If you want to describe the Cat Moto KTM Bauerschmidt Team, it is not enough to speak of a classic racing team. Rather, it is a structured development project – an international training ground for the 250cc class, which deliberately takes a different path. Or, as it is formulated internally: "Think different."

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Three heads, one idea

Behind the team is a deliberately assembled management trio with clearly assigned roles. André Stumpf brings his background in coaching and driver development, which he has gained over the past ten years with the Pro Sports Alliance and continues to expand. Thomas Bauerschmidt is responsible for the technical area around the motorcycles and the Swiss Hans Rudi Berger acts as team principal, supporter, strategic partner and takes care of sponsor communication. The idea for the team came from a simple but crucial observation: "I always had the feeling that you could get even more out of a driver if everyone worked in the same direction," explains Stumpf. And from Hans Rudi's one sentence "I've always wanted to make a team", the whole thing then developed for the 2024 season. The Cat Moto Team was born and a system was created that goes far beyond the classic team idea.

A platform for international talent

The current driver trio of reigning ADAC MX Youngster Cup champion Mads Fredsoe, Australian Liam Owens and Italian newcomer Francesco Bellei underlines the team's international aspirations. Young talents from different countries are being developed in a targeted manner and brought to the top. Nationality plays a subordinate role here – the decisive factor is the potential and willingness to fit into the system. Cat Moto does not see itself as a national development team, but as a platform for ambitious riders who want to take the next step.

In terms of sport, the team is clearly in an international environment. In addition to the EMX series, the ADAC MX Masters also plays an important role in the racing calendar with the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. The series offers strong international competition and at the same time serves as a platform to develop further under racing conditions. The combination of national and international appearances also brings challenges, especially due to the dense race calendar and the high strain on drivers and teams. Here, it is important to find the right balance between effort and regeneration – an aspect that is becoming increasingly important in modern motocross.

The base at the heart

The team's base is located just west of Roermond in the Netherlands – deliberately chosen to bundle training, organisation and technology in one place. The entire operation is controlled from here. The drivers all live at the team base. The mechanics, motorcycles, training structure and organization are intertwined here and enable close support for the riders in everyday life. Unlike many teams, the cooperation is not limited to the race weekends, but also takes place continuously during the week. This is precisely one of the greatest strengths of the project: the drivers are not only looked after, but also developed in a targeted manner.

The focus on the 250cc class is no coincidence, but a central part of the philosophy. At this stage of their career, drivers already have a high basic level, but at the same time they are still open to development and intensive support. "This is the age group in which you have the most potential to really make a difference," Stumpf's approach can be summarized. At the same time, concentrating on one class allows all resources to be bundled in a targeted manner – both in rider development and in technical work on the motorcycle. Especially in an international comparison with larger teams, this clear focus is a decisive advantage.

Full program instead of race service

What sets Cat Moto apart from many other teams is the consistent implementation of a holistic approach. In addition to driving training, fitness, mental support and performance coaching play a central role. With a close-knit network of coaches, physios and additional specialists, an environment is created in which the riders can develop both athletically and personally. It's not just about lap times, but about the overall package. The riders live and train together, spend a lot of time together and thus grow together as a team.

Competition as part of the concept

An essential part of this system is internal competition. Several strong drivers train together, push each other and still compete as direct competitors on the race weekend. The intensity in training should be as high as possible as long as it remains controlled. The remarkable thing is that despite this constant intensity, the mood in the team and also among the drivers is very good. But this is no coincidence. Because great importance is attached to communication. Regular discussions and a conscious selection of drivers ensure that the dynamics within the team work. Not every fast driver automatically fits into this system – character and mentality play just as important a role as sporting potential.

The fact that this concept works was impressively demonstrated last season, when the team with Mads Fredsoe, Liam Owens and Nico Greutmann took all three podium places in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup in Bitche and also achieved all three race wins. This has never happened before in the entire ADAC MX Masters. The result may have come as a surprise to outsiders, but internally it was seen as a logical consequence. "That was a clear goal before the season," said Stumpf. For the team, it was not so much an outlier as a confirmation of their own way of working.

Think differently – even off the track

Cat Moto also takes a deliberately different approach off the track. The name, the visual appearance with the pink accents on the motorcycles and in the team appearance and the entire external presentation are designed to stand out from the crowd. Instead of classic press work, the team relies heavily on social media, moving images and its own formats. With projects such as the video series "The Rise", which will be shown as a documentary project on the YouTube channel of the sponsor benzim this season, storytelling is targeted to give partners and fans a deeper insight. "We want to go our own way and consciously distinguish ourselves from others," says Stumpf, describing the strategy. At a time when sponsors expect more than just a logo presence, this approach is becoming increasingly important.

Looking ahead

The view into the future is deliberately formulated openly. Nevertheless, there are clear goals. "We want to be the best in the class in which we start," says Stumpf. Whether this will include other classes or even the World Championship in the long term remains to be seen. Much more important is continuous development – as a team, as an organization and in the sporting field. In the end, the concept can be reduced to a simple denominator: Cat Moto does not think in fixed structures, but in possibilities. It's not about copying existing ways, but about developing your own. And that's exactly what makes this team so special. Think different.