New amateur final from 2027: Competition for the CROSS FINALS?

A new motocross format aims to bring together riders in 2027 who often play a minor role in large, national events. The "German Amateur Motocross Final" is specifically aimed at classic hobby riders from regional series. Those who have collected German Championship points, competed in the ADAC MX Masters, or have already participated in European and World Championships are not eligible.

The project is the brainchild of David Rosenstengel and Nico Heinrich. Both come from the world of amateur motocross and have experience in racing series, club work, and event organization. The premiere is planned for September 18th and 19th, 2027. The venue is yet to be determined, but it will ideally be located centrally in Germany.

The idea inevitably brings to mind the CROSS FINALS. There, too, riders from different regional racing series compete against each other. However, the new AMX final draws a much narrower line when selecting participants.

The amateur should truly remain an amateur.

This is precisely where Rosenstengel and Heinrich's argument comes in. In their view, regional series often favor drivers who are already competing at a significantly higher level.

Their event is therefore designed to reach riders who work during the week, can't train several times a week, and compete in their regional championship on weekends with a limited budget. Often, they only have one motorcycle in their garage. They don't have a mechanic to prepare the bike during the week, nor do they have a large sponsorship package.

These riders form a significant part of the German motocross base – but rarely get a big stage outside their own racing series.

The AMX final is intended to create exactly this kind of stage.

German Championship points, Masters, European Championship or World Championship preclude participation.

The organizers are trying to resolve the difficult issue of "Who is actually an amateur?" by defining clear sporting boundaries.

Only riders who have not scored any points in the German Championship in the current year or the two previous years are eligible to start. The rule is even stricter for the ADAC MX Masters: anyone who has already participated in a race of the Masters series, the Youngster Cup, or a Junior Cup does not meet the criteria.

Participation in European or World Championships also precludes participation.

This will likely make the starting field significantly different from many other large amateur events. A fast regional driver is welcome. A driver who also regularly competes at the national or international level is not.

The organizers expressly reserve the right to reject drivers who do not meet the requirements.

The regional series determine who moves up.

Six classes are currently on the schedule: 50cc, 65cc, 85cc, MX2 Youngster, MX2 and MX Open.

Qualification takes place via the regional championships. The top two or three drivers in each series who meet the established criteria are eligible to start. In addition, a further condition applies: a participant must reside in the federal state where the regional series they are competing in is held.

Rosenstengel and Heinrich are pursuing a second goal with this. The final is intended to strengthen the regional championships. Anyone who wants to participate in the grand amateur final in September must first qualify in their local series.

This approach could be particularly interesting for smaller championships. The final provides an additional sporting incentive without taking the drivers out of their regional series during the season.

Last Chance Race instead of simple starting eligibility

The weekend is also expected to offer more than just two ordinary races in terms of sporting competition.

Free practice and qualifying open the program. The 35 fastest drivers from qualifying qualify directly, with five more places awarded via a Last Chance Race. This results in 40 drivers competing in the Qualifying Race.

The second day includes a warm-up followed by two timed runs.

A unique feature lies in the points system. It's not just the two main races that count; the qualifying race also contributes to the overall standings. This means a poor qualifying performance can't simply be dismissed.

In addition to the class winners, the organizers are planning a team ranking, prizes for the holeshots and a ranking of the fastest laps.

An alternative to the CROSS FINALS?

The comparison with the CROSS FINALS is obvious, but shouldn't be taken too far. Both events initially follow the same basic idea: The best riders from different regions meet at the end of the season for a joint race.

The concepts diverge at the crucial point.

Over the years, the CROSS FINALS have developed into a major highlight of the season, with a correspondingly high level of competition. Rosenstengel and Heinrich apparently want to deliberately avoid this trend with their new format. Their final is not intended to determine which well-known national rider prevails against regional riders. The explicit goal is to find the fastest amateur.

That is an important difference.

Those who regularly compete in the German Championship or have made it into the ADAC MX Masters already have other opportunities to showcase their skills at the national level. The AMX final, on the other hand, aims to reward those whose sporting lives are balanced between work, family, local racing series, and their own motorcycle preparation.

This could make the new race less of a direct copy of the CROSS FINALS and more of an alternative for a different target group.

The definition of an amateur will be crucial.

However, this is precisely where the biggest challenge lies. On paper, it's relatively easy to identify participants in the German Championships, Masters, European Championships, and World Championships. But speed and professionalism don't automatically end at these championship boundaries.

There are fast regional riders who, for financial or time reasons, have never competed in the German Championships or Masters. Others may have the pace for national races but consciously choose not to. According to the criteria published so far, they would still be eligible to start.

The organizers will therefore experience, at the latest when the first entries are received, just how difficult a watertight definition of amateurism actually is in motocross.

However, their approach has a clear advantage: The boundary is drawn before the race and not discussed only when a superior winner is on the podium.

Costs should be kept deliberately low.

The concept is also intended to stand out financially from the increasingly professional racing industry. Rosenstengel and Heinrich explicitly state low costs for participants and teams as one of their most important requirements. Ticket prices for spectators should also be kept as low as possible.

Support from the motorcycle industry is still planned. The partners are intended to help give something back to the riders without changing the fundamental concept of the amateur final.

There is still more than a year until the premiere. According to the organizers, some details may still change, and the venue has yet to be announced.

The date has already been set: September 18th and 19th, 2027.

Whether this will actually become an alternative to the CROSS FINALS ultimately depends less on the size of the event than on whether the AMX final can maintain its own standards in the long term: a major season finale where the amateur does not have to compete against former or current top national riders, but against riders with a comparable sporting background.