New IceOne Red Bull Husqvarna Factory racing athlete Max Nagl, who has only steered KTM and HRC Honda equipment in Grands Prix, has had to adjust to the Kimi Raikkonen-owned set-up based in Belgium as well as deal with becoming a new father to son Mason in December.
The 27 year old won the Grand Prix of Goias (Brazil) and finished second in Mexico on the CRF for the last two rounds of 2014 and is now back into KTM-engineered machinery with the Husky FC450. “I have the same feeling like I did before on the KTM so the bike is familiar,” he said. “The engine power is incredible and I think the chassis and suspension in the time I have been away from the KTMs has improved a lot; there has been a big step.”
The German proved his speed once more in the final two flyaways last season and is highly rated by many if he can avoid the treatment table. Renowned for his fitness and dedication to a programme, Nagl insists his new fatherhood has not been too much of a major adjustment. “It has been a big change but in a nice way,” he commented. “It hasn’t really affected my lifestyle too much or my training and so far he has been such an easy kid! We were in Spain and travelling around just two weeks after he was born so we haven’t held back.”
Nagl faces competition from 17 other Grand Prix winners in the officially approved teams list of 28 riders for the MXGP category and even though he entered the premier class in 2007 he hasn’t had to tackle a rival with the CV of Ryan Villopoto.
“For the first few Grands Prix he will be really good and for sure at the front,” he opines. “People then have this opinion that he will struggle when we get to Arco and Valkenswaard but I don’t think so… he is such a good rider that he has to be competitive. Although I don’t think he will be unbeatable.”
