from overnight rain, dried out during the race – they crossed the finish line with a lead of just under 17 seconds; in the second race, over twelve laps, the runners-up finished just over 20 seconds behind the pair.

It is not yet clear whether this will be a one-off appearance or whether there will be another race later in the year. However, the chances are good that fans will be able to cheer on 61-year-old Sattler and his 23-year-old passenger Schmidt once again at the end of the season (3–4 October) at the Sidecar Festival at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.