For every ADAC MX Masters event on the calendar, there are around 250 contestants from more than 25 different countries. Teams from all over the world pitch their awnings here and showcase their squads. Over the past few years, a number of smaller teams have been vying for honours with the long-established outfits that were introduced to you in our previous programme booklet.

Falcon Motorsports led by team principal Falk Greiner have been contesting the ADAC MX Masters since 2012. Greiner used to race against big-name German riders such as Angus Heidecke and Stephan Mock but switched to a management role some years ago and has been bringing on talented individuals ever since. This year, the team from Genthin in Sachsen-Anhalt has a squad of riders from Germany and from abroad. Cyril Genot, Nathan Renkens and Philipp Eggers will compete in the ADAC MX Masters, and Nathan will also challenge for the MX2 World Championship. Benedikt Gödtner is the Falcon representative in the ADAC Youngsters Cup, while Nick Domann and Tom Schröder aim to excel in the ADAC MX Junior Cup. Falk Greiner is optimistic about the campaign: “We clearly regard Cyril and Nathan as top prospects, and we are hoping for Top Ten results from them. For Bene in the Youngsters class, the primary objective is to master the art of qualifying. And our little ones in the ADAC MX Junior Cup also have a lot going for them. Nick is into his second season with the Juniors and is getting stronger with every passing week, so in his case, Top Ten finishes are certainly on the cards. Tom is the youngest in the team and has improved immensely in terms of speed over the winter. If he gets through qualification on a regular basis, he is certainly capable of scoring points in 2017.”

In 2013, HFour-Caluori Racing Team by Energybody became the first Swiss team to register for the ADAC MX Masters. Since then, team boss Harry Näpflin (nicknamed ‘Dirty Harry’ during his own active racing career) has made it his mission to promote talented MX riders from his home country and to give them the opportunity to compete on an international stage. This year, Kim Schaffter and Daniel Ferreira will be challenging in the senior competition, while the hopes of the team in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup rest on Loris Freidig, Flavio Wolf, Pascal Friedli, Robin Scheiben and Alessandro Contessi. The talented Swiss rider Luca Diserens is competing in the Junior Cup. Harry Näpflin rates the series highly: “The ADAC MX Masters is, from my point of view, the ideal arena in which to measure yourself against the best European riders. Our Swiss entrants also appreciate the quality of the circuits and of the organisation that goes into the races. Alongside our own Swiss championship, the ADAC MX Masters Series is our top priority for the 2017 season.”

The 2014 season saw the arrival of no fewer than three new teams: Cofain Racing, Husqvarna-SKS Racing NL and Classic Oil/SHR Motorsports. The Cofain Racing team run by Bernhard Hatheyer focuses mainly on talented MX riders from Austria. This year, they have a completely new line-up in the shape of Lukas Neurauter and Petr Smitka for the ADAC MX Masters as well as Manuel Perkhofer and Clemens Neurauter for the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. Bernhard Hatheyer: “With Luki and Petr we definitely want to be in contention for podium places. We hope that the international experience Manuel Perkhofer gains from this series will assist in his further development.”

Husqvarna-SKS Racing NL are from the Netherlands. Team principal Toine Uijttewaal has entered four riders from his home country for the ADAC MX Masters. Sven van der Mierden will compete in the senior class while Carsten Goedegebure, Nick Horsten and Michel Schoenmakers have been registered for the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. Toine Uijttewaal: “The whole team is highly motivated, and with head coach Hans Koenen and myself both having competed in motocross ourselves, we know what’s what. We are extremely enthusiastic and have set ourselves the goal of giving our four protégés the best backing we can and being a team they can rely on.”

Steffen Hünecke, team boss at Classic Oil/SHR Motorsports, is also focused on the targeted promotion of new talent. Just like Husqvarna-SKS Racing NL, the team from Heemsen in Lower Saxony has entered three riders for the ADAC MX Youngster Cup and one for the Masters itself. Carrying the Classic Oil/SHR Motorsports banner in the intermediate class are Nichlas Bjerregaard, Tristen Sücker and Eric Valtingojer, while Denmark’s Mikkel Bendix leads the way in the senior category. Steffen Hünecke: “In 2017, we aim to finish in the points more often and to make a bigger splash. Our riders are superbly fit, so we’re hoping for better results and a better showing in the championship table. In that respect, I’m feeling upbeat. We are a fabulous and harmonious team, and that alone makes a lot of difference.”

