Max Nagl has decided to bring an end to his long and successful career as a professional motocross rider. The 39-year-old German announced his retirement after injuries once again took a heavy toll on him this season. In particular, the physical consequences of his heavy crash in Tensfeld and a subsequent knee injury played a major role in his decision.
Nagl once again competed in the ADAC MX Masters this season, but suffered a heavy crash during the event in Tensfeld, sustaining multiple injuries. While trying to return from those injuries, he also suffered a knee injury. According to Nagl, that knee will probably never fully recover.
“It is time to announce my retirement. It is not the easiest thing I have had to do in my career, but I am at peace with it. I have had an amazing time.”
For Nagl, the prospect of no longer being able to race at 100 percent fitness was the decisive factor.
“The biggest reason is my physical condition. I have had many injuries throughout my career, and especially the heavy impact I suffered in Tensfeld this year resulted in some pretty serious injuries. Just when I was coming back, I also injured my knee. It will probably never be 100 percent again. Maybe 80 percent, but for me that is a reason to say no. I only want to race if I am 100 percent. I still have many years ahead of me and I do not want to take unnecessary risks.”
With his retirement, a remarkably long international career comes to an end. Nagl made his debut in the MX2 World Championship in 2003 and went on to become a regular front-runner in international motocross.
He spent ten years with KTM, during which he finished runner-up in the World Championship. He then moved to Honda, where he spent three seasons, before later achieving strong World Championship results with Husqvarna. With the brand, he finished fifth and third in the championship, among other results.
One of the absolute highlights of his career came in 2012, when Nagl, together with Ken Roczen and Marcus Schiffer, won the Motocross of Nations for Germany. It was Germany’s first victory in the history of the event.
“Looking back, I have had an amazing career. It was a long one. I started in the MX2 World Championship in 2003 and then had so many great years. Winning the Nations in 2012 was probably one of the biggest achievements I could have accomplished.”
Nagl’s love for motocross began at a very young age. At around five years old, his father first put him on a Yamaha PW50. What started as a family adventure eventually developed into a professional career spanning more than two decades.
In recent years, Nagl had already regularly considered retirement. Each time, however, he decided to continue for another season. Now, he feels that the time is finally right.
“I have always loved riding motorcycles and have had an amazing time. But now I have reached the point where it is enough. Over the past two years, I was already thinking: maybe this is my last season. Then I would add another year. Now we have simply reached the point where it is better to stop.”
Although his active racing career is coming to an end, Nagl does not want to leave the motocross world completely. With more than 20 years of experience at the highest level, he hopes to pass on his knowledge to a new generation of riders in the future.
“I definitely want to remain active within the motocross world. I have spent my entire life in this sport and gained so much experience. I want to share that and not keep it only for myself. I would like to help young riders develop and perhaps one day guide a rider to the highest level in MXGP.”
There are no concrete plans for the time being. First, Nagl wants to give his body time to fully recover. In addition, he has developed an interest in motorsport and is now also active in that field himself.
In his retirement message, Nagl extensively addressed the people who made his career possible. In particular, he thanked his parents, who put everything aside for his motocross career from his earliest years.
He also thanked the many teams, mechanics and other people he worked with throughout his career. Finally, Nagl addressed his fans, some of whom have followed him from his first World Championship season in 2003 through to his final races.
“It is incredible how many people have continued to follow me throughout all these years. Some were there in 2003 when I started and were still there this year when I was racing.”
For Nagl, the coming period will mainly be about recovery and discovering new challenges. One thing is now certain: Max Nagl’s active racing career has come to an end.
