The favourites: Title hat-trick or new champion?

Tixier out for his third title in a row. Eight races with different challenges. Tickets for season-opener in Dreetz available online.

Season 18 of the ADAC MX Masters kicks off in Dreetz, Brandenburg, in roughly two weeks’ time (21st/22nd May). Eight events on different surfaces will require the riders to show their versatility. Fans are finally welcome back at the tracks and can look forward to what promises to be a thrilling title race. But who are the favourites going into the new season?

The ADAC MX Masters is one of the most prestigious Motocross championships in Europe, and the title race again promises to be exciting in the 2022 season – the longest season since 2015. The field in the top class, the ADAC MX Masters, includes a host of potential title contenders, spearheaded by reigning champion Jordi Tixier (FRA) from the KTM Sarholz Racing Team. The former MX2 world champion has won the series for the past two years and is hungry to become the first rider in history to win the title for the third time in a row. However, the Frenchman faces strong opposition.

Max Nagl is hoping to triumph again, 14 years after his last ADAC MX Masters title © Photo: ADAC

Max Nagl (GER) from the Krettek Haas Racing Team topped the table last year, until an injury stopped him in his tracks. However, the Husqvarna rider had already shown that, 14 years after his last ADAC MX Masters title, he is still good enough to harbour serious title ambitions. There is also just one goal for Tom Koch (GER) from the Kosak Racing Team, after finishing runner-up and claiming his first race win in 2021: the championship. However, the KTM rider must recover from a leg injury by the start of the season, if he is to threaten from the word go. With Adam Sterry (GBR), the KTM Sarholz Racing Team has signed a fast team-mate for Tixier – a man who has already finished on the podium in the MX2 world championship. The Brit has already shown in this season’s first races that he has what it takes to match the pace of Tixier and Nagl. The KMP Honda Racing Team lines up with a new, international rider, in the form of Jorge Zaragoza (ESP). The Spaniard raced in the junior classes within the ADAC MX Masters, but is now set for his debut in the top class. He recently scored his first points in the world championship and could be a potential winner, particularly at tracks on solid ground. Tanel Leok (EST) from the MX-Handel Racing Team and Michi Sandner (AUT) on the Raths Motorsports Team’s KTM are also among the group of riders with genuine prospects of top results.

Stefan Ekerold is hoping to be a regular on the podium in 2022 © Photo: ADAC

Nagl and Koch will be joined at the start by more strong German riders. Stefan Ekerold (GER) from the Team Bauerschmidt MB33 team developed well last season, and will be looking to back up the progress he undoubtedly made. Ekerold has already proven that he has what it takes to finish on the podium. Having turned professional last summer, he will now have his sights set on regular top-three finishes. Lukas Platt from the DW-Racing Team has also joined the ranks of the professional riders, and will consequently be hoping for an improvement in results. The reigning German Motocross champion in the Open class, Tim Koch of the AB-Racing by Zweiradsport Schmitz team, Mike Stender from the SHR Racing Team, Nico Koch of the newly-founded Schmicker Racing Team, and Lion Florian from the KMP Honda Racing Team are other homegrown riders who can set their sights on the top five.

The ADAC MX Youngster Cup will be no less exciting. Rick Elzinga (NED) from the Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team goes into the season as the big favourite, following success in the opening races of the European EXM250 Championship. After finishing runner-up last year, Maximilian Spies (GER), back on a four-stroke bike run by the Schmicker Racing Team, has his sights set on regaining the title he won in 2020. Camden McLellan (RSA) is also gunning for the title on a KTM. Talented Germans Marnique Appelt (GER) and Noah Ludwig (GER) claimed their maiden race wins last season, and are now looking to build on that success in 2022. Reigning ADAC MX Junior Cup 125 champion Scott Smulders (NED), Valentin Kees (GER), Constantin Piller (GER) and Bradley Mesters (NED) are stepping up to the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, and will be out to establish themselves among the top riders there.

Many talented youngsters use the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125 as a step between the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 and the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. Maximilan Werner (GER) from the Kosak Racing Team is now in his second season in this class, and naturally has his sights set on the title. Roberts Lusis (LVA) and Karlis Reisulis (LVA) also remain in this class. However, they will face strong opposition from some good riders stepping up from the 85cc class. ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 champion Viteszlav Marek (CZE) is now looking for success on the big bike, as are Markuss Kokins (LVA), Levi Schrik (NED) and Janis Reisulis (LVA).

After the top riders from 2021 moved up to the next class, Gyan Doensen (NED) and Marius Adomaitis (LTU) are now among the top favourites in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85. Aaron Kowatsch (GER) was the best-placed German in last year’s championship and is now hoping to make it into the top five.

Fans can find out who makes the best start to the season on 21st/22nd May in Dreetz by following the action at the track or via a free livestream. The first races in all the classes will be held on the Saturday afternoon. The remaining races start on the Sunday. Tickets for the season-opener in Dreetz can be purchased in advance online at https://www.vorstart.de/termine/tickets/adac-masters_mc-dreetz-ev-im-adac_21-05-2022. The livestreams can be found on the ADAC MX Masters homepage and YouTube on both days of the event.