Munich: It's a real highlight of the season both for fans and also for most of the series participants when a Belgian MX superstar like Stefan Everts pays a visit to the ADAC MX Masters, because Stefan Everts is not only a familiar figure on the motocross scene, the 43-year-old is the MX rider par excellence in terms of success on an off-road bike. With ten world championship titles, 101 grand prix victories and five other trophies in the Motocross World Team Championships, the ex-pro rider from Bree in Belgium is one of the most successful motor racing stars of all time. The motocross ace has been named Athlete of the Year five times in his home country and can also be proud of the fact that after him, no other MX star has become world champion with all four Japanese manufacturers – Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki.

The father of two finished riding competitively in 2006. His job now is to look after MX juniors and world championship riders as team principal at Team Suzuki World MXGP. Thanks to his expertise and desire to impart to others the same fascination with the sport of motocross that he feels, Everts can give his protégés useful tips to enable them to make their title dreams a reality. In this exclusive interview, the world champion tells us why motocross will always remain his abiding passion and to what extent the ADAC MX Masters provides the best setting in which riders can indulge their passion to the full and get started at an international level.

Why will motocross always be important to you?

Stefan Everts: "I learned to ride motocross at an early age, and there's nothing since that has given me greater satisfaction than the feeling of sitting on my bike and being completely in control of it. This sport puts you in a sort of trance and allows you to push yourself to your limits. It's exciting and thrilling every time I ride, and I never want to miss being in the moment. Even today, I still love to feel the race atmosphere and to be a part of a greater whole."

What's your relationship with the ADAC MX Masters?

Everts: "For me, the ADAC MX Masters is a very important racing series full of fresh young talent that I can scout for the team. Arminas Jasikonis is the latest find. Lots of good and successful riders, worth keeping an eye on and sponsoring, are always joining the ADAC MX Masters. Riders who can win through and prove themselves in this series definitely have the potential to enjoy an international career. The ADAC MX Masters is the perfect platform for me to attract more factory riders to join Suzuki if possible, as there's plenty of movement in the scene and I like to expand my team with new top-class riders."

What impressions did you form on your visit to the ADAC MX Masters?

Everts. "Well, I keep hearing a lot of good things about the ADAC MX Masters on the MX scene, and since the last time I was at a meeting was back in 2008 or 2009, it was time to pay them a call again. Events are always very well attended, and the fan base continually increasing in size, which speaks volumes for the series, in my opinion. The standard is incredibly high. There's a great mix of tracks and varying demands put on riders. What's more, the ADAC MX Masters provides Suzuki with an excellent platform where we can achieve success."

When did you first notice that motocross is more than just a way of spending your free time?

Everts: "Oh, that was relatively early on. Even as a little boy, I was totally fascinated with the sport, and soon after making my first attempts at riding the bike, there was nothing I wanted to do more than to go dirt-bike riding. I had my own private track in the garden where I'd ride for hours and practise. Even school really began to irritate me eventually, because in my mind, everything revolved around motocross."

What skill sets and character traits do you need to be successful in the sport of motocross?

Everts: "There are, of course, many factors that play a role, but in my opinion, there are mainly three things that you really need to be successful in motocross – ambition, talent and character. You must have an iron will and be able to win through if you want to go far in this sport."

What tips do you give young MX riders?

Everts: "Every motocross rider has to work extremely hard if he wants to get ahead, and recognising your weaknesses and working on them is all part and parcel of that. You should, therefore, take every opportunity to watch those who are better than you, because it's from them that you can learn the most."