Niedermeier wants WS gold: Germany is fighting for the title in Vechta!

Niedermeier wants WS gold: Germany is fighting for the title in Vechta!

In the coming week everything will revolve around the topic of long track when the long track team world championship takes place in Vechta, Lower Saxony, on September 13th. Mario Niedermeier, a promising 24-year-old driver from Langquaid, will compete for the German national team for the first time. He is part of a strong team led by dmv-motorsport.de that is targeting the gold medal this year. Niedermeier not only brings a breath of fresh air, but also good memories of Vechta, where he took fourth place in the U23 Long Course World Cup last year.

The nomination didn't come as a complete surprise as Niedermeier had already been included in the squad. Above all, the injuries and illnesses of other drivers, including Erik Riss and Daniel Spiller, enabled him to get a place in the team. Jörg Tebbe, the new team manager and three-time team world champion, has made the nominations for the championship and is optimistic about the team's chances. "We have history on our side. Germany is the defending champion and has already won the competition ten times," says Tebbe. The team consists of Martin Smolinski, the reigning world champion, Lukas Fienhage, Stephan Katt and the newcomer Mario Niedermeier.

Strong competition and high expectations

However, the competition is strong. Germany will compete against teams from Denmark, Finland, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, France and the Netherlands. The two teams with the highest points will ultimately fight for the title in the final. Expectations are likely to be high at the Reiterwaldstadion in Vechta, which hosted the World Team Championships in 2019. Germany took third place there at the time.

Niedermeier, like his teammates, has clear goals in mind. “It would be a dream to win gold with the team,” he explains. His path into long track racing was anything but straight. He originally started his career in ice hockey before switching to speedway at the age of 14. His performance has improved significantly recently, which is reflected, among other things, in a victory in Nandlstadt and a third place at the German Long Course Championship.

A look into the future

Tebbe's team faces a major challenge, not least due to the lack of experience of injured drivers like Max Dilger, who has been in therapy since an accident in October 2024. Nevertheless, the team manager sees his role as support: “I take this responsibility seriously, but it is also fun and a great challenge.” Niedermeier's first international experience at the World Championships in Mühldorf was a difficult start as he finished 15th, but the young driver remains optimistic and realistic.

The Long Course Team World Championship is an exciting opportunity for everyone involved to demonstrate the strengths of the German team. September 13th will show whether the efforts of the last few months and the preparation for this big day are bearing fruit. For Mario Niedermeier, it's not just about gaining experience, but above all about meeting expectations and perhaps even becoming the next German long-distance star himself.