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12. December 2008: Alpinestars NEWS - What's up with Alex ?
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Hey guys,
I know it has been too long since I write - sorry for that.
Check the small interview from Alpinestars as it will give you a small update on how I have been ...
What’s Up with Alex Hofmann ?
“The Aprilia RSV-4 is also progressing steadily, Aprilia don't want to become field filling. I think that we will surprise a number of people and finishes in the top ten are certainly possible and I will gladly, after all the preparations and testing, take the chance to race the RSV-4 next year. Of course I hope on a seat within the team, I have seen the machine growing and I put much time and energy in the project. After my time in the MotoGP I would not consider the move to the Superbike championship as degradation. MotoGP is still the largest show in the world on two wheels but the Superbike championship is catching-up, with full starting fields and spectacular races."
This was former MotoGP rider and Aprilia RSV-R test rider Alex Hofmann talking in the August of 2008. Set to join Max Biaggi in Aprilia’s highly anticipated return to racing in the 2009 World Superbike Series, Hofmann had been the workhorse of the team over the summer months, getting the bike sorted out and ready to test in earnest this winter. However, a harsh shunt in a Swiss Supermoto race saw him hit the asphalt, breaking his shoulder and foot. It also broke his heart as 10-year MotoGP veteran and recent Gresini Honda MotoGP rider Shinya Nakano was signed to pair with Biaggi while Hofmann gets his health back.
Recently in Orange County, California to ride some motocross and take in some sun, the friendly German rider talked about what he’s been up to.
Alex, as always, great to see you, Will you be attending the Anaheim Supercross in a few weeks?
Unfortunately not. I have been in So. Cal the last two weeks riding MX with Tom Lüthi (a Swiss 250cc rider) and we had a great time. But I have to be back for Christmas and will miss Anaheim 1. Maybe next year!
Where are you staying out here?
Laguna Beach, California! Good times!
What have you been doing in the past year?
This year my job was to develop the all-new Aprilia RSV4 Superbike. It was fun and an all-new experience and we did a good job. The bike has so much potential and I am sure it will win races in WSBK one day soon.
When was the last time you actually raced?
The last time I raced was in August. It was a Swiss Championship Supermoto, race but it was a bad idea. I got caught in a big crash and broke my shoulder and foot. This accident caused me to cancel the World Superbike ride I had arranged with Aprilia for 2009.
Did you come close to racing full-time in 2008?
As close a one big injury! That's racing I guess but I did not want to start a World Superbike Championship experience injured.
How about for 2009?
I will stay the test and replacement rider with Aprilia. However, you will probably still see me race in 2009. Not the whole season though.
Have you been riding and testing? If so, who for?
The Aprilia RSV4! Watch out for that one!
How has all the testing gone?
Sweet. From the first lap out to coming close to lap records. It was hard but a challenge. I liked it.
What are your plans for this winter?
I just want to get fit again. I had so many injuries over the last two years. I have to take care of myself a little. One set of bones for a lifetime, so I have to give them some time to heal.
Alex, what are your plans for 2009?
Testing for Aprilia. I will work as expert for the German TV DSF at Moto GP races. And I am sure I will race something in 2009.
See you soon again and have a great christmas time everybody ...
Alex # 66
23. September 2008: A new star is born - Aprilia presents the RSV 4 !
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Check out www.rsv4aprilia.com and enjoy !
Pictures say more than words !
Work less & ride more ...
Alex # 66
18. September 2008: Aprilia RSV-4 presented in Rome - Alex # 66 injury update!
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This weekend Aprilia will officially present the all new Superbike RSV-4 in Rome / Vallelunga. Media and Fans will get to see the newest baby from Noale. I am really excited too, as I have not yet had the chance to see the final version of the Streetbike yet. Unfortunately I can't attend the presentation myself as I have to keep working on my rehabilitation and I am just not yet fit enough to walk around all day long.
For the ones who did not hear the bad news yet. I had a very unlucky crash while training on my Supermoto Bike here in Switzerland. I got ran over just before hitting a big jump and figured out that I have no wings to fly. The result were 11 fractures in my right foot and a broken left shoulder. Don't do that at home, it was a tough one again. The Doctors in Munich showed again huge talent, as they saved my bones in a 4 hours surgery and I am pretty positive that I will be back to 100 % sooner than expected. Thanks for the great effort Dr. Walther and Dr. Jäger !
I should be back on the bike by mid october and I am so much looking forward to it. The last two test days were so promising that I can't wait to bring the bike to the next level. The potential of the RSV-4 is enormous and I can say we have arrived within a second to where the big points are given away in Superbike Racing !
