Erno Juhani Kostamo
Erno Juhani Kostamo, born on June 7, 1991, in Joensuu, Finland, is a Finnish road racing specialist with race number 38, known as the “King of Imatra” and a pioneer for Finnish riders in international road racing. At 34 years old (as of September 2025), he grew up in a motorcycle-mad region and began his career early: at 16, he debuted in local Finnish cups, inspired by role models such as Mika Kallio. Kostamo quickly established himself as a Supersport and Superbike talent, focusing on challenging road circuits like Imatranajo, where he achieved 14 consecutive victories – a record. His international breakthrough came in 2019 with his debut at the North West 200 (11th place in Superstock), followed by the Isle of Man TT (since 2020) and the Macau Grand Prix (2022 winner, the first Finn ever). He primarily rode a BMW S 1000 RR for teams such as RVS Motorsport, SYNTAINICS by Penz13, and Parker Transport Racing, supplemented by a Yamaha YZF-R6 in Supersport. Kostamo shines with tactical intelligence and consistency, sharing lineups with riders like Lukas Maurer and Ian Lougher. His motto: “Road racing is pure adrenaline”—he prioritizes safety and teamwork, despite risks like crashes. With over 150 races under his belt, including more than 30 wins, he is an IRRC Superbike Champion (multiple years), Racer of the Year, and the first Finn to win the Macau GP. Kostamo balances sport with family (married, father) and commitments: He is an ambassador for Finnish youth development and tests for BMW. Despite a crash in 2023 (Supersport TT), he remains ambitious; in 2025 he dominates the IRRC and TT. His philosophy: “Every victory is for Finland” – a legacy as the “Flying Finn” in the road racing scene.
Important racing successes
Kostamo’s career is marked by road racing dominance, with a focus on the IRRC, TT, and Macau. He holds multiple IRRC titles and the record at Imatranajo. Here is an overview of the highlights (not exhaustive; based on IRRC, TT, and Macau results):
| Year | Championship / Event | Success | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Finnish Supersport Cups | Debut & Top 10 | Entry into local motorsport; foundation for an international career. |
| 2015 | Finnish Superbike Championship | Top 5 | Consistent season; first national podium finish. |
| 2019 | North West 200 – Superstock | 11th place | International debut; Penz13 BMW; entry into road racing. |
| 2020 | Isle of Man TT – Superbike TT | Top 30 | Debut; Penz13 BMW; Solid rookie race on Mountain Course. |
| 2021 | IRRC Superbike | Top 5 | Multiple victories; establishment as a top Finn. |
| 2022 | Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix | winner | First Finnish triumph; BMW S 1000 RR; 8 laps of the Guia Circuit. |
| 2022 | Imatranajo Superbike | Winner (x2) | 14th and 15th consecutive victory; a record streak. |
| 2023 | Isle of Man TT – Supersport | DNF (Fall) | Qualifying crash; still top 25 in Superbike. |
| 2023 | North West 200 – Superbike | 6th place | Constance; Penz13 team. |
| 2024 | IRRC Superbike | champion | Titles with dominance; multiple victories (e.g. Horice, Imatra). |
| 2024 | Isle of Man TT – Superstock 1 | 24th place (01:14:09.057) | Strong pace; Supersport 1: 24th (57:43.578), Supersport 2: 24th (01:16:15.753). |
| 2024 | Macau GP Superbike | 2nd place | Team 38 by Penz13; BMW dominance. |
| 2025 | IRRC – Horice SBK Q2 | winner | Battle Royale victory; new lap record (2:11.416). |
| 2025 | IRRC – Imatranajo Superbike | Winners (x4) | Four wins; 18th and 19th Imatra triumph; new lap record (1:48.473). |
| 2025 | North West 200 – Superstock | 5th place | Leading European manufacturer; BMW. |
| 2025 | Isle of Man TT – Supersport 1/2 | 24th place | Yamaha R6 (Parker Transport); Superbike: 23rd (01:14:09.057). |
| 2019–2025 | IRRC / TT / Macau / Imatranajo | Multiple wins/podium finishes | Over 30 wins; strength on Imatra (19 wins), Horice and Guia Circuit; first Finnish Macau winner. |
Notes on his achievements: Kostamo is the IRRC record holder (multiple titles) and Imatranajo king (19 wins). His 2022 Macau victory was historic; in 2025 he dominated the IRRC (top-10 standings) and TT (Supersport debut). Road races (NW200, TT) are his trademark.
Contract with Penz13 and races during this time
In 2020, Erno Kostamo signed a multi-year contract with the German BMW team Penz13.com (SYNTAINICS by Penz13, managed by Rico Penzkofer), specializing in road racing and IRRC. The deal included the Isle of Man TT, North West 200, and Macau GP on the BMW S 1000 RR (#38), supplemented by IRRC support. Penz13 chose the 29-year-old Kostamo for his Finnish precision and Imatra dominance – he complemented lineups with riders such as David Datzer and Lukas Maurer. The contract boosted Kostamo’s international career (e.g., TT debut); it brought speed and reliability. The partnership lasted until 2024 (Macau); Penz13 honored him as the “Road King” in their timeline.
Racing with Penz13 (2020–2024): Kostamo participated in selected road events; the team achieved podium finishes and top-10 finishes.
- Isle of Man TT – Superbike TT (2020): Top 30 debut; BMW S 1000 RR; Solid race on the Mountain Course.
- North West 200 – Superstock (2019, contract preparation): 11th place. First Penz13 race; BMW.
- North West 200 – Superbike (2023): 6th place. Konstanz; SYNTAINICS by Penz13.
- Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix (2022): Winner. Historic triumph; BMW S 1000 RR; 8 laps, first Finn.
- Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix (2023): Top 3 (behind Datzer/Berger). Podium; SYNTAINICS by Penz13.
- Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix (2024): Top 5. Team 38 by Penz13; BMW dominance (7 BMWs in the field).
The partnership was triumphant – Kostamo’s Macau victory in 2022 and podium finishes (2023/2024) were highlights; Penz13’s BMW setup helped with lap records.
Current situation and future plans
As of September 28, 2025, Erno Kostamo (34 years old) is highly active in the 2025 IRRC season: He recently won at Horice (SBK Q2, lap record 2:11.416) and Imatranajo (four wins, new lap record 1:48.473), and leads the Superbike standings (top-10 standings). At the 2025 Isle of Man TT, he competed in Supersport 1/2 (24th place, Yamaha R6 with Parker Transport Racing) and Superbike (23rd place). He started at the 2025 North West 200 (5th in Superstock, leading European) and is preparing for Frohburg (October 2025) – his goal: to defend his title. Kostamo tests for BMW (e.g., Suzuka preparation) and is involved in Finnish camps (e.g., Joensuu Juniors, September 2025). On Instagram, he posts about sponsors like Pirelli (e.g., tire tests, August 2025). In his private life, he enjoys spending time with his family in Joensuu, including motocross.
Future plans: Kostamo plans to continue in the IRRC until 2027 (title defense in 2026), focusing on a TT return (Superbike/Supersport 2026, Parker Transport) and the North West 200. A possible Macau GP in 2026 (goal: fourth victory). Long-term: a junior academy in Finland (starting in 2027) and a TV commentator role with Yle Sport (from 2026). “More wins for Finland – by 40!” – quote from Instagram (Sep. 2025). No retirement: “Road racing is my life.”