Lorenz Sölisch’s (9) big ambition is to be able to ride motocross like his great idol Max Nagl. For the young MX talent, the Bavarian is the best there is in his sport. The Year 3 schoolboy would love to be able to successfully compete on a bike. He still has a long way to go, though, as he only got started two years ago. “I went to the ADAC MX Academy in 2015 when I rode a motorcycle for the first time. It was a really great experience,” he says, looking back. He’s been inseparable from his motocross bike ever since. “I had so much fun back then that I joined the club immediately after the course and have trained regularly ever since,” said the wee laddie, who likes riding fast down the straights and taking the jumps best.

Lorenz took part in a ‘Train the Trainer’ taster course two years ago at MSC Teutschenthal eV where he now also rides as a club member, a decision that especially pleased his father, Andreas, since his son is now the third generation of the family to take part in this extreme sport. “My dad used to be the chairman of MSC Teutschenthal eV and would always take me to the race track as a child. Although I’ve never ridden professionally, I’ve always been very enthusiastic about the sport,” says Andreas, who works in the club at Teutschenthal like his father before him and is the club’s CEO.

If it were up to Lorenz, he would love to become the first member of the family to turn professional at some point, unlike his father and grandfather, who remained amateurs. At the moment, Lorenz successfully competes in various regional championships and races in his area of Saxony-Anhalt. He hopes to finish on the top rung of the podium in the very near future. “P11 has been my best result so far, but I practise hard in order to improve,” says the nine-year-old, who can be found riding his 65cc machine at the motocross track once a week and at weekends.

He is supported in his new hobby mainly by his father, Andreas, who accompanies his son to all races. “Since my dad is always there, we spend a lot of time together, which I find really nice,” says Lorenz. Sometimes, however, his mother, Nicole, also comes along when he is entered in a race nearby. “Mum and dad always say I should train to do a proper job,” laughs Lorenz, but then quickly adds. “Still, you can make a good living if you can ride as well as Max Nagl.” At the moment, his parents pay all the bills for their young motocross off-spring. A child’s bike costs around 4,500 euros, plus protective equipment and clothing. However, the search for sponsors will begin as soon as he can start to make more progress at a national level.

MSC Teutschenhal eV have played a part in the ADAC MX Academy powered by KTM since its launch in 2013 and, as a permanent base for the Academy, are strongly committed to developing trainee riders in the sport. The young MX enthusiasts have their own children’s course in the grounds of the old-established club which has organised motocross races and world championship rounds since 1966, and ten club members have also taken courses to become licensed trainers. “We’re very pleased to welcome every new talent who comes along and aim to see that the kids can remain ‘on the ball’ after the Academy and have enough opportunity to practise on their bikes. For that reason, we offer a youth training session once a week at the club where participants can swap ideas with their peers and trainers,” says Andreas, who earned his license to coach at the age of 20 and has served as the club’s managing director, as a riding instructor and youth trainer since then.