Max Neukirchner


Max Neukirchner is a professional motorcycle racer currently competing in the Endurance FIM World Championship aboard a Yamaha YZF-R1.

Career

Supersport & Superbike World Championship

In, Neukirchner competed in the Supersport World Championship riding for Klaffi Honda, finishing the season ranked 9th with 63 points.
For, Neukirchner, along with the Klaffi Honda team, moved to the Superbike World Championship. He got a 3rd place podium finish at Phillip Island [Grand Prix Circuit|Phillip Island] and finished the season 12th with 123 points.
Neukirchner looked set to remain with Klaffi Honda in but the ride eventually went to Alex Barros. Klaffi wasn't able to find the money to run a second bike for Neukirchner and he was left without a ride. He joined Pedercini Ducati but after a poor first half of the season Neukirchner and Pedercini announced their split. Neukirchner went on to replace Fabien Foret at Alstare Eng. Corona Extra. He finished the season 18th with 28 points.
For, Neukirchner rode for Suzuki Germany and finished the season ranked ninth overall. The team used the 2006-spec works Suzuki GSX-R1000 K6.
For, Neukirchner rode a 2007-spec Suzuki GSX-R1000 motorcycle for Team Alstare Suzuki. At Valencia he took his first career pole, and lead until the final corner, where he was hit by Carlos Checa, Neukirchner breaking his collarbone. On 27 April 2008 at Assen he achieved his second World Superbike podium finish, finishing behind Troy Bayliss and Checa in the first race .
Neukirchner took his maiden victory in the first race at Monza, his 70th race in SBK. He won by just 0.058 seconds from Noriyuki Haga. In race 2, he achieved another podium, finishing 2nd to Haga, missing out on victory by 0.009 seconds in a three-way blanket finish. At Miller Motorsport Park he was helped to learn the fastest line through the early part of the track by video of Suzuki's AMA Superbike champion Ben Spies . He did not score another podium that season, but consistent points finishes including four further fourth places allowed him to finish as the top Suzuki in 5th overall.
At Monza, Neukirchner suffered a broken femur in a first-corner crash for which he was blameless.
Although Suzuki Alstare announced in May that Neukirchner would remain with the team for 2009 and 2010, doubts later surfaced over his future with the team. On 12 October 2009, Suzuki Alstare announced that they would not be offering Neukirchner a contract extension for the 2010 Superbike [World Championship season|2010 championship] after he failed to provide medical evidence that he was fit to race.
On 14 October 2009, it was confirmed that Neukirchner would race for the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda team for the 2010 season.

Moto2 World Championship

For the 2011 season, Neukirchner rode for the MZ Racing Team with a 2010 FTR chassis at the Moto2 World Championship under the technical direction of the Italian company Pro Ride Motorsports.
For the 2012 season, Neukirchner was riding for the Kiefer Racing Team with a Kalex chassis at the Moto2 World Championship, but left the series after sustained injury in Brno. Neukirchner achieved his best result and his only point scoring finish of the year at Le Mans with 7th place.

Career highlights

2003- 9th, IDM Supersport Championship #7 Honda CBR600RR

2004- 9th, Supersport World Championship #76 Honda CBR600RR

2005- 12th, Superbike World Championship #76 Ducati 999R

2006- 18th, Superbike World Championship #76 Ducati 999R / Suzuki GSX-R1000

2007- 9th, Superbike World Championship #76 Suzuki GSX-R1000

2008- 5th, Superbike World Championship #76 Suzuki GSX-R1000

2009- 16th, Superbike World Championship #76 Suzuki GSX-R1000

2010- 18th, Superbike World Championship #76 Honda CBR1000RR

2011- 20th, 2011 [Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|Moto2 World Championship] #76 MZ-RE Honda

2012- 26th, 2012 Grand Prix [motorcycle racing season|Moto2 World Championship] #76 Kalex

2013- 14th, Superbike World Championship #27 Ducati 1199 Panigale

2014- 2nd, IDM Superbike Championship #76 Ducati 1199 Panigale

2015- 6th, IDM Superbike Championship #76 Yamaha YZF-R1

2016- 7th, IDM Superbike Championship #76 / 6th, Endurance FIM World Championship #7 Yamaha YZF-R1

2017- Endurance FIM World Championship #7 Yamaha YZF-R1

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

Races by year

YearClassBike1234567891011121314151617Pts
2001250ccHondaJPNRSASPAFRAITACATNEDGBRGER
18
CZEPORVALPACAUSMALBRANC0
2002250ccHondaJPNRSASPAFRAITACATNEDGBRGER
19
CZEPORBRAPAC
MALAUSVALNC0
2003250ccHondaJPNRSASPAFRAITACATNEDGBRGER
15
CZEPORBRAPACMALAUSVAL31st1
2011Moto2MZ-RE-HondaQAT
15
SPA
10
POR
DNS
FRA
15
CAT
10
GBR
12
NED
10
ITA
8
GER
Ret
CZE
Ret
INP
24
RSM
Ret
ARA
13
JPN
18
AUS
Ret
MAL
Ret
VAL
9
20th42
Moto2KalexQAT
30
SPA
Ret
POR
20
FRA
7
CAT
17
GBR
17
NED
Ret
GER
18
ITA
Ret
INP
21
CZE
DNS
RSMARAJPNMALAUSVAL26th9

Supersport World Championship

Races by year

YearBike12345678910PosPts
2004HondaSPA
14
AUS
8
SMR
Ret
ITA
6
GER
5
GBR
11
EUR
11
NED
7
ITA
11
FRA
8
9th63