Successful manufacturer, successful riders, successful support given to the series - Suzuki figure among the sponsors, who have supported the ADAC MX Masters from the outset. And in many ways. Suzuki Motorsport can look back on a successful past in motocross. Suzuki not only have a financial stake in the racing series but also travel to every event with their own works team which in previous years has won quite a lot of trophies.
Team principal Thomas Hannecke explains why Suzuki are so keen to throw their weight behind the ADAC MX Masters. "It is important that a viable series also exists at a national level and can then act as a very important base, making participation in the sport possible in the first place. Moreover, we see again and again that highlights set by famous riders play a role, which obviously makes participating even more attractive. All of these prerequisites exist in the ADAC MX Masters. The race series is one of the best in Europe. The international field of entrants is definitely European championship standard. Plus, the series is professionally organised, which is why we always flag up the Masters meetings very prominently in our race diaries."
Ken Roczen (22) is among the famous riders, who have grown up with Suzuki in the ADAC MX Masters. He is an acclaimed MX star both on a national and international level. He was first crowned ADAC MX Junior Cup winner, then became ADAC MX Youngster Cup champion and then finally won the Masters class twice. He also finished world championship runner-up while riding for Suzuki.
The two works riders, Jeffrey Herlings (21) and Jeremy Seewer (21), who currently occupy the top two places in the MX2 world championship are equally as successful. The two MX stars went through the ADAC MX Masters Academy - passing out with flying colours - before lining up with the world's top elite. Riding his Suzuki, Dutchman Herlings finished on the top rung of the podium in the ADAC MX Junior Cup at the end of the 2008 season, while Swiss rider Seewer lifted the trophy in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup in 2012. Suzuki rider Glenn Coldenhoff (25) emerged as the overall winner of the ADAC MX Masters last year, and the Dutch rider has regularly finished in the Top Ten of the world championship ever since.
Suzuki prodigy Brian Hsu (18) currently competes on the international stage and also rides regularly in the Masters class. The German-Taiwanese rider with Hungarian roots racked up five European championships and two world championship titles before his 18th birthday. Hsu, who has made his home in Italy, also took the trophy in the 2015 ADAC MX Youngster Cup. Ever since that season, Brian has been one of the 'Big Boys' in the ADAC MX Masters and has already stood out by posting fastest time in his second qualifying session. Team principal Thomas Hannecke is particularly pleased with his career so far: "The ADAC MX Masters is a great pool of talent in which very strong riders compete and in which the younger ones especially are able to benefit from watching the more experienced. Many international motocross greats started their careers in this series and then used it as the perfect springboard into a works team, just like Brian Hsu. We at Suzuki think that it is very important that we give guys like Brian Hsu a platform and accompany them right from the start on their way up into the MXGP world championship."
Dutch rider Bas Vaessen is also currently being groomed for stardom. He impressed by winning the ADAC MX Junior Cup in 2012 and is slowly being prepared by Suzuki for a great career as an MX star. At the moment, the 18-year-old competes in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup and in the European championship but will also contest grands prix in the near future. "We offer our works riders a very promising future. Suzuki have a pretty good idea what the guys need and are in it for the long-term," as team principal Hannecke told us.
In addition to the Suzuki truck, Suzuki also organise various other activities as support to the race series. The Suzuki Quad track is a regular at all events, while the Suzuki 4x4 Roadeo will feature at a minimum of two meetings. "The ADAC manages to transform the Masters into the perfect event for the whole family, making it a worthwhile activity for everyone. We like to be involved in this manner, because it turns an ordinary race weekend into a real motocross spectacular," said team principal Hannecke in conclusion.