The ADAC MX Masters is regarded as Europe's most popular motocross racing series and with good reason. The racing series is extremely well organised, provides riders with properly prepared tracks and has an impressive, strong international field of motocross aces. Moreover, youth development plays a crucial role. An initial introduction to the sport takes place during 'taster days' organised by the ADAC MX Academy. Young drivers, aged ten and upwards, can enter the ADAC MX Junior Cup and commence their training to become professional MX stars. The MX newbies learn to stand up to the competition, to develop their own riding style and to become stronger both physically and mentally. While still at a tender age, they are then exposed to an ever-higher level of proficiency in motocross. Whereas juniors aged from ten to 15 years line up on 85cc 2-stroke motorcycles, they move up a class in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, progressing to 125cc 2-stroke and 250cc 4-stroke bikes. In the 'big boys' league of the ADAC MX Masters, all machines are 250cc 2-stroke bikes and above exclusively. The standard in this class is the highest, both technically and physically.

International MX superstar Ken Roczen is one of the most successful riders in the ADAC MX Masters. The 21-year-old won the 2006 ADAC MX Junior Cup, secured the championship title in Class Two in 2008 and finished on the podium as ADAC MX Masters Champion in the following two years. After that, aged just 17, he became the youngest motocross world champion of all time and moved to the USA, where he is now being promoted as one of the best young talents. His rise to fame in motocross could hardly have been more meteoric. "Every MX star starts small and has to earn his laurels. And yes, the path to the very top is tough but definitely well worth the effort. I'm pleased that I was sponsored and supported by the ADAC from an early age, because otherwise I would not be where I am today. I've always had a passion for motocross," he said, telling us about how his career got started.

Young motocross competitor Jeremy Sydow (15, Falcon Motorsports) finds Ken Roczen's performance particularly impressive. Last year, the 15-year-old became the first German after Roczen to win the ADAC MX Junior Cup and now has hopes of a similarly successful career. "Kenny has already made it abundantly clear just what's possible at an early age thanks to the ADAC MX Masters, and I find that impressive. The race series is ideal preparation for the European and world championships, as both the tracks and the levels of proficiency are similar. What's more, I think it speaks for itself that there are always plenty of world championship riders signing up to the series," he concluded.

Dennis Ullrich (22, KTM Sarholz Racing Team) and Max Nagl (28, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) also figure among the ranks of the pros who contest the ADAC MX Masters. "Ulle", as he is known in the MX scene, won the 2010 ADAC MX Youngster Cup and the Masters Class trophy in 2013 and 2014. "I've been competing in the racing series for more than ten years now and have fought my way up from the juniors to the very top. There's always a very strong field of riders in each class of the ADAC MX Masters, so I can proudly say that it's where I cut my teeth," said the 22-year-old, who has now also become established in the world championship, where he is making a name for himself.

Max Nagl was crowned ADAC MX Masters champion in 2006 and 2008 and has competed in the world championship since then, just like Ullrich. "The ADAC MX Masters is the only series in the world that does something specifically for youth development with the ADAC MX Junior Cup. Consequently, even the young riders become a part of the international scene. The whole thing is very well organised and structured throughout, which is not the case with any of the other series. They are by far and away the best in that respect," said the Bavarian.

Shortly before this season starts, the ADAC will again organise a training course for juniors in which 30 riders from the ADAC MX Junior Cup and ADAC MX Youngster Cup will take part. Former world championship competitors Dietmar Lacher and Bernd Eckenbach, plus two-time ADAC MX Masters champion and ex world championship rider Marcus Schiffer will get together on the weekend of April 1st-3rd, 2016, in the basins at Teutschenthal in order to give the MX stars of tomorrow an intensive theoretical and practical seminar. The programme includes start training, physical exercise and plenty of on-track practical training.

Lacher and Eckenbach especially have now honed this programme to perfection. They have both been employed as head coaches at the ADAC MX Academy powered by KTM for some time, giving children a chance to get their first real experience of motocrossing at seven bases around Germany. For an entry fee of 38 euros, youngsters get the use of a small KTM bike and the right equipment before going out to post a few laps on a proper MX track for the first time. At a later stage, many of the young motocross fans then go on to enter the ADAC MX Junior Cup. More information regarding the ADAC MX Academy powered by KTM is available online at adac.de/mx-academy.