Max Nagl has announced his retirement from professional motocross, bringing an end to an impressive career that saw him compete as a full factory MXGP rider for many years and secure nine Grand Prix overall victories. The recently turned 39-year-old German has decided that the time is right to step away from racing, with a series of injuries, including a significant crash at Tensfeld and a subsequent knee injury, playing a major role in his decision.
Nagl has enjoyed a career spanning more than two decades, competing for some of the biggest manufacturers in the sport, including KTM, Honda and Husqvarna. He also achieved success on the international stage, including helping Germany win the Motocross of Nations in 2012. Speaking about his decision, Nagl explained that his physical condition and desire to only race at 100% were key factors behind his retirement.
“Hey guys, it is time to announce my retirement. It’s not the easiest thing to do in my career but I’m pleased. I’m really pleased with the time I had. It was a great time. There’s a couple of reasons for this decision. The biggest part is just the physical conditions. I had a lot of injuries through all my career and especially this year now with this big impact I had in Tensfeld at the ADAC. That was really a big hit with a lot of quite bad injuries and then when I was just coming back I injured my knee and the knee not be 100% anymore. Maybe it comes back to 80% but for me that’s a reason also to say no – I only want to race if I’m 100% and I still have a couple of more years to go so in other things and I don’t want to risk it. That’s why I also decided to stop”.
A career filled with success
Looking back on his career, Nagl reflected on his years in the World Championship, his factory rides and some of the biggest achievements of his racing journey. From his early days in MX2 to competing at the front of the MXGP class, the German rider enjoyed a long and successful career, including multiple championship podium finishes and his 2012 Motocross of Nations victory.
“On the other hand if I look back it was a really great career I had. It was long. I started in 2003 with the MX2 World Championship and I was 10 years on KTM. We had second place in the world championship. Then we went for two years Honda where I also had great results there and then back to Husky where we had another fifth and another third place in the championship. In 2012 we won the Nations. I think that was one of the biggest achievements I could have and actually further back when I started riding I think I was like five years old when my dad put me on a 50cc so that’s it’s a long time. I always loved riding dirt bikes”.
Looking towards life after racing
While Nagl has decided to end his competitive motocross career, he is already looking towards the next chapter of his life. The German has developed an interest in car racing and plans to remain involved in the motocross industry, with the possibility of helping young riders develop and reach the highest level of the sport.
“A great time and now I’m just at the point where it’s enough, the last three years already I was thinking maybe that’s the last year and then I decided to do another year and we are just at that point that it’s better to stop. I want to do something else. I’m really looking forward for my future. I’m really into this car racing. Actually I’m now again on a weekend racing so enjoying I’m my time there and then we will see what the future will bring. For sure I want to stay in the Motocross world. I mean I spent all my life in there. I have so much experience and I want to share that. I don’t want to keep it for myself. I want to help young riders to develop. Maybe to bring another rider to the top level of MXGP or I don’t know. We will see”.
Although he is stepping away from racing, Nagl confirmed that he intends to remain active and contribute to the motocross community. For now, however, his priority is recovering from the injuries he has sustained throughout his career.
“There’s no plans for the moment. At the moment I just want to recover. My body will need a long time now just to recover from all the injuries but at the moment I’m feeling okay. I’m already full gas into training again just to stay fit and healthy but the racing part will be over now and I just want to say a big thanks first of all to my parents. With them it wouldn’t been possible of course. We started this project for many years. We were living months in a camper on a really small place with my Mum and my Dad – we have still such a great relationship. I think that I can be also really pleased for that how much we were growing as a family because of that sport. Also, thanks to all the teams, the people who helped me throughout all my career, the mechanics I had. I had so many great mechanics. Never I had problems with anyone. I’m still feeling really really happy at the paddock. If I go there, there’s so many good people and then also of course all the fans out there. For all the years they were supporting. I know there’s a lot of people but I know a couple that were there in 2003 when I started and they were there this year when I was still racing at the other races. So it’s incredible how many people were following through all the years and of course all the sponsors I had through all the years. Without the sponsors it wouldn’t been possible of course”.
Reflecting on his final projects
Nagl also took the opportunity to reflect on the relationships he built throughout his career, including his sponsors, teams and the people who supported him along the way. His most recent years saw him work with Triumph and Dörr Motorsport racing the ADAC MX Masters, where he was involved in developing and improving the bike. While a championship title ultimately remained out of reach, Nagl looked back positively on the project and the progress they made together.
“You need to live from something and a lot of the sponsors throughout the years became friends especially Kretek, what I had for many years now. There was always new people coming in and I always tried to have a long part relationship with all the sponsors and with most of them it worked. We were working together since so many years. The bike brands you change sometimes but also the last two years with Triumph it was a good project. If I think how much we could develop and improve the bike, the new team with Dörr Motorsport. There it was a great achievement we had through the years. Maybe we could not get the title, we were a bit unlucky. We were there and maybe the fastest but at the end of the day we just missed it. It’s part of the game of the sport and I’m not really sad about it. If I see the big picture I think it was fine. And then of course also to my girlfriend, we had a great time. She was there to support me through the years, through the races. We just a great time together and now we will see what the future brings”.
A positive outlook on retirement
Despite the emotions that come with ending such a long career, Nagl insists that his decision is not one he views with sadness. Having spent most of his life racing motocross, he is now ready to explore new opportunities while remaining connected to the sport. The German rider thanked everyone who supported him throughout his journey and left the door open to seeing fans and friends at future motocross and car racing events.
“I don’t know at the moment, I’m not stressing about it. I’m actually happy about it. It’s not a sad decision for me to stop racing. Like I said it was so long. A lot of ups, a lot of downs of course. The ups were always better, higher of course. But it’s time, it’s time to stop. I just want to say thank you to everyone and maybe still see you around somewhere on even on the car race or on the motocross race”
Max Nagl now begins a new chapter, bringing an impressive motocross career to a close while looking ahead to his future in car racing and the wider motocross community.
