Perfectly prepared circuits, professional race procedures, uniformity across the board - the fact that the ADAC MX Masters has become Europe's most popular motocross race series is no coincidence. The work of the Race Director and the Steward to the series is one of the many factors that have made an important contribution to success.

The Race Director and Steward first contact the host club about safety issues at the circuit before getting down to their real work early on Friday morning at the start of the race weekend. At nine o'clock on the dot, the two of them get together with the organising club's Race Director, with the Head of Track Safety, with the Clerk of the Course and with the helpers responsible for erecting advertising banners to walk around the track. As they do so, they check that the various safety measures pertaining to the circuit are in place. Next, they go through all the important documentation relating to the ADAC MX Masters meeting. Is the circuit log-book still current? Does the club have insurance cover as prescribed by the ADAC? Which marshals, doctors and club leaders are going to be present at the circuit during the race weekend? Have the event organisers complied with the conditions of their initial bid?

Also on Friday, the series press officer and the local press representative get together to work out how many media reps are expected, what in the way of press releases have to be sent out and what guidelines journalists need to follow when working at the track. A little later, the Race Director and Steward will check that the starting gate is working properly before rounding off their work on Friday with another meeting about organisational matters where they decide, for example, if everything has gone to plan so far, whether the track needs more water, where the medical treatment centre is located etc..

Finally on Saturday and Sunday, it's all about the race action. Saturday starts with a briefing for the safety marshals, after which the doctors and paramedics are given detailed information about procedures at the track and receive guidelines relating to track-side safety. Working closely with the Head of the Track, the DMSB stewards present at the ADAC MX Masters check its actual condition while riders are out on the circuit. As they go about their work, they consider whether certain things need improving, if more still has to be done or if more watering is required and whether the track is good enough to meet the demands of the seniors, the 'big boys' and yet can still be ridden by the juniors. Christian Brockel, the DMSB riders' representative, is also asked to give his opinion.

Possible infringements of the sporting regulations are another important area that has to be addressed. The Race Director and Steward are in constant contact with the Clerk of the Course and marshals the whole race weekend to ensure that riders adhere to ADAC MX Masters rules and regulations. For example, if a rider jumps when the yellow flag is out, which is strictly forbidden by the regs, then the Race Director and Clerk of the Course will mete out the appropriate penalties. If necessary, those who have witnessed the alleged offence may also be heard. The Race Steward assumes a neutral role when penalties are handed out.

The actions of certain individuals out on track are discussed at the meetings on Saturday and Sunday evening with all the important people concerned, namely, the Clerk of the Course, the technicians, the persons in charge of the timing equipment, the Head of Track Safety and the doctor on call. During this session, the Race Director and Race Steward will once again go through some of the incidents that have happened with a fine-tooth comb in order to make future improvements and clear up any misunderstandings that have cropped up, because it is only through their good offices, by working together with all the organisers, with club officials and the ADAC that the ADAC MX Masters can be steadily improved and the interest of riders from all over the world in the race series maintained.