Girlfriends accompany their menfolk to the races, help out during training and generally provide moral support; in fact, they are pillars of strength. ADAC MX Youngster Cup rider Moritz Schittenhelm has been going out with 19-year-old Jessica for the past two and a half years. The couple first met at a motocross race in Jessica's home town of Fischbach, where she had been just another fan at the trackside. "My father was also a motocross rider at one stage, so I'm enthusiastic about the sport and can well understand the passion that Moritz feels," explains the attractive blonde who is currently training to be a legal assistant. That suits Moritz, because the two of them have to coordinate their diaries carefully to see each other. Jessica lives 190 kilometres away from her MX hero and therefore plans her holidays around spending as much time as possible with him. "It's a good feeling to have her around," says Moritz, also 19 years old, who is currently studying for a diploma at a sports academy in Stuttgart. "When I'm down in the dumps, Jessica picks me up and finds just the right words."

ADAC MX Youngster Cup contestant Rasmus Lynggaard also met his girlfriend Nadja for the first time at a motocross race event. They have been an item for two years and live together in Rasmus's home town of Mors in Denmark. "Nadja is the most important person in my life," says 21-year-old Rasmus. "She supports me at all times; we laugh a lot together and aim to spend every free minute in each other's company. When my brother Kasper was killed in a supercross accident in January, she gave me constant support and helped me through a bad patch. She was there around the clock for me, and I respect her a lot for that."

The love affair between Dietger Damiaens and his girlfriend Sara has held steady for the past one and a half years. Since both of them are keen on motocross, it is no coincidence that they found each other through the sport. Dietger's nephew introduced them at a race in Lommel, Belgium. Since then, they have rarely been apart: they train together and watch each other competing. "In our relationship, everything revolves around motocross," says the 18-year-old Belgian. "We do, however, go to Spain each winter for some rest and relaxation. Although we keep our hand in there, we also need the occasional break." Dietger makes it clear he regards 16-year-old Sara not only as his partner but also as his best friend.

21-year-old ADAC MX Masters rider Maik Schaller and his girlfriend Nadine have been going steady for the past two years. The two try to see each other at least three times a week, but this always involves something of a trek, as Nadine's home village outside Heilbronn is one hour away from Rudersberg where Maik lives. "One of my female friends introduced me to Maik," says 18-year-old Nadine. "But at the time, I was still going out with someone else, which is why it took a while before we got together. Of course, the distance is a bit frustrating, but as long as we stay relaxed about the travel arrangements, we don't see it as a problem." Nadine often accompanies Maik to practice sessions and urges him on as he goes through his fitness routine. When he has done enough for the day, she serves him one of her famous vegetable curries which he simply adores.

France's Sulivan Jaulin and Boris Maillard both found their true loves in Germany. Jaulin had already seen 23-year-old Lisa twice on motocross weekends in Holzgerlingen and Jauer before he summoned up the courage to speak to her at a supercross event in Stuttgart. What instantly attracted the Masters rider were her blond hair and blue eyes. "When I'm with Lisa in my home town, all the lads turn round to look at her," says 22-year-old Sulivan. "That makes me very proud." However, he admits with a grin that he doesn't always have an easy time with his girlfriend: "She has a fiery temper!" Jaulin is living with Lisa and her parents near Bonn at the moment, but the lovebirds, who have been together now for almost a year, are planning to get an apartment of their own some time in 2015.

21-year-old MX Masters star Boris Maillard has been with his girlfriend for much longer. He first encountered Polish-born Paulina at a motocross event in Prisannewitz three years ago, and the two of them then spent a lot of time chatting on social networks. After they had met up at other races and got to know each other better, a full-scale romance blossomed: "I fell in love with Paulina at first sight. It's very important to me that we do a lot together. When I am with her in Malente, we often go to the beach or to the park. Spending time with my girlfriend matters most to me." The couple have already spoken about a shared future. Although Paulina currently works as a secretary at a German army base, she has no objection in principle to moving to France. If they stay in her home country, however, Boris would need to improve his German, because there is more to the language than just "Ich liebe dich".

The longest of the long-distance love affairs may well be that of 23-year-old Timur Muratov and his girlfriend Daria who lives in Saint Petersburg. A friend of a friend introduced him to the 20-year-old last year in Berlin, where the Russian-born Masters rider is currently living. The two have been enamoured for about a year and try to see each other for at least a full week every month. "Either I fly up to Leningrad, or she comes here to me. This always involves a lot of stress, because it cuts heavily into our budget and I have to coordinate the visits with my race and training schedule. But she is definitely worth it," says Muratov adoringly. And then he adds: "Although she likes motocross, we don't really discuss the sport much. That's actually quite good, because she makes me think about other things, and it helps me to keep our relationship separate from my sporting career."