The MC Fürstenwalde eV was made a centre for the ADAC MX Academy powered by KTM for the first time in 2016 and is proud to have won the approval of the ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg. Only certain clubs get the chance to offer ADAC youth development taster courses. The MCF, as it is known by the 150 members of the club founded in 1958, has a lot going for it as regards offering courses for the ADAC MX Academy powered by KTM. To begin with, the site has enough space and special tracks for children, so that the everyday training activities of club members are not affected. Also, it's only 60 kms away from Berlin.

"There are plenty of riders and people interested in motocross in Berlin and surrounding area, so we were always destined to become organisers for the Academy," said René Korsus, Deputy Chairman of the MC Fürstenwalde. Anyway, he is very pleased about this latest cooperation with the ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg and ADAC headquarters in Munich: "Youth development is, in our opinion, one of the most important issues in motocross. We have already organised a number of special training sessions for up to 25 children at a time in the past and have a lot of experience with the young MX stars of tomorrow. Our goal is to get children and their parents interested in motocross, so we will do our utmost to ensure that the Academy's taster courses are absolutely top-class events," added Korsus in conclusion.

At any rate, the circumstances are ideal. Five more club members began training early this April to become certified 'C' coaches at a seminar lasting several days in Waldkappel in the German state of Hessen. So, the MCF will soon have six professional trainers and be well prepared with the help of the crew from the former Spremberg Academy. And they have a well-known assistant into the bargain. The head coach on the taster courses is European Enduro champion and Six-Day motocross competitor Heike Petrick.

What is more, the club has sufficient means to be able to give junior MX fans, who show a long-term interest in the sport, superb training and can also offer them the best route into the ADAC MX Junior Cup. Apart from its MX and enduro tracks, MC Fürstenwalde also has two tracks for children where the little ones can slowly but surely be introduced to the level of performance required by ADAC Juniors. In addition, there are always enough professional coaches on site to give assistance to the young trainees and support them with helpful suggestions.

The club has set aside six dates for the ADAC MX Academy on this season's schedule. There are only a few places left (registration at www.adac.de/mx-academy). Kids can learn a lot about this unique sport during the taster courses that last several hours. The children aged from seven to twelve years train first on BMX bikes as part of their practical training before they get a chance to try out the KTMs. Wearing full gear, they can post a few laps on the children's track but are constantly watched over and accompanied by the coaches. They show them how to start properly, brake and change gear. They practise how to set off with them, how to read the track and tell them the best and quickest way to pick up a bike after a fall. The safety of the children is paramount. The ADAC and KTM together with partners Motul, Ortema and Maxxis loan participants a KTM motorcycle, fuel and all the protective gear needed, ranging from helmet and neck brace to breastplate and boots.

The first of six courses will start this spring, and all the coaches at MC Fürstenwalde eV are already really looking forward to it.