Replacing Marc Márquez at Honda Repsol, Stefan Bradl experienced a particular trajectory. His career was punctuated by irregularities but also intense moments: from his world champion title to anonymity in Superbike.
Born in 1989 in Augsburg and son of former 250cc race winner Helmut Bradl, Stefan always had one foot in it and started racing early. In 2005, he made his first wildcard in 125cc.
If we can learn anything from his journey, it is that it was not easy. Bradl struggled in all categories and sometimes could only count on his talent to excel. In 2005 and 2006, he learned the hard trade, finishing near the bottom of the rankings, before being injured at Sepang.
Bradl competed in quite a few teams before returning to Honda Repsol. Here at Aprilia. Photo: Joe McGowan.
Alberto Puig spotted the talent, as usual. He even offered him a handlebar for his Repsol team, but without success. After some tests, the team and himself took two different paths. Let's take stock: Bradl, at only 17 years old, has already been seriously injured following a collision and must find a handlebar if he wants to return to Grands Prix. Not the dream career start.
It is in Spain that Stefan decides to settle down. Within the Blusens Aprilia team, he managed to find a place alongside his teammate Scott Redding. This year, he even won the Spanish championship, a complicated task for a foreigner especially in the 2000s.
Aprilia saved Stefan Bradl, that's for sure. At the end of 2007, a replacement allowed him to return to the world 125CC before confirming in 2008 with two victories and four other podiums, in a German team. Extremely rare fact.
Indeed, our thief had moved to Kiefer racing, a fairly prestigious team which is unfortunately no longer represented at the highest level. After an average season in 2009, he decided to take the plunge and join the very open – and new – Moto2 category in 2010. Kiefer had set his sights on Suter chassis, but it was not, a posteriori, the right package.
The Kiefer Wiessmann motorcycles were magnificent. Too bad the entity is no longer around now. Here, Bradl in action at the 2010 Dutch Grand Prix. Photo: Jerko.
Despite everything, he took an absolutely magnificent victory on the Estoril track ahead of Alex Baldolini by 68 thousandths of a second. It boded very well for 2011, a pivotal year in the German's career.
At the same time, a certain Marc Márquez is titled 125cc world champion and also arrives in the intermediate category, in a more than serious team. Kiefer changes to German quality for the chassis by switching to Kalex.
Hostilities are launched from the opening round. Pole position and victory for Bradl. Goodbye thanks. The races follow one another and are similar, he evolves on another planet. In a category – previously – very contested, he managed to break through the championship by winning four of the first six races.
He seems more comfortable on the 600cc, but the great adventure was only just beginning.
