The career of ADAC MX Junior Cup 125 champion Mads Fredsøe has hardly been what you would call typical so far. The 17-year-old Dane from Odense on the island of Fünen, which links the Danish mainland with Sweden, was crowned European champion in the 65cc class in 2017, but then took a lengthy break from racing in 2020 and 2021 after stepping up from the 85cc class to the bigger bikes. He returned to motorsport in 2022, switching from the 250F bike to a 125cc two-stroke. This season, having taken victory at his home race in Randers, Mads rose to the challenge and refused to be shifted from the top of the table from that point on. In an interview, the STURM STC Racing rider explains how he got into the sport, his career aspirations, and why he is moving to Italy for the coming year.
Congratulations on winning the title in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125. How does it feel to be the champion? Mads Fredsøe: “It feels really good. We prepared really hard for this ahead of the start of the season, and there were some really strong riders in the championship. To come out on top and be crowned champion feels great. I really enjoyed the season, even though I struggled with illness after Gaildorf. However, I gritted my teeth in the final two races and am now champion. I am very happy with my performance and the way the season played out.”
Was the title your goal at the start of the season? “Right from the outset, my goal was to win as many races as possible and to end the season in the top three. I obviously always want to win, but I did not assume that would be the case. Then I actually did win in the end.”
What was the secret to your success? “It was pretty close between the top three. I did not make such a strong start to the season, and had to settle for fifth. However, I then picked up pace and won in Randers, which also saw me take the Red Plate – and I did not give it up from that point on. I guess the secret is consistency. You have to be at the front of the field in every race, and I managed to do that this season.”
Consistency is easier said than done. How do you achieve it? “It is obviously difficult. For me, I think the fact that I enjoyed every race and had a lot of fun played a big role. I also enjoyed going up against my rivals. Maybe there is also a little luck involved. I tried to focus on myself in every race.”
This year, Denmark hosted an ADAC MX Masters race for the first time. How was that home race for you? “That was the best weekend of the year for me. All my friends were in Randers. All the Danish Motocross fans were there, as were a lot of people I know. I arrived at the race weekend absolutely determined to win. I like the track and was very confident. I qualified first in my group, finished runner-up in the opening race, and then won the second. I was the fastest in my class that weekend. I was really motivated by the fact that my friends were there and all the fans were cheering me on loudly. That was the turning point in my season. I took the championship lead there and never looked back.”
Did the success change something in you? “Yes, definitely. I was far more confident after that, and knew that I was capable of winning. I also won the next race, as I was carrying a lot of momentum.”
Randers was your highlight of the year, but which race would you rather forget? “The finale in Dreetz was very tough for me. I had never been in contention for the title in a long championship before, and I was very nervous. I didn’t ride well and only qualified sixth. However, I ultimately did enough to win the title. As such, there were no races that I would like to forget. However, that was definitely my toughest race of the year.”
How did you get into Motocross? “I started very young, when I was just three or four years old. My father spend his whole life riding, so I very quickly fell in love with the sport. My room was full of photos of Tony Cairoli, I watched the world championship races on television, and rode myself. I had a few friends who also rode Motocross and just had a lot of fun. When I was eleven, I discovered that I was really good at Motocross when I won the 65cc class in the 2017 European Championship. After that, I knew that I wanted to see how far I could make it in the sport. I subsequently worked really hard. After the 85cc class, I quickly switched to the 250 bikes. However, I then took a break for a while, for time reasons, and switched back to 125cc bikes two years ago. That was a good decision and last season was one of the best of my career.”
Other than your father, has anybody else played an important role in your career? “Yes, one of my long-term sponsors the ‘MX Shop’ from Denmark. They have supported me since I was just five and continue to do so today. And, of course, my whole family has supported me – not just my dad.”
Do you still go to school, or are you doing an apprenticeship? “I left school last year after tenth grade. After that, we decided that I would just focus on riding for the first time, to give me time for the races in the European Championship and the ADAC. The events are spread over big distances, from Portugal and Spain to Finland and beyond. For this reason, I focussed entirely on Motocross in 2023. As I am now moving to my new team in Italy, I will continue to concentrate fully on Motocross in 2024.”
How did this year’s cooperation with the STURM STC Racing team come about? “I spoke to Colin Streubel last winter. He made me an offer and we came to an agreement. I have had a lot of fun in the team. The atmosphere was super and Colin, Nico and everyone else in the team helped me a lot. I felt very happy at STURM STC Racing and believe that was another important factor in my success this season. I enjoyed being at the races and only have positive things to say about the team. It was an awesome year with them.”
How important to you is the ADAC MX Masters and its junior classes? “As the international German championship, the ADAC MX Masters is very prestigious – it is extremely important and on a large scale. As a big country, many riders come from Germany, while the series also attracts many riders from the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and, in principal, all of Europe. It is one of the best and most important racing series in Europe.”
What are your plans for the future? “I have signed a contract with the Beddini GASGAS Factory Juniors team, who are directly supported by the GASGAS plant, and will contest the EMX250 championship on the 250F in 2024. I am currently preparing for my move to Italy – I can hardly wait.”
What is your dream for your Motocross career? “My dream is to be able to make a living from Motocross and to be world champion. I would like to make Motocross my profession and be involved with the sport every day.”
