Max Nagl interview

Team HRC rider Max Nagl produced a brilliant weekend at the MXGP of Qatar. The German veteran scored second overall and came within a couple of points of winning the MXGP. Here is what Nagl thought of his Qatar experience.

Q: Max, you got a moto victory and a MXGP podium. That must make you really happy?

Nagl: It was a long time ago for myself and for Honda that we win a moto, and that makes me happy about the first race, and I was nervous after the second heat, because I didn’t want to make it worse. But I had a good start and I was really happy actually all weekend with my riding, the bike is working perfect and every time we went out we made improvement with the bike and that is the best way to work.

Q: It seemed like hard work out there, many riders going fast.

Nagl: At this level everyone is fast, nearly all at the same speed almost, and you need to hope somebody makes a mistake, or you have a section where you do something really special. The start is so important and my second heat my gate was ok, but I wasn’t fast enough to get the holeshot, but I was happy with the second heat and it’s important to start the season like this.

Q: What is your preparation for Thailand?

Nagl: I will fly back to Germany tomorrow, I will not go straight to Thailand because I want to ride the bike more and I want to be safe (not get sick like in 2013) and I will eat the right food and feel safe at home. The heat won’t be a problem, because everyone needs more than a week to get used to the warmer temperatures, not just a few days. I don’t know the track, but I will look at some videos and it will be ok.

Q: Both yourself and Ken Roczen are getting a lot of press. Does this make you happy?

Nagl: I think it is great that Ken gets a lot of attention. In the winter all the focus is on him, and it’s cool for him and I just try and do my best in Europe and we are both on a high level and that is good for the sport in Europe, but mainly in Germany. So I am happy about this situation.

Q: How is the feeling of having HRC taking the FIM World Motocross Championship so seriously?

Nagl: Of course it feels great, it is cool every time you come back we have five Japanese technicians and they are all on their computers and they give you a lot of information about the bike, even the smallest piece of information. I can learn so much from them already just in these two days, and for sure it has pushed the team to the next level, I am really happy, I really like it.