The young German has been a motocross rider for 15 years now and has spent every free day of those 15 years on his racing dirt bike. "Holidays never really interest me, because all I ever want to do is ride motocross," said the 22-year-old, who grew up not far from the Gaildorf track in the small town of Rudersberg in Baden-Württemberg. The ADAC MX Masters rider contested his first race in 1999 aged seven and was crowned Champion of Baden-Württemberg in 2006. Before that, he regularly finished on the podium in second or third place in local championships. Since 2004, he has competed within the framework of the ADAC MX Masters series, lining up on an 85cc Honda in the ADAC MX Junior Cup. In the meantime, Schaller is now one of the big boys at Masters events and lines up along with MX stars like ADAC MX Masters champion Dennis Ullrich.
By the way, the KTM rider has a very special connection with Ulle, who was one of his toughest opponents until 2011. Before then, the two guys were in constant competition for the top spot, used to drive to racing events together, share petrol expenses and often train together on the track. "Now, in races, I only ever get to see Dennis's exhaust pipe. Dennis has focused fully on his pro career along the way, becoming extremely quick. I'm now no longer able to keep up with him these days to any real extent," Schaller told us candidly.
Maikster, as his friends call him, opted at the outset to undertake vocational training instead of turning pro. The 22-year-old is currently in his third year as an apprentice industrial mechanic with KW Automotive in Fichtenberg near Gaildorf. "My priorities have shifted, because it was important to me to have another leg to stand on apart from the business with sport," said Schaller. Nevertheless, motocross still plays one of the most important roles in his life. For two years now after work in Fichtenberg, he has regularly been involved in training young riders at Gaildorf, teaching aspiring motocrossers the correct riding techniques. "A couple of youth workers from MSC Gaildorf asked me if I would liked to take on the role. It's a great honour and a lot of fun. I think it's brilliant to be able to teach younger riders and explain how things work. On days when I'm teaching, I go to work in my VW Transporter and put the bike in the back and then go to the track straight after work," said the Masters rider.
In any case, he likes being at his home track in Gaildorf. "My best races so far have all been here in Gaildorf, and it gives me a tremendous boost, whenever I line up here as a local rider in the ADAC MX Masters. The track is a modern race circuit that follows the contours of the land. There are many bumpy sections, double jumps and technically demanding passages, so there's no chance to relax," said the young apprentice mechanic. The 22-year-old regards himself as a cautious rider. He can achieve significantly better results on technically demanding tracks like the one in Gaildorf than on fast circuits.
Although Maikster has been sponsored by KTM Kosak Racing team since 2011, he pays for the bulk of his expensive hobby himself and is sometimes supported by his father Henry and his mother Sonja. However, they were not at all thrilled when their son first showed an interest in motocross at a tender age. "Although my father had also been a motocross rider, my parents never actually wanted me to get involved with the sport, but as soon as I could ride a bike, grandad bought me a little PW 50. I was about five or six years old at the time," said the 22-year-old, looking back. However, little Maik did not develop a real interest in riding until he was aged seven, as before then, he found the little motocross machine just a little bit too scary.
He is pleased today, though, that he managed to overcome his initial fears and that 'Opa' Herbert introduced him to the sport. "I couldn't live without motocross. I like the engine noise, the adrenaline and the jumps. Moreover, it spurs me on, knowing that in order to be successful, you must be able to cope with all the technical details and be in control of oneself. That includes having plenty of discipline, ambition, and of course, courage, which is why not everyone is suited to this sport," said Schaller, summing up his fascination with motocross.
Nowadays, he likes to steal away from the race track for a few hours now and then, eating out at Greek and Italian restaurants, accompanied by girlfriend Nadine, with whom he has been together for two years. Sometimes, the pretty brunette even cooks Maik his favourite dish, vegetable curry.