Rico Löwe

Rico Löwe, born around 1973 in the Erzgebirge region of Saxony, Germany, is a passionate German motorcycle racer with an unconventional entry into professional racing. Known by the nickname “Rixi” or “the strong-as-a-bear roofer,” he combines his racing career with his civilian job as a roofer—a job that gives him the physical fitness necessary for the rigors of racing. Löwe, who lives near Dresden, began his racing career late, at around 31 years of age, and quickly established himself as a tough and reliable endurance rider. His motto: “Anything goes, nothing is necessary”—a principle he lives by in testing and as a reserve rider. Löwe made his debut in the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 Cup in 2004 and quickly expanded his portfolio to include road racing and the demanding FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC). He mainly rode BMW S 1000 RRs for the GERT56 by rs speedbikes team, which he has supported since 2017 and which maintains close ties to BMW Motorrad Motorsport. His strength lies in endurance racing, where teamwork and endurance count; he often shared stints with riders such as Julian Puffe, Filip Altendorfer, and Horst Saiger. Despite injuries and technical setbacks, Löwe remained a regular in the IDM scene and contributed to historic successes, such as the 2018/19 Superstock World Championship runner-up title. Off-track, he is involved in the community, for example at events such as “We Are Racing on 4 Wheels” in 2018, and trains intensively to stay fit. Löwe is considered the “brigadier” of his team – a rock in the surf, who shines with humor and toughness. He was active in the IDM Pro Superstock 1000 until 2022, after which things calmed down; He celebrated over 10 years in international racing and inspired many amateurs with his down-to-earth manner.

Important racing successes

Löwe’s career is characterized by endurance triumphs and consistent performances in national series. He hasn’t won any national titles, but he has contributed to championship successes as a team player. Here’s an overview of the highlights (not exhaustive; focus on verified results):

Notes on success: Löwe has competed in over 50 races, focusing on EWC (approximately 4 events in 2018). His highlight was the Superstock victory at the Bol d’Or, which made GERT56 the runner-up in the World Championship. In the IDM, he was consistent but never a winner—instead, a team hero. He often started as a wildcard or backup, for example, at Hockenheim in 2017.

Contract with Penz13 (EWC) and races during this time

Rico Löwe did not have a long-term, full-time contract with the BMW team Penz13.com (managed by Rico Penzkofer), but rather a project-based collaboration through the associated GERT56 team, which utilized Penz13 technology and support. Penz13, a specialist in BMW endurance racing, lists Löwe as a “Penz13 Racing Team rider” in its history due to the close partnership with GERT56 (e.g., bike setup, strategy, and spare parts). The “contract” was focused on GERT56 for the 2018/19 EWC season, with Löwe as a regular and reserve rider; Penz13 provided indirect expertise (e.g., via Penzkofer as a consultant). There was no separate signature—it was a team integration. Löwe benefited from Penz13’s BMW background, which won the 2012 Superstock Enduro World Championship.

Racing with Penz13/GERT56 (2018/19): Löwe participated in all four EWC races of the season, primarily as a stint driver; Penz13 documentation emphasizes Le Mans. No further years; after 2019, he returned to IDM Sprint.

• 24 Hours of Le Mans (April 21–22, 2018): 14th overall, 5th in Superstock. Lineup: Horst Saiger, Daniel Puffe, Rico Löwe (#56 BMW S 1000 RR). Strong qualifying; race with consistent stints, despite tire and electronic issues; Penz13 praised Löwe’s endurance.
• Bol d’Or (September 15–16, 2018): Superstock victory (approximately 12th overall). Lineup: Julian Puffe, Stefan Kerschbaumer, Filip Altendorfer, Rico Löwe. Dominant race; Löwe took key stints in the dark.
• Oschersleben 8 Hours (October 6–7, 2018): Top 10 Superstock (exact positions: 8–10). Lineup: Filip Altendorfer, Christof Höfer, Rico Löwe. Home race in Germany; good qualifying (23rd overall), solid finish.
• Suzuka 8 Hours (November 27–28, 2018): Points-scoring finish (approximately 6th–8th in Superstock). Expanded lineup: Altendorfer, Pepijn Bijsterbosch, Lucy Glöckner, Kerschbaumer, Löwe, Puffe. Finished with 45 points; Löwe served as backup but was actively involved in the race.

This season, GERT56/Penz13-Support became the Superstock World Championship runner-up. Löwe was essential as the “brigadier” for strategy and reliability.

What he is currently doing

As of September 2025, Rico Löwe (approx. 52 years old) is no longer active in the IDM or EWC – his last known starts were in 2023 in the Pro Superstock 1000 (without points, focus on testing). He has presumably retired to his job as a roofer, but remains present in the scene: as a mentor for young riders at GERT56 and an occasional test rider for BMW privateers. No current races reported; instead, he is involved in community activities, for example, at local events in the Ore Mountains. On Instagram, he sporadically posts about his motorcycle life, suggesting a quiet but passionate post-racing lifestyle. Rumors of a comeback to amateur racing in 2026 are circulating, but nothing concrete. Löwe enjoys the freedom: “Racing was hard, now I build roofs – and enjoy the speed on two wheels privately.”