German youth development is working: Kratochwil and Siegert on pole!

Friday at the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring provided the perfect vindication of the work carried out by the team at Motorsport Team Germany. Fynn Kratochwil secured pole position for his home race in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup qualifying session, whilst Robin Siegert also took pole position in the Moto4 Northern Cup.

Both are part of the development programme through which the ADAC and DMSB provide targeted support to young German motorcycling talent. In addition to financial support, the young riders receive professional guidance in areas such as fitness, nutrition and media relations, as well as additional opportunities to train on their motorbikes.

In Thomas Voss’s view, the fact that young German riders are once again making positive headlines more frequently is no coincidence. The deputy chairman of the ADAC Sport Foundation explained during the Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sachsenring that, above all, the way things are organised behind the scenes has changed.

What has changed in the promotion of young talent

“The ADAC and the DMSB were already working closely together before. What has changed is that people like Lukas (Tulovic), Philipp (Hafeneger) and others have joined the team. The ADAC and the DMSB have been working together for many years, and the two are inseparable,” emphasises Voss.

Thomas Voss

Foto: ADAC Motorsport

Bringing additional expertise into the project was crucial. Active riders such as Lukas Tulovic are on hand to offer advice to young talents. In addition, Philipp Hafeneger supports the project by providing further training opportunities. Projects such as Dario Giuseppetti’s Moto Race Academy also play an important role in preparing young riders for the various junior racing series.

“It was important to bring experts into the project who hadn’t been involved before. Previously, many decisions were made without the necessary experts. That has changed in recent years,” Voss summed up.

Pole im Moto4 Northern Cup: Robin Siegert glänzt beim Heimspiel

Foto: Moto4 Northern Cup

Among the project’s prominent supporters in recent years has been former MotoGP rider Stefan Bradl, who had once publicly criticised the situation facing young German motorcycling talent. Voss would like to see the former Moto2 world champion become more involved again in future. “Former or active sportspeople can help us. Unfortunately, Stefan has been keeping a bit of a low profile. I’d be delighted if he were to get more involved again.”

Encouraging signs for German sport – will motor sport competitors benefit too?

As well as promoting young talent, Voss is also looking at the political framework. The Bundestag approved the draft Sports Promotion Act this week. At the heart of the reform is the establishment of an independent elite sports agency based in Leipzig. From 2027, its remit will include coordinating support for federations and athletes, further developing national training centres and independently allocating state funding. The aim of the reform is to reduce bureaucracy and win more medals in German elite sport. Voss is hoping for a positive boost – including for motorsport.

“At the moment, I still find it difficult to assess this definitively. Sport needs to reposition itself in certain areas. Although the Sports Promotion Act is primarily intended to support Olympic sports, I nevertheless believe that non-Olympic sports – such as motor sport – must not be overlooked. After all, they too are of great social and economic significance and are by no means unsuccessful,” said Voss.

In any case, the recent successes at the Sachsenring provide those in charge at Motorsport Team Germany with further evidence that the direction they have taken is paying off. By consistently involving experienced experts and providing comprehensive support, the aim is for even more German talents to make the leap onto the international stage in future.