More than 350 applications for starting places on the 2024 ADAC MX Masters platform. Riders from 22 countries have registered. Nine motorcycle manufacturers set to line up.
With roughly eight weeks remaining until the start of this season’s ADAC MX Masters on 20th/21st April in Fürstlich Drehna, the riders registered for the four classes – ADAC MX Masters, ADAC MX Youngster Cup, ADAC MX Junior Cup 125, and ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 – have been finalised. More than 350 applications have been received for the 20th season of the series. 22 nationalities will roll up to the start gate at the eight events, which run from April to September. With European brands KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas, Fantic and TM, alongside Japanese makes Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha, a total of nine motorcycle manufacturers are represented in the ADAC MX Masters.
ADAC MX Masters: Nagl gunning for hat-trick of titles The 20th anniversary season of the ADAC MX Masters promises to be a thriller, with the prospect of many exciting battles. Max Nagl (D/KMP-Honda-Racing Team powered by Krettek) is out to bag his third title in a row. However, he can expect to come up against strong opposition from the likes of last year’s runner-up Tom Koch (D/Kosak Racing Team) and former champions Jordi Tixier (F/KMP-Honda-Racing Team powered by Krettek), Henry Jacobi (D), and the returning record champion Dennis Ullrich (D), both of whom start for the KTM Sarholz Racing Team. Adam Sterry (GB/Schmicker Racing) and Maximilian Spies (D/Kosak Racing Team) are also among the favourites to regularly be in the hunt for podiums, overall victories and the title.
More top international riders, including Kevin Brumann (CH/Sixty Seven Racing Husqvarna), Davy Pootjes (NL/KMP-Honda-Racing Team powered by Krettek), Jakub Teresak (CH/Hegau Racing Team), Michael Sandner (A/HTS KTM), who has recovered from injury, Petr Polak (CH/SHR Motorsports by Hartje), Gert Krestinov (EST/JT Construction Motoextreme Honda) and more are also hungry to have a say at the front of the field.
The field of 92 riders registered in the top class also features a host of top German riders, including Nico Koch (D/Becker Racing), Noah Ludwig (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team), Stefan Ekerold (D/Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna), Tim Koch (D/Visualz Production), Lukas Platt (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) and Mike Stender (D/B&B Mallon Racing), who is back in action after a long injury break. It will also be intriguing to see how those stepping up into the ADAC MX Masters class fare in their first season. They include ADAC MX Youngster Cup champion Oriol Oliver (E) and his WZ-Racing KTM team-mates Cato Nickel (D), Mike Gwerder (CH/HTS KTM) and Marnique Appelt (D/BECKER Racing).
ADAC MX Youngster Cup The regulations stipulate that the top riders from the 2023 season must move up to the ADAC MX Masters class, leaving the door open for others to step into the role of favourites. Of the 90 riders registered, KMP-Honda-Racing Team powered by Krettek team-mates Edvards Bidzans (LET) and Scott Smulders, Nico Greutmann (CH/Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna), Peter König (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team), Rasmus Pedersen (DK) and Kosak Racing Team riders Max Pålson and Bradley Mesters (NL) are among those fancied to do well this season. However, Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna riders Lyonel Reichl (CH) and Liam Owens (AUS), Ryan Alexanderson (AUS/WZ-Racing KTM), Bence Pergel (HU/HTS KTM), Germans Jan Krug (D/Sixty Seven Racing Husqvarna) and Eric Rakow (D/Schmicker Racing), and many more will also have legitimate hopes of finishing towards the front of this fiercely-competitive field.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 125 92 riders – exactly the same number as for the top class – applied for the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125, with only 48 places available per event. The level between the 85cc class and the four-stroke 250cc bikes features a great depth of strength at the head of the field, with many riders in with a shout of race wins and top results. With the top riders from last season again having stepped up to the next class, riders like Kasimir Hindersson (FIN/Motovation Motorsport) and Maximilian Ernecker (A/F4E Gasgas Junior Racing) will now have their sights set firmly on the title. Jarne Bervoets (B/Team MJC-Yamaha-Monster Energy), Jonathan Frank (D/Becker Racing), Jayson Van Drunen (NL), and promoted riders like ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 champion Dani Heitink (NL), Dean Gregoire (NL/Schmicker Racing) and Áron Katona (HU/HTS KTM) are also more than capable of good results.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 The youngest class on the ADAC MX Masters platform has again been reduced to 48 starters per event, with 79 applicants hoping for a permanent starting place. Among the title hopefuls in the new season are Moritz Ernecker (A/HSV Ried Racing Team) and Lucas Leok (EST). From a German perspective, Mika Plaas (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) and Oliver Jüngling (D/ADAC Hessen-Thüringen MX Rookie Team) are expected to be among the best riders. It will also be exciting to follow the progress of the top riders stepping up from the 65cc class, including John Kranhold (D/Sixty Seven Racing Husqvarna), Luca Nierychlo (D/AK Bouw-Hutten Metaal Junior Team) and Nick de Jong (D/Twenty Suspension by Dellen Motorsport).
The full starter lists can be found at adac-motorsport.de/adac-mx-masters.
