Odendaal leaves WorldSSP, joins VRD Igol Experiences for 2022 EWC season

The 2022 WorldSSP grid will be without this season’s runner-up Steven Odendaal after the South African agreed to race aboard a Yamaha in the FIM Endurance World Championship. 

Odendaal has joined the VRD Igol Experiences team alongside seven-year endurance racing veteran Florian Alt. 

The former Evan Bros. Yamaha rider was initially set to remain with the team he achieved five wins and second place in the 2021 WorldSSP championship with, however, financial reasons led to the split between both parties. 

Instead, Odendaal now joins Randy Krummenacher in leaving the Supersport paddock for endurance racing. Like Odendaal, the Swiss rider was also contracted for WorldSSP in 2022 before leaving the CM Racing Ducati team.

Speaking ahead of his new challenge, one he compared to chess, Odendaal added: "A massive attraction for me is the way endurance racing is not all about the fastest bike but more about team strategies to be the most efficient on track. 

"World Endurance is like a game of chess (just a bit more expensive)! You have to use all your team members to achieve one goal. 

"As an individual you can’t win the race. You have to help your teammates, learn from them, share your success with them. 

"It is completely different to what I am used to and I am very excited to start this new adventure. I have always believed in team work on and off track and I think I am a good team player."

The two-strong rider line-up of Alt and Odendaal is expected to become three in due course, while long-time British Supersport rider James Westmoreland has been confirmed as the team’s replacement rider.