Tom Koch from the KTM Kosak Racing Team developed nicely over the course of last season, and has improved consistently for a number of years. He followed his victory in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup in 2017 with seventh, fifth and third place in the ADAC MX Masters class, before finishing runner-up in 2021. Last season, Tom claimed his maiden ADAC MX Masters victory and won the LS2 Best Qualifier Award. He has just one goal for 2022: the ADAC MX Masters title.

Before we look ahead to the 2022 season, what are your thoughts on last year?

Tom Koch: “It could obviously have been even better, but I was very happy with the progress I made in the winter. I proved in 2021 that I can win races. I want to back that up this season and claim a few more victories. On the whole, I am happy with finishing runner-up in the championship. However, the goal for 2022 is to come out on top. I hope my preparations continue to go well and that I stay healthy. If so, then there is no reason things should not work out.”

You switched to the KTM Kosak Racing Team last winter. However, the bike stayed the same – the 450cc KTM. How important was the change of team in the progress you have made?

“The KTM is a great bike, on which I feel very comfortable. Here too, there have been a few detailed changes, which is why I have Marc Odenthal from ORS Racing Suspension at my side since the move, to help with the chassis. I get along really well with Herbert Kosak and chief mechanic Kevin Gödderz. The atmosphere in the team is fantastic, much less formal. That is very good for me and I feel right at home.”

You won the LS2 Best Qualifier Award in 2021, meaning you secured the most pole positions. Despite this, you only took one race win.

“It is quite clearly not very easy to win a race in the ADAC MX Masters. Most people are aware of that. I knew I had the speed, but unfortunately I failed too often to convert that into a victory in the race. My starts were not always good enough last season. The first ADAC MX Masters win of my career in Fürstlich Drehna was a weight off my shoulders. That was a very nice moment. I now know that I can do it.”

However, you are yet to win an event.

“That is frustrating, as it was a real possibility on one or two weekends – particularly if I had made better starts. However, it is a case of ‘would have, should have, could have’. I have worked on it for this year, so it should hopefully work out more often.”

After the ADAC MX Masters season, you rode in a few MXGP events, where your performances continued to improve with a top-ten result in Italy.

“Together with the race win in the ADAC MX Masters, that was another highlight of last year for me. I did not think I could do that, but in doing so I have shown and proven to myself that I belong there. However, it is very difficult to consistently achieve those results, because the almost everyone in the top 20 has at least one MX2 world championship podium to their name, or is a factory rider. In 2022, I would like to finish in the top 15 more regularly, with an eye on top-ten results.”

The world championship season ran until November and starts again in February, so the off-season is far shorter than usual.

“That has indeed been a bit unusual, as the season normally finishes at the end of September or start of October, after which you first spend a month doing nothing, recover a little, and draw some new motivation. This winter, the break was very short and I was back on the bike relatively quickly. We will be racing again soon, so the break between the final race of 2021 and the first of 2022 has been just three months. However, it is the same for every rider, so we are all in the same boat. You have to try to find a balance between recovery and “being fresh” for the first race, and good preparations and being fast enough, so you don’t burn out before the end of the coming season.”

What are your goals for 2022?

“The ADAC MX Masters title is definitely the goal. In the world championship, I would like to be around the top ten more often, establish myself there, and perform more strongly.”

Have you changed anything in your programme, in order to achieve those goals?

“There were a lot of changes last season, with the change of team and bringing in Konrad Smolinski as my new fitness trainer. You never stop striving for improvement. We are developing all the time, and Konrad has really thrown himself into his role, including the mental aspect. Not a lot has changed for 2022, but we are always trying to improve. We are also working all the time with riding trainer Marcus Schiffer, in order to be better on the track and to improve the riding technique in the nuances, in which there is still room for improvement. You can never give up and must always be on the ball, then the rest will follow.”

Who will be your fiercest rivals?

“Like last year, Jordi Tixier and Max Nagl will be right up there and my biggest rivals again. We don’t yet know who else might stand out or make guest appearances. Regardless of that, you just have to make sure you are ready and not look at the others, no matter who is ahead of or next to you.”

What are you perhaps lacking compared to the very experienced Tixier and Nagl?

“I will try to improve my starts, in order to be up there at the front from the word go. That should give me everything I need. I then need to ensure that I don’t cramp in the races. As far as basic speed is concerned, those two are not necessarily faster than me. They possibly have more experience of dealing with the race pressure and are able to control their adrenalin better.”

Then, good luck for the 2022 season!

“Thank you. See you at the races.”