From fun to business: Thomas Eder’s World Championship debut is just around the corner

Last year, whilst out for a few beers, solo riders Thomas Eder and Thomas Gradinger hatched a plan to go for a test ride in a sidecar. Through ARS Sidecar, they completed their first laps at the Circuit Mallorca Llucmajor. As Eder flatly refused to act as Gradinger’s passenger, the roles were quickly assigned – the German ‘comfortably’ behind the handlebars, the Austrian as ‘ballast’.

Although the friends were primarily focused on having fun, Eder was immediately hooked by this slightly different way of riding a motorbike and realised that it couldn’t just be a one-off ‘ride’. “Stay tuned – to see what else is in store,” he hinted on social media, suggesting that there could be plenty more to come in the future.

And the future has already begun for Eder Racing. The 41-year-old Bavarian had actually wanted to venture into the World Championship with his Upper Austrian friend, but Gradinger declined prematurely and unequivocally, citing his injured shoulder. So Eder had to look for a replacement.

In Kevin Kölsch, he found an experienced co-driver who has already been able to give him valuable tips during several training sessions at the Pannonia-Ring; after all, the German has won a World Championship round at the Hungarian circuit alongside Bennie Streuer. It has now also been confirmed that, contrary to earlier announcements, Kölsch will not be ending his career after all, but will instead be entering the World Championship with Eder later this year.

Thomas Eder (li.) beim regen Erfahrungsaustausch mit Patrick Werkstetter

Foto: Helmut Ohner

Eder shares the track with another sidecar for the first time

Last weekend presented Eder with a welcome opportunity to clock up a few more laps at the Pannonia Ring alongside Patrick Werkstetter, who is set to make his comeback after a long injury lay-off. “Up until now, I’ve always been out on the track on my own. It makes a huge difference when you’re right up against another sidecar,” was his key insight.

“In my view, the test went very well. This time I was riding with the Belgian Luca De Vleeschauwer, who normally competes in the Euro Moto Supersport series. The raw speed is undoubtedly there, but there’s still a lot to learn,” Eder realises. “It’s great fun, and that’s the most important thing for me.”

Für einmal musste Luca De Vleeschauwer (li.) als Beifahrer herhalten

Foto: Helmut Ohner

Anyone who knows Eder knows that he is ambitious and has a goal in mind. Before he faces the elite of sidecar racing for the first time in Cremona (7–9 August), he’ll squeeze in another test at the Slovakia Ring, and on the first weekend in August he’ll contest his first races in the International Sidecar Trophy at the Red Bull Ring.