Max Nagl – Health condition slows down the champion

Max Nagl is known as a fighter, a meticulous worker, and one of the most successful riders in ADAC MX Masters history. Five championship titles speak for themselves. But in recent weeks, it has become clear that the 38-year-old is not performing at his usual level. It was already apparent at the race in Tensfeld that Nagl was struggling with himself and his fitness. By the time he reached Gaildorf, where he appeared visibly exhausted, rumors of a health-related issue had grown louder.

Old infection flares up again

After medical examinations, Nagl himself shed light on the situation for us: A persistent bacterial infection he contracted during knee surgery in 2019 has returned. It causes an imbalance between red and white blood cells. Particularly problematic is that parts of the red blood cells clump together. This significantly restricts oxygen transport in the blood—a fatal limitation for a high-performance athlete who relies on every available oxygen reserve in a physically extremely demanding sport like motocross.

Strategy at the start – shovel tires as a weapon

The doctor's recommendation was clear: rest, preferably at home on the couch. But for Nagl, that was out of the question. “All the work of the year would have been in vain”, he explained. So the Triumph pilot stood at the starting gate in Gaildorf as well – and tried to use his strengths in a targeted manner.

After a grueling Saturday, Nagl deliberately opted to use a shovel tire on his Triumph in the second and third races. His goal was to be at the front right from the start to avoid unnecessary chases and conserve his already limited energy reserves.

Race course in Gaildorf

• Race 1: Dropped from 9th place after the first round to 10th place.
• Race 2: Started the race from position 2 on shovel tires, but finished in 7th place.
• Race 3: Start from position 10, finish in 14th place.

The bottom line was 10th place overall for the weekend – a result that can be considered respectable given the health situation and the high temperatures.

Change at the top of the table

Nagl, who was in poor health, had to miss out on important championship points in Gaildorf. The beneficiary was Roan van de Moosdijk, who put himself at the top of the overall standings with a strong performance and won the coveted Red Plate took over from Nagl.

Fighting spirit instead of surrender

For Max Nagl, motocross is much more than just a job—it's his passion and his life's work. His performance in Gaildorf, despite health problems and against medical advice, demonstrates once again why he enjoys so much respect in the scene. How long he can continue riding despite his health impairment remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: giving up is not in Max Nagl's vocabulary.