Mourning Paolo Cristante: EAB team mourns third death in a short space of time

In May 2025, the Dutch Supersport World Championship team EAB Ducati lost two of its key figures, Ferry Schoenmakers and Piero Cossu: After co-owner and technician Piero Cossu died of a heart attack on 18 May, Ferry Schoenmakers lost his battle with cancer during the night of 30–31 May.

Two weeks later, at the Misano World Circuit, instead of a minute’s silence in front of the Paddock Show stage, the pair were given a minute’s applause by numerous members of the SBK circus.

Since the loss of Schoenmakers and Cossu, EAB team principal Pjotr Groenenberg has been at the helm; he and his team saw out the 2025 season and are back again this year with Danish rider Simon Jespersen.

Now the team has once again been struck by a terrible blow – the third in 16 months. “It is with great sadness that we must announce that our dear friend Paolo Cristante has passed away,” the team said, without specifying the circumstances. “Paolo was part of the EAB Racing Team right from the start. He was much more than just the person who looked after our team kit and designs. He was a close friend, a true motorsport enthusiast and someone who was always there for the team. Paolo was with us in Cremona as recently as last weekend. That makes this loss incredibly hard to bear. The past two seasons have already been very tough for our small team, with several heavy losses. This is not how we imagined the final chapter of the EAB Racing Team. At the moment, races and results are of secondary importance. Our thoughts are with Paolo’s family, his friends and everyone who knew and loved him. Rest in peace, Paolo. You will always remain a part of the EAB Racing Team.”

In mid-September, Groeneberg had announced that the team would be withdrawing from the World Championship at the end of this season. EAB Racing was founded in 2006 by Ferry Schoenmakers and went on to become a fixture in international motorbike racing. The team initially competed in the Superstock series with 600cc and 1000cc bikes, and later in the Supersport World Championship. During this time, it partnered with Honda and Ducati. Its successes include the Superstock 600 titles won by Michael van der Mark and Gino Rea. Other well-known riders included Anthony West, Randy Krummenacher, Glenn van Straalen and Niki Tuuli.

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