In motocross, it is important to use various items of equipment to protect the upper body, such as body armour, back protectors and neck braces, but measures should also be taken to ensure that the rider's legs are adequately protected. Knee guards have a vital role to play in this respect. Riders move constantly. They stand up at times and lean the bike over into corners. So, the knees are stressed throughout the race and huge demands are put on them. The knee brace not only offers MX riders protection should they fall, they also prevent the knee from twisting in unaccustomed directions, which could possibly cause even worse injury.

Consequently, the knee guard as a form of protection is tremendously important and should be of high quality. Any protection system should be light, flexible and ergonomically designed above all, so that the guard fits the knee as well as possible and does not itch, scratch or bother the rider in any way. Elastic bands are used to fasten it in place. Depending on the make, three or four rubber bands are stretched around the leg to ensure that the guard is properly fastened. Knee braces also often have a special ventilation system, so that the rider does not get too hot or sweaty underneath it.

ADAC MX Masters rider Michael Kratzer (22) uses Ortema protective equipment. "I think that you shouldn't try to save money where knee guards are concerned, because a ligament injury could soon put you out of action for a long time. I've not injured my knees so far, but the brace makes me feel much safer," said the Austrian.

Czech rider Filip Neugebauer (28) relies on the same protection system and also stressed the high quality of the product. "My knee guards were specially made for me. My knees were measured, and then they made a plaster cast. The knee braces are extremely important as far as I'm concerned, because knees can be broken in a fall or can soon get twisted. For those reasons, I would never ride without my guards. They don't bother me in the slightest. I don't even know they are there," said the Masters rider.

Racing without knee guards would also be out of the question for ADAC MX Youngster Cup entrant Bradley Cox (18). "Motocross is an extreme sport, and you should therefore take care to protect yourself adequately. The fit of the knee guard can be precisely adjusted by means of elastic bands, so I feel really safe," said the South African.

Twisted knees, torn or stretched ligaments and other unnecessary injuries can be a major threat to a motocross rider's career, so it is better to take steps to ensure that the situation does not arise in the first place.