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In a surprising revelation, Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, “secretly” participated in a Superbike test in 2018, during which he experienced a crash. The F1 star's unexpected two-day absence in 2018 raised alarms with his team principal, Toto Wolff, who was unaware of the test until after it had taken place.
A secret Test at Jerez
Hamilton’s passion for motorcycling is well-documented, with the British driver owning a signature MV Agusta model and even participating in a 2019 ride swap with MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi. In fact, in the last year, rumours have circulated regarding Hamilton’s potential investment in two MotoGP teams. However, his connection to the two-wheeled world goes back even further.
Six years ago, just after securing his fifth F1 title, Hamilton secretly joined the Crescent Racing squad at the Jerez circuit for a two-day Superbike test on a Yamaha YZF-R1. The test, overseen by the Crescent Racing World Superbike Championship team, wasn’t made public at the time. According to Michael van der Mark, who was a Yamaha WSBK rider at the time, Hamilton’s performance was impressive, although he had to be advised to slow down due to his fearless riding style.
Toto Wolff’s surprise and worry
Toto Wolff, who was not informed about Hamilton’s secret test, recalls a moment of concern when he was unable to reach his star driver for two days. The F1 boss was unaware that Hamilton had been testing motorcycles and had even crashed. When Wolff eventually got in touch with Hamilton’s engineer, he was reassured that everything was fine.
However, Wolff was later told that Hamilton had fallen off the bike but still managed to complete his laps, finishing just four seconds off the pace of the MotoGP professionals.
“I’ll tell you a story about biking,” Wolff shared on the Armchair Expert podcast. “Secretly - they didn’t tell me - they went testing in Jerez... And then calling Lewis, his engineer picked up and said ‘it’s all good, all is fine, we’ve just finished biking and just whatever you hear he’s fine’. I said ‘what happened?’ He fell. But he was four seconds off the MotoGP pros only. Unbelievable. The body feeling he has is what makes him a champion.”
Despite the crash, Hamilton emerged unhurt, demonstrating the resilience and balance that have made him a formidable competitor in Formula 1.
The reality of Superbike Testing
While Wolff's account is intriguing, it’s important to note that there is no official timing data available to verify Hamilton’s exact performance during the test. Van der Mark, who was present at the time, stated that Hamilton could have been much faster, although he was about seven seconds slower than the Yamaha WSBK riders. However, even with this gap, Hamilton’s lap times were quicker than most regular track-day riders.
Hamilton’s love for motorcycles extended to a Monster Energy event earlier in 2018, where he shared the track with MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow in California. His passion for the sport continues to resonate as he looks to broaden his motorsport horizons.
Recently, KTM motorsport boss Pit Beirer revealed that Hamilton’s management had engaged in "concrete" discussions about a potential investment with the Austrian company, which has faced challenges in recent seasons. As Hamilton prepares for his 2025 move to Ferrari in Formula 1, it remains to be seen how his involvement in motorsports outside of F1 will evolve.
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