The ADAC MX Masters is constantly evolving. After all, the motocross race series is one of the best talent factories around for all those wanting to take the next big step in their careers and compete at an international level. Not only are new riders constantly joining, but there is a steady flow of new outfits appearing in what is already a very busy paddock. Taking just this year into account, no less than six rookie teams are competing on the ADAC MX Masters circuit as of this season. These new teams also now belong to the motocross festival just like the old and well established teams already covered in our last two programme booklets.

Two of the teams that have just been set up are run by ADAC MX Masters riders, who will both ride in the race series and assume the role of Team Principal for 2017. Privateer rider Michel Kaschny is one of the two. The 27-year-old, who for several years has contested meetings like the Nordcup with his team, TTW Off-road, now competes at an international level and has gained the services of two more riders for his squad, Nico Müller in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup and Stefan Frank in the ADAC MX Masters. Michel Kaschny: "As I've got my own MX shop in Hamburg, the whole family are mad about motocross, plus, I've been lining up in the Masters for many years now. I've got plenty of experience and am looking forward to this new challenge. I also have my own mechanic for this season, Mike Kirsch, so it's all looking good." Their common goal is to get their outfit, TTW Off-road, through qualifying.

Team Motorrad KTM are the second rookie outfit with an ADAC MX Masters rider as Team Principal. Michael Kartenberg has been an active participant in the race series for many years and has been managing things behind the scenes since the start of this year, just like Michel Kaschny. The motocross rider from Stendal in Saxony-Anhalt is in this year's line-up along with three ADAC MX Youngster Cup riders - Szymon Staszkiewicz and Karol Kruszynski from Poland and Kade Walker from Canada. "I think I've managed to put together an excellent overall package. I know all about planning thanks to my business studies degree and am also a good communicator, which helps no end when having discussions with sponsors, plus, I've got a lot to offer as a coach through my own experience as a motocross rider and leader of a school for motocross and can give useful tips. We should definitely be in the Top Ten in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup this season, and I myself hope to be able to score a few points in the top flight," said the 27-year-old. Like MXoN World Champion Marcus Schiffer, the young team manager also trains a couple of MX talents in his home town of Stendal in his spare time. In addition, he gives around 15 courses per year in MX techniques.

Managed by Team Principal Hannes Kinigadner, Kini KTM junior racing team have taken part sporadically in the ADAC MX Masters race series over the past few years under the name Kini KTM Junior Pro Team by Mefo Sport. The outfit now has a new name for 2017 and is much larger and more professional. The team hope to do particularly well in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup and have entered no less than five riders in Class 2, including ADAC MX Junior Cup champion Rene Hofer and the four MX riders Marcel Stauffer, Mike Gwerder, Michael Sandner and Lion Florian. "These five are promising young talents from Austria and Switzerland. I would like to give Rene Hofer an especial mention. He achieved a hat-trick of wins in the 85cc class last year with the European Championship title, the World Championship title and the ADAC title, making a clean sweep of all the most important series. He contested his first pre-season race on a 125 cc machine in the Italian championship and had an impressive showing with a podium for third place. Marcel Stauffer rides at a similar pace to Hofer and the two of them have been on a similar level since they were wee laddies. The pair of them regularly take it in turns to win the Austrian championship. Mike Gwerder is one of Switzerland's best up-and-coming youngsters. Lion Florian is among the top juniors to be found anywhere in Germany, and Michi Sandner one of Austria's most talented MX2 riders," said team boss Hannes Kinigadner, telling us about his squad's line-up.

Just like Kini KTM Junior Racing Team, Becker Mowik Racing and their team boss, Thomas Becker, have also signed five riders for their first season. The two ADAC MX Masters riders, Dani de Vries and Nolan Cordens, intend to compete for points among the 'Big Boys'. Marnique Kranz and Tim Biersack will rock up at the starting gate in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup while young Tyler Loth intends to excel in the ADAC MX Junior Cup. Team Principal Thomas Becker: "I'm really looking forward to working together and hope we have a successful and injury-free season. We're pinning our hopes on Tyler in particular. He started out in motocross in 2014 and by 2016, in his first season racing, was contesting the German Championship and the ADAC MX Junior Cup. We at Becker Mowik Racing would like to go on promoting this young talent and help him on his way."

Team MH Racing led by Team Principal Marcus Haas are another new addition to the ADAC MX Masters. Haas has already made a name for himself in recent years with his team in the Supermoto, taking several national and international titles. He has taken a new tack, though, as of this season and is dedicating himself to motocross. His goal is to promote MX juniors and really stand out with his dedicated squad of riders in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup and the ADAC MX Junior Cup. Haas is relying on the services of Swiss riders Nico Greutmann and Justin Rock in the Junior Cup and Justin's brother, Joey Rock, Mico Raditsch and Martin Winter in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. Team Principal Marcus Haas: "My team and I are all looking forward to contesting this coming season together and facing new challenges. The guys are all highly motivated and have known each other for a long time. We are, if you like, one big happy motor racing family, and everyone learns from one another."

MX Handel Gibson Tyre Tech Racing are also one of the new teams in the ADAC MX Masters' paddock. Matthias Kiok has been Team Principal since last year and presented his line-up for the ADAC MX Masters season at this year's international motorcycle fair in Friedrichshafen. His son Maurice Kiok and the Austrian Patrik Schrattenecker will fight it out among the 'Big Boys' while Marco Fleissig, Markus Rolny and Ruben Schmid will do battle in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. "We've got a lot of talented, highly motivated riders in our team, and Patrik has the potential to regularly finish in the Top Five or Top Ten in the Masters class, but this will be Maurice's first season in the series, so he's a lot to learn. However, we hope he can qualify for every race. In the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, we're pinning our hopes on Marco, who was crowned Class 2 champion in the German Youth Motocross Association last year and has plenty of talent. We aim to give Markus and Ruben the chance to develop and gain plenty of experience," said team boss Matthias Kiok, speaking about his choice of riders.