My bones are healing fast - the Aprilia will be even faster - so stop by once in a while and ride on ...
All the best
Alex # 66
25. July 2008: World Superbike vs Formula 1
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Last weekend I was on race tracks twice, unfortunalety not to race myself. But I still had a great time.
First I took off to visit the World Superbike round in the Czech Republic. Interesting one as we just had a 2 day test there and I was keen to get information on tyres and lap times. The track looked way better on that race weekend and temperature were lower, so I guess not a real chance for comparison ...
I bumped into Fabio walking through the paddock. He is a real grazy fan of racing, also a supporter of the #66 and a cool guy. So I told him it is time to get out of the Biaggi Shirt and get some real stuff ! The whole atmosphere was pretty relaxed and I guess I liked the fact that this could be my near future of racing.
On saturday morning I left to the airport again. From Vienna to Zurich, there I jumped into my car to get to Hockenheim. Red Bull invited me for a relaxed Barbeque with their Formula 1 Teams. Some wakebording was on at the little lake we went to. Good food and music turned into a little party - Red Bull style - do I need to say something else ? Even Sebastian Vettel was around for some wakebording and a steak. Pretty relaxed before his important home Grand Prix.
The next day I watched the race on the grand stand. Timo Glock crashed his Toyota just in front of us and smashed into the pitwall. Good thing those cockpits are really safe these days ...
This monday I will fly to Italy. Three day test at Mugello together with Ducati. Troy Balyiss and Sete Gibernau are supposed to ride too. So I will have finally some company out on track - can't wait :-) !
That is it for the moment - ci sentiamo presto ragazzi ...
Alex # 66
16. July 2008: The Fanclub stays strong !
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After racing at the Sachsenring for 12 years in row it was really hard to watch the event on tv. I have raced there on a 125 cc Yamaha in German Championship, 250 cc wild card scoring a grazy 10th place, had my best ever 250 cc Grand Prix race there coming in on 7th and so on ...
I was not in a great mood watching the 2008 Moto GP race from home, specially seeing my conditions out there in heavy rain !
The fact that the weather sucked and # 66 could not stop by for a visit did not keep some off my greatest fans off holding a small fan meeting on sunday. Robert, Michelé, Oli, Maddel, Sven and his father joined forces for a small talk about the future of the Fanclub and took a nice picture. Thumbs up from myside to all you guys and I hope we can have a real race meeting soon again in 2009.
Thanks for the great ongoing support and I hope you guys came up with some cool ideas for next season !
It will be time again to rock at the races ...
Alex# 66
08. July 2008: Sachsenring GP, Tests and a new design !
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Bad news first, so we have it out of the way. I won't be visiting the German GP this year as my job with the German TV got canceled on short notice. The guys were a little bit confused I guess. Anyway, I just don't see a reason to punish myself watching the others race, when there is nothing to do for me at the Sachsenring. I would end up drinking and eating all day long at the Red Bull Energy Station. Not good for my fitness so I will stay back home and keep training in the mountains for my big target 2009. Sorry that this way we have to cancel the Fanclub meeting. We will meet up soon again when the # 66 is back on the grid - promise ...
Better notices from Brno. We had a test there last week and made a good step forward with the all new Aprilia RSV-4. We improved the feeling on the bike and found some better set up for all the new parts. Lap times improved too but I won't give any numbers here and now. Everyone in the team was pleased with the work we got done and I hope we can keep going in that good direction.
To keep up in style with my bike, Shoei got me a new helmet design that rocks. The idea was James Bond I guess and it looks like the japanese designer had a special memory of 007 : Ladies, ladies, ladies ...
Looks like the lady is hitchhiking, but we won't stop for anyone anymore !
So stop by soon again and all the best ...
Alex # 66
02. June 2008: Alex from cars to triathlon in a week ...
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24 Hours KO – Ironman OK ...
German racer Alex Hofmann (28) has endured a busy and turbulent few weeks with disappointment at the Nürburgring 24 hours turning to unexpected jubilation in a Swiss Ironman competition.
Hofmann did not even make it to the start of the Nürburgring event in his 299-horsepower Astra OPC after one of his team mates made an unfortunate off-track excursion, which resulted in a high-speed crash, irreparably damaging the car.
“I was waiting for my turn during night practice, and was ready to get some more laps under my belt, when the bad news came over the radio,” said Hofmann. The crew were unable to fix the car in time for the starting grid, ending Hofmann’s chance to shine on four wheels.
