Multiple riders with title ambitions. Eight races through up a wide range of challenges. Online ticket sales for the season-opener in Fürstlich Drehna.
It is roughly two weeks until the ADAC MX Masters kicks off its 19th season in the Brandenburg district of Fürstlich Drehna on 1st/2nd April. Riders, teams and fans can look forward to a varied and exciting season at eight challenging tracks. Several riders go into the 2023 ADAC MX Masters with aspirations of being crowned champion. But who are the favourites in the four classes this season?
The ADAC MX Masters is one of the most highly regarded Motocross championships in Europe and boasts a wealth of talent among its top riders. With three reigning and former champions, as well as multiple riders who have already demonstrated their potential to claim podiums and win races, it is guaranteed to be a hard-fought and exciting season.
This winter’s headline transfer was definitely pulled off by Alex Karg, team principal of KMP Honda Racing powered by Krettek. He has secured the services of both reigning champion Max Nagl (D) and 2020 and 2021 winner Jordi Tixier (F). The two experienced riders have looked highly motivated in the preseason, have been fast on their new Hondas, and are definitely among the top favourites. 2018 champion Henry Jacobi (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) returns from a four-year break and will regularly line up in the starting gates for the first time since 2018. Since his title win, Jacobi has done his racing in the MX2 and MXGP World Championship and arrives in the ADAC MX Masters with everything a title contender needs: good starts, good fitness, speed and a good team.
Lurking behind the three riders with titles to their name are several riders looking for their first entry in the list of race winners or champions. Tom Koch (D/Kosak Racing Team) already has one race win under his belt and narrowly missed out on a day victory last year. Unlike in 2022, he comes into the new season injury-free. Adam Sterry (GB/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) can now call on the experience he gained in his first ADAC MX Masters season. The Brit repeatedly demonstrated his class last year and has made a good, confident impression in the warm-up races ahead of this season.
As well as this “High Five” in the title race, Stefan Ekerold (D/Team Bauerschmidt MB33) is also hoping for regular podiums and race wins. He showed last season that he has the potential to do so, when he established himself as one of the top riders. With roughly half of the races on sandy surfaces, Lars Van Berkel (NL/KMP Honda Racing powered by Krettek) could play a role when it comes to winning race weekends. The beach race specialist made a spontaneous guest appearance on his practice bike last year, and showed that he is particularly capable of holding his own at the front of the field in deep tracks. Now fully focussed on the series, and preparing accordingly, he is also among the big favourites. Michael Sandner (A/HTS KTM Team), Boris Maillard (F/stielergruppe.mx Johannes-Bikes Suzuki), Tim Koch (D/visuAlz Production) and Lukas Platt (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) are also capable of finishing in the top five or on the podium. Fans will also be intrigued to see how newcomers Maximilian Spies (D/Kosak Racing Team) and Noah Ludwig (D/Becker Racing) fare in the higher class. The two under-20s finished in the top three of the 2022 ADAC MX Youngster Cup, meaning they had to step up to the highest category and switch to 450cc bikes.
New favourites in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup
The ADAC MX Youngster Cup has undergone something of a shake-up, with several of the top riders from the 2022 season making the step up to higher classes. Of the more established riders, Cato Nickel (D/WZ-Racing) and Mike Gwerder (CH/WZ-Racing) should be among the favourites. However, Paul Bloy (D/Kosak Racing Team), Edvards Bidzans (LVA/Sixty Seven), Valentin Kees (D/Kosak Racing Team), Marnique Appelt (D/Becker Racing) and Peter König (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) have also shown their class in the past, with top-five results and even race wins. They will face stiff opposition from several strong riders joining the field from lower classes. These include, Bence Pergel (HUN/HTS KTM Team), who won a race on a guest appearance last year, the German champion in the 125cc class, Eric Rakow (D/Team Bauerschmidt MB33), and Scott Smulders (NL/KMP Honda Racing powered by Krettek).
Title defence in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125?
In the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125, many riders are in the picture when it comes to race wins and top results. For the first time here, the reigning champion Janis Martins Reisulis (LVA/Hamstra MX Team) will defend his title. However, the third and fourth-placed riders from last season also remain in this class: Julius Mikula (CZE/MJC Yamaha Official EMX 125 Team) and Vitezslav Marek (CZE/Cermen KTM Racing Team). Maximilian Werner (D/Fantic Factory Team Maddii) and Maximilian Ernecker (A) are two top German-speaking riders who will have their sights set on challenging for the title. A whole swarm of impressive riders from the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 will be striving to make life difficult for the established riders, particularly reigning champion Jayson Van Drunen (NL/SHR Motorsports), junior world champion Gyan Doensen (NL/WZ-Racing), Jonathan Frank (D/Schmicker Racing), Maxime Lucas (B), Mick Kennedy (NL/Hannamax Motorsports) and Marius Adomaitis (LT/KMP Honda Racing powered by Krettek).
The stars of tomorrow and beyond in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85
In the youngest class, last season’s best-placed riders Áron Katona (HUN) and Dani Heitink (NL/DH-MX) go into the title race as the top favourites. Emil Ziemer (D/Motobike Racing Team) showed in his home race in 2022 that he knows how to win, and was consistently among the top riders in every race. Dex Kooiker (NL/Stichting Motorsport Talent), Lucas Leok (EST), Dean Gregoire (NL/Voss KTM Racing), Ricardo Bauer (AUT/MSC Imbach) and many other talented youngsters will also be attempting to establish themselves among the top riders in this class, whilst at the same time gaining valuable experience on their way to the top.
Fans can watch who makes the best start to the season in Fürstlich Drehna on 1st/2nd April both at the track and 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 can be purchased in advance online at etix.com. The livestreams are available on both days of the event on the ADAC MX Masters homepage and on YouTube.
