After a few years focusing on the ADAC MX Masters, Adam Sterry inked a team with Schmicker KTM Racing for the 2024 season which has seen him in the MXGP paddock on a more regular basis which is great to see. It’s always nice to see British riders take on the world’s best riders in the toughest series on the planet.
With the MXoN also taking place at Matterley Basin this year, Sterry is determined to land a spot on the team .
We caught up with Sterry to discuss his season so far and more…
GateDrop: Adam, after a few years with Sarholz KTM, you’ve made the switch to Schmicker KTM this year, how’s it all going with the team?
Sterry: Pretty good, we’ve had ups and downs but achieved some solid results this year and are fighting for second in the ADAC MX Masters championship
GateDrop: With Schmicker, the plan for you was to race European rounds of MXGP, something you didn’t have the option to do with Sarholz, how big a factor was that in your decision to switch teams?
Sterry: It was a big factor, whilst I’m still young enough and improving on a 450cc, I still want to compete at the highest level and I still believe with the right opportunity I can do that.
GateDrop: After only contesting selected MXGP rounds the past couple of years, what has it been like racing more MXGP rounds and being a regular in the paddock again?
Sterry: Hard (laughs)… You forget how taxing the travelling is, as well as racing a domestic championship we hardly have any weekends free but racing with them guys is different and so are the tracks so to be competitive you have to race more GP’s rather than a couple here or there.
GateDrop: I think you had a stressful Lommel experience and you ended up under another awning. Can you talk us through what happened there?
Sterry: (laughs). Yeah, it was stressful but we did our best in the situation and ended up being a solid weekend until the second moto crash whilst running fifteenth.
GateDrop: Your best ride so far this season came in the Portuguese mud finishing race one in thirteenth, you must have been happy with that but looking for more top fifteen results?
Sterry: Yeah, I like the mud and was happy with race one… Unfortunately I had a DNF in race two with a mechanical which cost me a really good overall so that was a shame. We had a few things this year out of my control which cost me some better results.
GateDrop: The level of MXGP looks really tough. A lot of fans always criticize it because there’s not 40 riders every week but quality over quantity. Just how deep is the class and the competition?
Sterry: To race in MXGP you need to be 100%, the level is so high now, it’s the pinnacle of the sport with riders with so much experience. People don’t realise the difference between factory teams and satellite teams too, that gap seems to be getting bigger and makes it harder for the smaller teams to be competitive.
GateDrop: You’ve also been racing the ADAC MX Masters series, another strong championship. How has that been going for you?
Sterry: Overall it has been solid, we are battling for second in the championship with two podiums so overall I’m happy. The series is so competitive with the likes of Nagl, Tixier, Spies, Koch and Tøndel to name a few who can all do top ten results at MXGP so it shows how competitive it is!
GateDrop: Are your plans for the rest of the season to race all the MXGP rounds with the exception of China?
Sterry: We will see how it’s goes… That was originally the plan but plans change and when I go to the race I want it to be 100%.
GateDrop: The MXoN is heading back to Matterley Basin in October, two likely picks are Mewse and Anstie but after that there’s one slot probably open… I am sure you’d love to be picked…
Sterry: Of course I would. A home nations, it doesn’t get much better and might not come around again. In 2019 it was my favourite race I’ve done in my career where we managed a podium and I’m sure that’s something we could achieve again with that team.
