2018 WorldSSP Champion and WorldSBK star Cortese officially retires from racing
Just less than two years after a severe crash at Portimao, Sandro Cortese hangs up his leathers on a successful career
The 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is moments away from kicking off at MotorLand Aragon, but one familiar name won’t be on the grid as he hangs up his leathers on a fantastic career. Sandro Cortese, the 2018 World Supersport Champion and first-ever Moto3™ World Champion in 2012, has officially retired from racing, just less than two years after a horrific crash at Portimao in WorldSBK during the 2020 season. From being a double pocket bike champion before he was ten, to a double World Champion at 28, Cortese’s story has been a fine one.
THE DREAM BEGINS: Cortese on the world stage
Following on from pocket bike success in Germany and Europe, where he was champion in both, and a stint in the IDM series, Cortese’s World Championship career started in 2005 in the 125cc World Championship. Whilst he was a regular points-scorer and occasional front-runner, it wouldn’t be until 2009 and the Grand Prix of Qatar where he would score his first podium. More podiums came in 2010 before a first win at Brno in the Czech Republic saw him on top in 2011, finishing the season in fourth overall. The Moto3™ era began and Cortese was one of the favourites from the start as he dominated the season aboard the Red Bull KTM Ajo machine, on the podium in all-but two GPs and taking five wins.
Cortese graduated to Moto2™ for 2013 where he cracked the top ten only once, although a first podium in the category did come in 2014 at Brno. 2014 would be his best season of Moto2™ World Championship action, with seven top ten finishes and ninth overall in the standings. Two more podiums followed in the next two seasons along with top ten results, before he left the paddock at the close of the 2017 season.
CHANGE OF PATH: the WorldSBK family welcomes Cortese
A new challenge awaited Sandro Cortese in 2018, as the German rider switched paddocks completely and joined the ever-growing World Supersport Championship for Kallio Racing. The Finnish team and the ex-Moto3™ World Champion were a stunning combination, with a podium straight away at Phillip Island before a win at MotorLand Aragon two rounds later. Another win came at Donington Park, before Cortese’s fine consistency saw him clinch the title in the final round of the season at Losail, in a dramatic showdown with Jules Cluzel.
Having proved his worth in 2018 in WorldSSP, WorldSBK beckoned for Cortese in 2019, as he graduated with the new GRT Yamaha outfit, partnering veteran Marco Melandri for the team’s first year. Cortese instantly impressed with nine top ten finishes straight away, with one front row too, when he was second at MotorLand Aragon. Finishing the season in 12th overall, ahead of the likes of Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Eugene Laverty, Cortese was back in WorldSBK for 2020 with the Pedercini Kawasaki team, until what would turn out to be a career-ending crash at Portimao in Race 1. Cortese has done TV work for broadcaster Servus TV, where he will be an on-site reporter in 2022.
IN HIS OWN WORDS: “For 16 years, I was allowed to live the dream!”
Speaking about his retirement in an Instagram post, Cortese said: “Almost exactly 20 months have now passed since my serious accident on August 8, 2020 in the Superbike World Championship race at Portimao; I would like to inform you that I will officially end my racing career.
“It was only thanks to first-class care in Portimao and the emergency operation in Faro that I escaped from paraplegia. I think about it every day and am infinitely grateful and happy to still be able to lead a normal life. But on the other hand, I'm a bit sad that I had to end my career so abruptly after this accident. Thanks to the unconditional support of my family, girlfriend and friends, I was always fine during this difficult time. Since the fall, my body hasn't been as resilient as it used to be, and it took many months of rehab to be able to walk reasonably pain-free again.
“I look back on a career that I would never have dreamed of. For 16 years, I was allowed to live the dream of a racer and be part of the MotoGP™ scene as well as the Supersport and Superbike World Championship. My dream goes on, because of course I'm staying true to racing. I will be part of the Liqui Moly, Servus TV and Yamaha families again this year with great enthusiasm.”
Outside of racing, Cortese will also collaborate with a long-term sponsor, giving back after everything they gave for him: “In addition, there is a new task with my long-term sponsor, the Gutmann Group, which I am looking forward to. Of course, a big thank you goes to all of you, dear friends, fans, partners, sponsors and supporters. You have always supported me and lived my dream with me.”
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