Italian version here.
One of the riders who have stood out in the last few seasons, for what concerns the Supersport class, is Twan Smits. The 20-year-old Dutchman is racing in IDM Supersport and even if 2024 season was full of highs and lows, Smits proved himself to be one of the top contenders, as in 2023 he fought for the title until the very end. He had actually become German Supersport Champion, before a penalty given to his rival Melvin van der Voort was cancelled and the result was reversed.
Despite losing the title in 2023 and experiencing some struggles in 2024, Twan Smits managed to score a number of wins and podiums in IDM Supersport with Team Apreco, and he also earned a few wildcards in Supersport World Championship. This year, for example, Smits could participate in the Dutch Round in Assen and he even managed to qualify 9th and finish Race 2 in 10th position. Moreover, he participated in Bol d’Or with Pit Lane Endurance team and so he could live another high-level experience.
Palmen in Motorradsport decided to interview Twan Smits in order to tell more about his story.
Twan, what can you say about your 2024 season in IDM Supersport?
Well, definitely it’s been a difficult season and not how we expected it to go. Especially after making a lot of progress in 2023, we had some highs and lows and struggled in multiple occasions, even if some weekends were great like in Schleiz and Nurburgring (he won both races in each of these two rounds, ed). We changed a lot of things at technical and team level from last year, so it definitely took a little while to get used to everything, but after a challenging start we finally came back to a good flow and to the right path.
In which areas were you struggling the most during the first races of the season?
Especially on the front end. The rear was never really an issue, but I didn’t really have the feeling with the front end at the corner entry. I needed to change my riding style from last year to be more consistent and to make more progress, and it was difficult. In Sachsenring, for example, there are a lot of corners where you need to turn the bike a lot and this is where I really struggled with the front end and could not make the bike go where I wanted to. In Schleiz we finally found something that helped us a lot and you could see the difference: I could finally do what I wanted with my bike.
This season is also important for you to find opportunities for 2025, maybe in Supersport World Championship. Is there anything in the works?
We are always looking for possibilities, but it’s a difficult situation, because there are many fast riders that you need to compete with and there will always be someone who can do the same or more than you, so it’s important to look at yourself and where you can make the next step. I don’t know if I am in the position to aim for a seat in World Supersport, but if we can manage to make the right steps in the future, then who knows what we can do. I’m always open and looking for possibilities, so if there’s something on my path then who knows what will happen next year. It’s always impossible to predict what happens in motorsport.
It’s quite unpredictable how a situation can develop, but you already did some races in Supersport World Championship and it hasn’t been that bad so far. Especially this year in Assen…
In Assen we had a great weekend. To be honest, I feel more at home in the world championship than in IDM. Also in 2023 in Portimão (where he debuted in WorldSSP with Yamaha Thailand Racing Team, ed), even if the result wasn’t that great, we showed that we are able to fight with the front guys and we can match their lap times. I can be really fast also in the world championship, I just need to keep growing as a rider.
What can you say about 2023?
It was an amazing year. We got robbed of the title, but if you look at the big picture, we made a lot of progress from the beginning of the year, even if I was still kind of a rookie, as it was only my second year in Supersport. It was really difficult to figure out how to make the best out of the 600cc, but in the end we even came close to winning the title and this is everything we could have asked for. Overall it was a great year and we shouldn’t let the negativity of the title drama overcome it, because we did a really good job and we should be proud of that.
And this progression as a motorcycle rider started for you at a very early age. Could you share more about your racing career so far?
I started when I was 10 or 11 years old, and now I’m 20. I started on a pocket bike, but I was already way too big for it, so I moved to the Honda NSF 100. I wasn’t that fast, it was mainly about just enjoying it with my dad. However, once we moved to IDM Supersport 300, we achieved good results and we understood that I actually belong to this world. In 2020 we were in a good team and managed to score some good results, then in 2021 we got a podium and we were like: “OK, we need to take this seriously”. Then I got too big physically for the 300cc, so we moved to Supersport and there we made quite a big step immediately: it took few races to get to the podium. At the beginning podiums were not so frequent, but then we made another step and we were constantly in the top 3. I started racing for fun with my dad, without any big goal, and now I am a top rider in IDM and also had wildcard entries in World Supersport. Just three or four years ago, I would have never imagined this.
How do you feel in the WorldSBK paddock, compared to the IDM one?
I like it more in the WorldSBK, because everything is more serious and professional and I like to take everything seriously. I like to analyse everything in every single detail until night, while the atmosphere in IDM is a bit more friendly and relaxed. I want to work as hard as possible and I prefer an environment where it’s normal to do so.
And what about your life outside racing? Are you 100% focused on motorcycles or you’re also doing something else off the track?
I am actually busy also without races. I work in a car company and besides that I decided to restart studying: I have chosen to study psychology. It will be difficult to combine everything, but I am also looking forward to try this experience after a few years focused only on racing.
Normally, when they study, motorcycle riders choose fields like mechanical engineering. You have chosen instead psychology…
Psychology is a big part of motorcycle racing. it’s often overlooked, but I think it’s a very important part both physically but especially mentally. Riders normally tend to lose some focus after the first 10 laps, and then you really see who is fit and stronger mentally. The psychological part is also very important when the tyres drop and when you race with very high temperature, and it’s as well crucial to stay sharp and focused when you get overtaken, or when a weekend is not going the way you wish, so you can turn things around in a more favourable way.
Great of you to remind this aspect of racing. And going back to racing, what is your goal for the future?
With motorsport you never know, but my personal goal is and will always be to ride in the world championship, because it’s the highest level you can achieve. I just want to be in the world championship, whether it’s Supersport or Superbike it’s not important. If I have to say what is my real dream..then it’s Moto2, because I really admire this class and believe it’s the most hardcore class. However, to get there is even more difficult than World Supersport in terms of budget. First, we need to get to WorldSSP and then from there we can either move to Moto2 or step to Superbike, which is also fine.
In conclusion, to whom would you like to say “thank you” for everything you have experienced so far?
Definitely to Evert (Bom, ed). He was the boss of my team in IDM (Team Apreco, ed) and passed away last year. When I was riding in Supersport 300 with my dad and we didn’t know anything about racing, Evert came to us and invited me to join his team. Without him I would not even be riding and I owe everything to him and his wife Corine. Also want to thank my father, because thanks to him I started racing, and to all people who make it possible.
Palmen in Motorradsport is thankful to Twan Smits for the time dedicated to the interview and wishes him the best for his future.