Max Nagl will soon discuss whether his excellent podium finish at Teutschenthal and his home Grand Prix last weekend will be enough for a third season with the HRC Honda World Motocross team.
The German came back from a broken wrist in the best possible style by winning the first moto at Talkessel and taking second place on the rostrum in just his fifth appearance in 11 rounds this season.
Honda have been talking with a number of riders for 2015 and with the contract expiration of current incumbents Nagl and Evgeny Bobryshev, Nagl placed himself in the best position last Sunday for another term with the CRF450F while the unfortunate Bobryshev is likely to miss virtually the entire season after his leg break at the Italian Grand Prix the previous week.
The Russian has been linked to Red Bull KTM at Maggiora and as Tony Cairoli’s team-mate. If the move does occur then it could be the second investment in Russia by the squad from Mattighofen with Alex Tonkov allegedly lined up to race alongside Jeffrey Herlings in MX2.
When asked how Nagl rated his chances of remaining in ‘red’ for 2015 prior to the race on Sunday he said: “I honestly don’t know. I have been speaking with them and the Japanese have taken the decision but they are not saying. I think this weekend depends also and I should know in a couple of weeks.”
After the race he was a bit more confident: “For sure this result will help to stay there. Perhaps this is part of the talking [needed] in the next days and weeks.”
Speaking about his injury Nagl said: “Even if breakfast my girlfriend had to make the bread! Eventually I could start cycling but it was still frustrating because I could not do anything with my hands.
“I got an infection in my wrist because I had been training too much with the bone and had to rest for another week. I got the OK from the doctor; he said it would be painful but he said I would not do any more damage. I was ‘somewhere in the middle’ because I did not want to come back without being strong. It was difficult but eventually I made it.
“My bike is almost the same as Bulgaria because I missed a lot of testing. I need some real racing until I am 100% again. I want to do all the GPs this year. The championship is gone but the top five is possible.
“I’m really sad for Bobby. Like me it was not his fault but again the team has just one rider. I hope he can comeback for some GPs. “
Honda are still hoping to contract Gautier Paulin as their lead athlete for 2015.
