Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros Yamaha R6) photographed by us in BuriRam 2019 before the start. After switching to MV Agusta as wSSP 600 world champion, he got onto the crooked track.

The Krummi comeback – many empty promises?

We were in Australia when the reigning WorldSSP World Champion made a mistake in the first corner that cost him the race. Actually, we would have liked to have photographed the man with hist number 1 in turn 4, called Honda Corner, as part of the leading group. But in the background we saw a man in red flying at high speed on the green, after he had risked too much while lying on the outside of turn 1. It was the man from the “Züricher Oberland”. Now the Swiss, who some in the paddock have decried as polluting the nest, is making a comeback a year later. It’s amazing how big a sound he makes after leaving the paddock through back door last year.

The damaged MV Agusta of the “Krummenator” – photographed by us after its fall in Australia while being returned to the paddock in Phillip Island. Much worse than this damage was what happened afterwards and with which the Swiss definitely did not make new friends. Randy publicly blackened his team and surprisingly withdrew from the World Cup.

The “crooked” to his preparation after the voluntary break

What Randy said on his comeback: “Together with my sponsors, I decided to prepare for a Yamaha R6 in October. Immediately after the last race in Estoril, when my contract ended, I started training with this bike. Me I trained a lot on the flat track last year. I’ll be well-prepared. The only thing I have to do now is test with the team to build the base and get ready to race. “

Randy Krummenacher photographed by us in Brno 2018 – when he drove his first season for the Bardahl Evan Bros team. After a strong start to the season, he was visibly weakening. In the following year, however, it went like clockwork and in the end it was just enough to win the world title just ahead of teammate Caricasulo.

Ambitious goals despite many unknowns

Before returning to the WorldSSP WM, Krummenacher outlined his goals for the season: “I feel very good. The team will be completely new to me. We have to work; we have to get to know each other, but of course they have a lot of experience and I bring more with me. The goal is clear. We want to get the title. It will be a challenge because the team is new, but I know the bike very well. I have a lot of challenges because I haven’t driven since February last year. I’ve been away for a long time. It sure is a challenge. I need to get back in shape. I will soon start driving on the track. I’ll be in Misano by the end of this week. I have a lot of challenges but with hard work and dedication I think we are ready for the first race. “

The “Krummenator” photographed by us on May 12, 2019 in Imola, when it had received the “Best Lap Award” and won the race in front of the two Italians Caricasulo (left) and De Rosa (in the middle) on their home track.

The competition became much stronger

Last year, Andrea Locatelli was on Krummi’s World Championship bike and in his former team was usually a step above all others. The Italian moved to WorldSBK together with Vice World Champion Lucas Mahias. But with Federico Caricasulo, the former teammate of the Swiss returns. Together with the fast French Jules Cluzel at GMT94 Yamaha, the two will definitely have a say in the matter of the title. In addition to the strong Philipp Öttl, there are also returnees such as Niki Tuuli and Michel Fabrizio, four-time WSBK run winners. You also have to pay special attention to Dominique Aegerter, the Moto2 winner at the Sachsenring in 2014. Without unspeakable bad luck, Randy’s compatriot would have become MotoE Champion last season. At Ten Kate, the “Domi-Fighter” is housed in a team that is, unlike Krummi, very renowned.

Philipp Öttl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) – the fast German is considered to be third in the 2020 World Championship and thus the best-ranked driver last year as one of the hottest irons in the fight for the 2021 title. More about him and his ideas for the coming season can be found on this page, see “Interviews+TV” (© WorldSBK).

Provisional calendar 2021 with first modification

After Assen was postponed to the second half of July, there are still various question marks. Overseas races are considered pipe dreams for the coming season that lack realism. In the midst of the corona pandemic, races in front of spectators are also highly questionable. At least there is hope that it can start in Portugal in May. Changes are definitely to be expected, which should remain inevitable due to Corona.

Congratulations from 6 times world champion Jonathan Rea and his riding coach Fabien Foret in the parc fermé, photographed by us in Losail (Qatar) in Oct-2019. “Krummi” had just become WSSP 600 world champion.