“I was so disapointed”, said the Aprilia Factory Test rider. “I felt like a small boy waiting for Christmas and finding there were no presents! Not that I haven’t seen it all in racing, but this one hurt a lot as I was so looking forward to being a part of this race. I will keep coming back until I have made it to the finish - that much I can promise!”
It was also Hofmann’s birthday during the 24 hour event, so he decided to celebrate instead out at the track in amongst thousands of fans. Coming back to the pits in the early hours of the morning, there was a new challenge waiting for him.
“Earlier that night, my friend Manuel Reuter (Ex German Touring Car Champion and Winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours) told me about an Ironman contest that was taking place in my home town in Switzerland” explains Hofmann. “I don’t remember exactly what I said to him, but I guess my mouth was a little loose, because the next morning he told me that I was signed in for my first ever Triathlon.”
The Ironman 70.3 in Rapperswil was to pose new and demanding challenges to Alex, pushing him to the limits in the three stages of swimming, cycling and running. It was to be a survival of the fittest.
“I had to get through this somehow,” noted Alex. “It was too late to start specific preperations, so all I could do was to get the necessary equipment for the event – a wet suit for the 15° degree cold lake in Zurich, time handlebars for my road bike.
I don’t know what I was thinking of, looking at the demands of the half Ironman distance – a 1.9km swim, 90km on the bike and topped off with a 21.1km run. I must have been mad! But by Sunday morning, at 9am, I was in the water for the toughest race of my life.”
“I survived the swim somehow, but it was a fight against elbow kicks and orientation in the open water,” reflects Hofmann. “Once I was on my bike the event really started for me. I improved in my category from 91st to 58th position during the bike ride and tried to save some power for my first ever half-marathon. The weather was beautiful and the spectators closer than I ever have seen them in an event. That was probably why I started my run a little too fast, the last 5kms I had to fight really hard to keep running. The whole experience was great – I enjoyed it a lot and my time was a lot better than expected. This wasn’t my last triathlon that’s for sure. But next time I will take the time to prepare myself ... »
Hofmann’s Ironman debut in Numbers
Total time of 5h04m58s
Splits - swim 38m47s, bike 2h41m, run 1h39m49s.
Alex finished 51st in his category and position 340 overall out of 1228 male starters.
The winner of the pro category Ronny Schildknecht from Switzerland finished in an amazing time of 3h51m.
Thankfully Alex will have enough time to recover before he rejoins testing aboard his Aprilia RSV-4 in two weeks time at Valencia.
by Media @ Alex-66.com
21. May 2008 : Alex Hofmann races for Opel at Nürburgring 24 Hours !
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Not another Schumi ...
German racer Alex Hofmann will realise the dream of a lifetime by entering this weekend’s 24-hour race at the Nürburgring with Opel, switching his usual two-wheels for four.
Opel will compete with three 299 horsepower Astra OPC models and Hofmann, who is currently on test riding duties with the Aprilia Factory, will line up in a Media VIP Car alongside three experienced motorsport journalists from Germany.
“The virus of the world-famous Nürburgring Nordschleife got me,” said Hofmann, who raced with a 220bhp Ducati in last season’s MotoGP World Championship. “On top of it all, I will have my best ever birthday as I will turn 28 during the race. Up to 200,000 fans are expected to join the party while I am racing on the most spectacular race track ever built. It will be hard to top that one in the future! I cannot thank Opel enough for the opportunity and support to let me get a taste of the four-wheeled world.”
Hofmann will be also out to prove that motorcycle racers are known to have a very good feeling for car racing too. Germans are fast developing a reputation for their eclectic racing abilities as former seven–times Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher just confirmed by entering the German Superbike Championship on two wheels.
Hofmann will also have the vital support of Alpinestars, who specially designed a racing suit for this special occasion, and Red Bull. “Alpinestars have created special overalls for me so that I can enter this race in real style, while Red Bull is supporting me and the whole team. Some wings work perfectly even throughout 24 hours of racing,” said Hofmann.
The famous Nürburgring race track comprises 33 left and 40 right-hand corners, over a total distance of 25.359 km. Built in 1927, it is known to be one of the toughest and most demanding race tracks in the world, a challenge that only further motivates Hofmann.
“I hope we will bring our car home safe and fast,” he says. “I can’t wait to get things started. Although I am a rookie, I won’t be afraid to give it my best shot, and I will keep a close eye on the lap times in my class. My friend Boris Said already won here and he will give me some tips before we hit the track.”
