Pascal Rauchenecker is a familiar face for ADAC MX Masters fans. After finishing fourth in both the 2014 and the 2015 campaigns, the Austrian rider decided to take a lengthy break from motocross. Having spent the last three years competing in enduro events, the 26-year-old from Mayrhof returned to his roots for the start of the 2019 season to mount a new challenge for the prestigious ADAC MX Masters title. We asked him about the reasons for switching disciplines.

When and why did you switch from motocross to enduro?

I last competed in motocross in 2015 and went over to enduro in 2016. I had been offered a contract by Husqvarna to join their works team for the Enduro World Championship and seized the opportunity. I was intrigued by the idea of trying something new and racing in different series. It's a decision I've never regretted - I've had some good years with lots of fun and good results.

Now you're back in motocross. How did this come about?

Well, the main reason is that the Enduro World Championship is on a bit of a downward slope. That's why there are not that many places left in the factory teams. Last year, I competed in the Grand National Cross Country Series in the USA. It was a great experience and was a lot of fun, but recently I've been finding all the travel to the races too demanding and too time-consuming. I've been commuting between home and the USA a lot, which in the long term has been quite exhausting. I've had a house built in my home town of Mayrhof, and the centre of my life is at home in Austria with my fiancée Jessica. That's why I took the decision to go back into regional motocross. I don't live all that far away from the German-Austrian border, so the race venues for both the Masters and for the Austrian championship are convenient for me to get to.

Can you still live make a living out of the sport as a motocross professional?

In principle, yes, but I'm already thinking ahead to the time after my sporting career comes to an end. That's why I'm currently working up to 25 hours a week in my father's carpentry business. Here, I'm able to choose my own working hours and fit in my sporting commitments without any difficulty. Of course, it's not quite as convenient a routine as being a pro, but it gives me a second mainstay in life and means that I will find it easier to move into full-time employment later on. And anyway, I really enjoy working in our family business.

How did you come to be recruited by the German team Classic Oil/SHR Motorsports?

Over the winter, I had been looking for a team and I got a tip from a German journalist that Classic Oil/SHR Motorsports were on the lookout for a rider. We met up and came to an agreement quite quickly. We are a good fit, and I think we are all very happy with the current situation. In addition to the ADAC MX Masters, I'm competing in the whole of the Austrian Championship and in the World Championship races at Arco, Mantua, Teutschenthal and Loket.

You now have a lot of experience in both motocross and enduro, so it's reasonable to assume that you would make a good rally rider. Could you imagine a career in rallying?

No, not really. I've even had an offer to do that, but it's not really my scene. I prefer to line up alongside 40 other riders and go wheel to wheel with opponents. That's one thing I didn't like in the enduro races. Riding against the clock is not my thing. Also, rallying is a risky sport. The guys who do it are all good on a bike, but many accidents are caused by factors that are beyond the control of the riders. To be honest, that risk is too high for me. I'll stick with motocross for the foreseeable future.