News

Oliver Konig to step up to OUTDO Pedercini Racing for Indonesian WorldSBK round

Wednesday, 27 October 2021 16:00 GMT

The 19-year-old will become the youngest rider to start a race in the 2021 season, as he is set to make his WorldSBK debut

The final round of the 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is closing in fast and there’ll be a fresh face on the WorldSBK grid for the Pirelli Indonesian Round at the all-new Mandalika International Street Circuit. Oliver Konig will step up to the OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing outfit for the final round of the year for his WorldSBK debut. Konig will step up and hope to make a good account of himself in World Superbike, riding the ZX-10RR; when he starts Race 1 on Saturday of the round, it will make him the 12th youngest rider to start a WorldSBK race and the youngest this year. 

Konig has spent the past seasons in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship. He finished eleventh overall this year, achieving a maiden podium at his home race at the Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic. The upcoming roundat the Mandalika Street Circuit will not be Oliver’s first taste of big bike world championship racing; he took part in the final round of the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) finishing second position in the Superstock category and eighth overall.

Talking about the move for the final round, Konig said: “It’s a great opportunity for me to finish the season in WorldSBK with Team Pedercini. I want to thank everyone who has made this possible, especially my father and my manager. I have already ridden a bigger bike - in the World Endurance Championship and I really enjoyed it. I know that the level in World Superbike will be much higher and I will have a lot to learn because it is very different to Supersport 300 which is what I am used to. I’m really looking forward to the experience. I’ll do my best and hopefully,it can help me for my future. Thanks again to everyone for making this dream a reality and see you in Indonesia.” 

Team principal Lucio Pedercini, himself an ex-WorldSBK racer, said: “We are excited to announce Oliver will join us in Indonesia. He’s another very young rider with a lot of potential, we saw this over the the last two years where he became a podium contender in WorldSSP300. He will have a lot to learn but as we said at the beginning of the season, we want to give opportunities to young riders and this is what we continue to do.”

Watch the titanic battle for 2021 WorldSBK supremacy at the all-new Mandalika International Street Circuit for FREE when you subscribe to the 2022 WorldSBK VideoPass!