- Strong Start in Dreetz
- Plenty of Positives Despite Crashes
- Speed, Fitness and Setup on Point
The 150th edition of the ADAC MX Masters took place last weekend (June 14–15) in Dreetz. Warm temperatures and a deep, rutted sand track created ideal conditions for Max. With the second-fastest qualifying time in his group behind MXGP record winner Jeffrey Herlings, Max secured an excellent starting position for the three races.
In the first moto on Saturday, Max quickly took the lead and held it for several laps before getting passed by Herlings. After a strong ride, Max crossed the finish line in second place, about 30 seconds behind the winner, getting in a points-tie with Max Nagl in the championship standings.
“That was fun! After Jeffrey passed me, I tried to study his lines, but I had to let him go. The gap to him was certainly big, but since he’s the best sand rider in the world, it could have been much bigger,” said Max, satisfied with the race.
In the second moto on Sunday, Max got off to a good start but crashed twice in the first lap due to riders falling directly in front of him, with the bikes getting tangled up. From the back of the field, he fought his way up to 11th place.
“That was really frustrating! My pace was very good, and my setup worked great in the sand. But that’s racing and can happen sometimes,” said a disappointed Max.
With renewed motivation, Max got off to another good start in the third moto but crashed in the braking bumps after the pit lane on lap two while running in fifth place. The handlebar hit him hard, but he rejoined the race at the back of the pack. Max showed great fitness and maintained a strong pace on the very challenging track, closing up to the rear wheel of the sixth-place rider by the finish. In the championship Max slipped down to 3rd place, after getting 6th overall inDreetz.
“Not every day in racing is a good one. Today could have been a good day, but things turned out differently. Even though I missed the chance to take the red plate, I can take a lot of positives from the weekend. My speed, my fighting spirit, and my bike were all on point. I stayed healthy, and the atmosphere and support from the fans were also great. The season is still long, and I’m looking forward to the next ADAC MX Masters race in Bielstein,” Max concluded.
Results:
Quali: 3 (2 in Group B)
Moto 1: 2
Moto 2: 11
Moto 3: 7
Overall: 6
Championship: 3