Starters usually have to enter three national races before they get permission to participate in one of the biggest racing events on the German calendar, so before he can turn a wheel in anger, Alex will be attending a race academy at the Nürburgring to obtain his racing licence.
The race will start at 15.00 on Saturday 24th May and will end 24 hours later...
by Media @ Alex-66.com
8th May 2008 : With a smile from Cuba ...
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Finally we got the website going. This is the first ever post I actually did all by myself. I know, nothing to get too excited about but I am happy ...
Thanks to Andre, who did a great job on the new design and layout. We will be working on it all the time, so expect more to come !
My Swiss connection Bruno Streuli just came back from a trip to Cuba. He had a good idea and gave some Alex # 66 Fancaps to the locals. The smiles he got back were priceless ...
These pictures made my day !
So talk to you soon and sm:-)le on everybody ...
Alex # 66
March 12th 2008 - Alex Hofmann under the knive !
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The german Moto GP rider had to face some taugh times recently. After beeing a permanent starter over the last four seasons in the premier class, Alex # 66 had to follow this years opening round from Qatar in front of the TV. Another 48 hours later he had to undergo surgery on his left hand. A titan plate and 15 screws were removed out off his 2nd metarcarpus bone by Dr. Hartl at Munich‘s Orthozetrum. All the ironwork was done after the horrible crash at the the US GP at last years Laguna Seca round by Dr. Ting. Alex faced a Torpedo move of his french rival Guintoli, how miss out to brake in time up at famous corkscrew that day. The injury marked the beginning of an early end for the 27 seven year old, who was out to performe hist best ever season in Moto GP.
„These are pretty hard times for a racer like me. First I have to sit out and watch the start of the new Moto GP season in front of my TV and then straight head to Munich for an unnecessary surgery. Overall I am happy now, that the last bad memories of my screwed up last season are now lying next to me on the table. The doc told me to take it easy on my hand for the nex 3 weeks and I will go through masive physiotherapy, as always I guess. Still amazing how much the medicine has advanced these days and I sure my hand will be like new in a few weeks. I was a little worried that day sitting in the gravel at Corks Screw ...“
The swiss based rider could not secure a competetive ride for the new Moto GP season, so he took on a new challenge as an experienced Testrider for Aprilia. The Italian based factory just recently launched the all new Aprilia Superbike at Milan, and confirmed the intention the line up in 2009 in the World Superbike scene. Pictures of Alex Hofmann testing the new RSV-4 prototype already circeled around in the media. Speculations are out, that already see the famous #66, that has become the Alex‘s trade mark in Grand Prix racing over the past years, on one off the italian factory bikes for the 09 line up.
„Looks like I won‘t do any races this year. But my new job with Aprilia is a big new challenge for me in my carriere. My bones have suffered a bit over the last years and I guess a year of testing will do them a favor. I will use the given time to take care of myself and refill my batteries so I am ready to fight back as soon as possible. I want to be back racing world championship 2009. Moto GP or WSBK, whatever the future will bring. My aim is to race Worldchampionship, and line up with a Team that gives me the chance to perform out there and fight for the top spots. I have learned my lesson, you rather sit out and wait for a real oportunity than risk your bones for something that is not a chance.“
Testing will resume in April for Alex Hofmann in Italy.
February 5th 2008 : Mission Superbike 2008 !
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I know, I know ... This site is called News and it is obviously not a secret anymore that I got a new job ! I am sure everybody has already seen some pictures of my new bike and the # 66. She is Italian, V4 and comes from Noale. I took my decision and will be officially developing the new Superbike for Aprilia this season.
It was really a tough one - I can tell you - as I was even checking my options to race the AMA Superbike in the US. On the one hand, it is really hard not to race a full season. But the positive side is, that I will have enough time to prepare myself for a new adventure in 2009. I was not ready to leave my Worldchampionship dream already behind to take off for a National scene. I will use the time to take care off myself, have surgery, get back in perfect shape and find back the motivation I lost somewhere in Team D'Antin the last two years.
2009 will see the # 66 stronger than ever on the grid of WSBK - ready to rock and roll. Which Team and which Bike - will bring the future. It will be good stuff, for sure ...
We won't get bored on www.alex66.com - I will promise and hopefully you will sit this one out together with me. Next year we will be back on track ...
So stop by once in a while for the latest News, Pics and all the fun stuff that is going to happen around in my life ...
The future starts now !
Tanti saluti and keep sm:-)ng ...
Alex # 66