The utilisation of carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) is becoming increasingly prevalent in the production of lightweight and high-performance components. This gives rise to new challenges in the field of quality control, where the use of simple, non-destructive testing methods is especially important.Thermography is a universally applicable and flexible testing method that is particularly suited to the detection of near-surface defects. In this study, the components to be analysed were subjected to a high-energy flash (optical thermography) and the resulting temperature curve was recorded using an infrared camera. The subsequent evaluation was carried out with the aid of the Thermal Signal Reconstruction (TSR) method, which enables the identification of material deviations through changes in heat flow. As part of this research project, thermography was successfully employed in the examination of structural CFRP components from race motorcycles. It was demonstrated that a notable enhancement in measurement precision can be attained by selecting and adjusting the lens, measurement frequency, and infrared camera in an optimal manner. Moreover, typical CFRP defects, such as those related to bonding, cracks, or impregnation, could be identified and evaluated. In the second part of the thesis, the potential for defect evaluation using FEA analysis was presented, and the procedure for a measured bonding defect was demonstrated. The model of a CFRP motorcycle frame constructed with cohesive elements was employed to ascertain the stresses within the adhesive layer and to evaluate its potential for propagation. In conclusion, it can be stated that thermography is an effective method for detecting near-surface defects in complex CFRP components, making it a valuable tool for quality control.