Diga Procross and WZ Racing have also been contesting Europe’s most popular motocross race series since 2015. Both have had an eventful run-up to the new season, especially Diga Procross. The team led by Justin Amian are not only fielding an almost a completely new squad from 2017 onwards but have also switched from Suzuki to Husqvarna bikes. ADAC MX Masters rider Luis Carstens has been part of the setup since 2013, but the Cologne-based outfit has recruited two new motocross talents for the ADAC MX Youngster Cup – France’s Adrien Malaval and Australia’s Caleb Grothues. Justin Amian: “Caleb has only just turned 16 and has been with us for just a few weeks now. He is gradually getting used to our climate here in Europe. I’m interested to see how this season pans out. The whole team is looking forward to working together on the weekends and during the week. We are very satisfied with how Luis, Adrien and Caleb are developing on a personal as well as a sporting level.”

WZ Racing from Westerbeck in Lower Saxony are sending five riders into the fray this year. They include Poland’s Lukasz Lonka in the Masters class as well as Jeremy Sydow, Gianluca Ecca and Thomas Sileika in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. Danil Zhilkin from Lithuania will contest the ADAC MX Junior Cup. Team boss Waldemar Zichanowisch: “Lukasz was injured last season and now intends to make a fresh start. He has already proved that he is a rider to be reckoned with by taking fifth place in the MX Wintercup at Dolle. Thomas and Gianluca are going for the title in Class 2, just like Danil who wants to finish among the Top Five in the Junior Cup. Jeremy’s focus in 2017 is on the EMX 125. He is targeting a Top Five finish. Midway through the season, he will then switch to a 250cc machine and compete in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup.”

Owned and managed by the Johannes brothers, stielergruppe.mx Johannes Bikes Suzuki have only been contesting the ADAC MX Masters in an official capacity since 2016, but they have actually been competing in the series since 2004, albeit with a much smaller entourage. At that time, they already had Tim Koch on board. He has stayed loyal to them ever since and has been part of the Johannes Bikes setup for the past 13 years. Competing alongside Tim in the Masters class will be Frenchman Boris Maillard. In the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, the team’s hopes will rest on Paul Haberland and Anne Borchers. Team principal Torsten Johannes: “The recruitment of Boris is a real boost for the team. With his natural ability, Top Five finishes are definitely feasible. As for Tim, Top 15 positions are realistic, so we’re feeling optimistic in that regard. In the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, we have to see how things develop. First and foremost, Paul has to make sure he qualifies and then scores the odd point or two. Anne will hopefully also be making her mark. In any case, we are looking forward to the events which are always enjoyable, but for this season, we are obviously hoping for fairer weather.”

Dirk Saelen’s KTM Diga Junior Racing team had its first experience of the ADAC MX Masters in the 2012 season, at that time under the slightly different name of Diga Racing. Since 2016, the Belgian outfit with its line-up of promising youngsters has taken a serious interest in the series. With two Finnish riders, Miro Sihvonen and Matias Vesterinen, as well as Tomas Kohút from Slovakia, the team is hoping for top positions in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. Cody Chittick from Australia will compete in the ADAC MX Junior Cup. Dirk Saelen: “We have four truly talented and highly ambitious MX riders in our squad. They made a big impression on me at the winter training camp in Portugal, and they are each working according to an individually designed training plan. Our entire team is highly motivated and dedicated to the notion of helping our young riders make their dreams come true and achieve their ambitions.” Miro Sihvonen finished second in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup last year and has set his sights on the 2017 title. Tomas is the younger brother of MX2 star Martin Kohút, so he is obviously aiming to emulate his brother. Matias Vesterinen makes the step up this year from the ADAC MX Junior Cup to the Youngsters. Meanwhile, Cody Chittick aims to pit himself against the strong international competition in the ADAC MX Junior Cup after a string of good results in his home country and the USA.