Since its debut in 2005, the ADAC MX Masters has become the most popular motocross race series in Europe and not just because of its high-calibre field of riders and spine-tingling race action. Every meeting turns into a motocross festival, partly because the paddock can be freely accessed by everyone. The big well established teams, who have been part of the race series since the very beginning, tripling their numbers over the past twelve years, use huge articulated trailers that transform into a kind of multifunctional vehicle at the track. The team truck is used not just to transport motorbikes but also serves as spare parts store and workshop for the MX bikes, as somewhere to sleep for some of the drivers, mechanics and Team Principal and as a team centre and hospitality facility for invited guests.

Especially for the three teams with the most riders - KTM Kosak Racing, Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil and STC Racing - every meeting requires a tremendous feat of logistics. Some of the three team bosses have more than ten riders under contract this season, meaning there is a lot of equipment to clean, maintain and procure. Herbert Kosak has been active in the motor sport sector for many years. In 1979, he and his wife Angela opened a motorcycle shop in Essingen, Baden-Württemberg, and got involved in motocross as sponsors to MX legend Bernd Eckenbach just four years later. Herbert or 'Herby', as he is known, has run his own team, made up mainly of young talent, since 1998. "Back then, I had the very first artic in motocross in Germany, the only one of its kind. We used to have five riders with us on the road while we now have 15 to accommodate. I've supported almost all of them since childhood. Consequently, I usually now have to fit ten motorbikes in the truck, which of course, also means that I have to carry the right number of spare parts for each different size of motorbike, so I've got what you might call an all-round workshop," said Herby, who has the biggest line-up in the 2017 ADAC MX Masters and has already been honoured several times with the Michael Spacek special prize for his commitment to MX juniors.

In addition, there is much to be done after race weekends, which takes up a lot of time for big teams such as STC Racing, run by Team Principal, Colin Streubel. "When we get back from a race weekend, we have to clean all the bikes on Mondays and Tuesdays, of which, there are quite a few with a team as big as ours. On Wednesdays, we then start re-assembling the bikes and head off to the next meeting on Thursday. The timetable is tight. There is a clear sequence to follow from beginning to end," said Streubel, who was born in Saxony but now lives in Hanstedt in Lower Saxony. He signed eleven riders to the team at the start of the year, whose motorcycles he transports to the majority of races. "My wife does all the motocross washing, our children take on various organisational tasks at home and at race weekends. I've been racing for 30 years, and my family have never known things any different," says Colin, who has to find some 700 euros every time he fills up the tank on his artic.

Team Principal Harald Pfeil also knows never to underestimate the costs or the logistics required for a team as big as his: "Of course, the costs for this 'hobby' are not inconsiderable, but we have great sponsors with Kawasaki and Monster, who support us really well. I myself rode as a pro in motocross until 1990. I became team boss in 1996. There's a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears bound up in everything we do. We always head home on Sundays after every race weekend, because I've got to open up my motorbike shop on Monday morning at seven o'clock. "His son Tobias helps him with cleaning and fixing the bikes. His partner Peggy and daughter Nadine look after catering.

So you can easily see once again why the atmosphere in motocross is so great, and the biggest logistical challenge is never a problem either, as "Many hands make light work."Everyone gets involved and lends a hand.