14 years after his last ADAC MX Masters title, Max Nagl (D/Krettek-Haas-Racing-Team) has been crowned champion again for the third time, having previously triumphed in 2006 and 2008. He had previously won the ADAC MX Junior Cup on an 85cc bike back in 2001. The 34-year-old has proven that he is far from past his best, and that thoughts of calling time on his career are currently far from his mind, as he reveals in this interview.

Congratulations on the 2022 ADAC MX Masters title? How does it feel to be champion, 14 years since you last won the championship?

Max Nagl: “It was about time, I would say. I have had a lot of good successes and results in recent years, but no title, because I have always been hampered by injuries or technical issues. There was always something. It actually looked as though I was going to win the title last year, but I then missed a race due to an unnecessary injury. I found that extremely frustrating. As such, I am all the more delighted to have finally won another title. And the series has a high profile nowadays. Everyone knows you have the world championship, EMX, and then the ADAC MX Masters, in which a lot of good riders line up.”

At 34 years of age, as a Motocross pro, you are one of the more mature riders. They say you should quit while you’re on top. Are you at that point now?

“My age is one of the reasons that I am no longer riding in the world championship. I would simply not be able to cope physically with the 20 races in the world championship, as my body takes too long to recover. That is partly down to my age, but also all the injuries I have picked up over the years. On the other hand, I still have the drive and fire of a youngster, and the desire to continue training and racing. That is why the best option for me is to start in the ADAC MX Masters and a few other international races. I am fine with that. I don’t want to stop yet. Things are going well and I still feel fit, so I am going to continue.”

You also train other riders. Are you not helping your own opposition, with riders like Kevin Brumann?

“That is obviously something I am already doing, and I am currently in discussions with other Masters riders who have asked me to mentor them. But you are right, there are always two sides. My former trainer was also far older than me, and always said that training with the ‘crazy kids’ kept him young and fresh. That is the case for me too, because I obviously want to have the same intensity and go the same distances as the young guys. When I started out in the world championship, Bernd Eckenbach was my trainer, just as I am to Kevin Brumann now. We rode together in the predecessor to the ADAC MX Masters, the Inter-DM, and I beat him in the final round of the Inter-DM in Teutschenthal. After that, Bernd came up to me and said: ‘Well done, son, you are now ready and no longer need me. You can go your own way now.” I found that really cool of him, and we still have a great relationship to this day. I think it could be a similar story with my guys. As soon as they are better than me, my work is done.”

What was your highlight of the 2022 season, and what race would you rather forget?

“The highlight for me was Bielstein. That was such an exciting weekend. No matter what I did, it all worked out on the bike. I was extremely fast on the track. The bike worked perfectly and, even with a poor start, I was able to plough through the field and get to the front. Everything came together. Gaildorf was the polar opposite. Nothing worked there, from the first practice session to race three on Sunday. I was not happy with the bike, did not come to terms with the track, was not in a good mood – quite simply, nothing worked and it was my worse race of the season.”

What was your secret to eventually being crowned champion?

“On the one hand, I think it was my experience. In situations when I realised that it was simply not going to be my day to win, I now have enough experience to know that I am better off simply sitting back and seeing what happens, rather than going all out to win by hook or by crook and potentially crashing and losing even more time and positions. And I maintain that I am still one of the riders that trains the most and the hardest. After twenty years, I have been able to refine and improve the way I train, so I now know exactly what I need to practice in order to be absolutely 100 percent at my best when it comes to the race weekend, not just 80 percent.”

What are your plans for next year?

“At the moment, I still cannot tell you anything definite. I am in discussions and negotiations with several teams who have shown interest. I have been really happy with the Krettek-Haas Racing Team, there is nothing to complain about there. Absolutely nothing. Despite this, you have to listen to and discuss offers. Every now and again it can give you some new motivation and make you hungrier when it comes to training and racing. Sometimes you need a change. I have been riding the same bike in the same team for so many years now. However, they also say you should ‘never change a winning team’. That is true, there is definitely something in that. But sometimes you need to take on new challenges. I will come to a decision over the next few weeks. What will definitely stay the same is my cooperation with Krettek as a sponsor, regardless of which team I start for.”

If you are negotiating with teams, can we assume that we will see you in the ADAC MX Masters again?

“The plan is definitely to contest the full ADAC MX Masters season again in 2023. As well as that, I will also start at a few international races in Belgium, Switzerland and Holland.”