After a full season in the Motocross World Championship with Beta's factory team, Tom Koch returns to the ADAC MX Masters for the 2026 season and to the team of his first major successes, the KTM Sarholz Racing Team. He will also take on the role of rider spokesman at the ADAC MX Masters for the first time. In the pre-season interview, "ToKo" reveals what he takes away from a difficult MXGP season and why he feels stronger than ever.

Welcome back! First of all, a quick review: How did the 2025 MXGP season go?

Tom Koch: "To be honest, very mixed. I imagined it a little differently. But a few things happened that just didn't make me feel 100% comfortable. And that didn't lead to the results that I set out to achieve and that I know I'm capable of."

What are the experiences from the 2025 season?

"The last two years haven't been my rosiest years, 2024 with the injury at the beginning of the season and 2025 with the new team, where things just didn't go so well. The biggest learning from the past year is that I now know what I need to feel good and what it feels like to have it. I have had the experience of how it affects performance when you don't feel well. I think many people don't know that, underestimate it or it's not that important for some. But for me it has a high priority and a lot stands and falls with it. If I don't have a good feeling on the bike and something feels wrong in life, then I can't expect high performance. So one thing led to another. I am taking these experiences with me into this year. I'm taking a more relaxed approach to some things and focusing much more on having fun riding a motorcycle and just enjoying it. That was pretty difficult for me last year."

How did the return to the ADAC MX Masters and the cooperation with the KTM Sarholz Racing Team come about?

"We already know each other from the past, from my ADAC MX Youngster Cup title win and the time afterwards. In particular, I have still been in contact with team principal André Sarholz and my mechanic at the time, Gerrit Knipprath, in recent years and we simply got along well. I always knew that the team was doing a good job, that they had good bikes and, above all, that I got along extremely well with Gerrit, who is now my mechanic again. Gerrit gives everything and that was also a big factor for me in the decision, so that I feel comfortable and know what I'm getting."

Were there any other requests?

"I had a surprising number of offers and a relatively high level of interest from German teams. There were a few doors open to me. In the end, my gut feeling decided in favor of the Sarholz team. I think I did everything right in the situation I was in."

How does the work of a factory team differ from that of a dealer team, as is now the case with Sarholz?

"Normally, you expect a big difference. In my case, I have to praise the KTM Sarholz Racing Team very much, because I have already tested a lot and have been able to try out a lot of parts to tune the bike to me. That's not a deterioration for me compared to last year."

Are there any other changes apart from the team change?

"In principle, not much has changed compared to 2024. I live back in my home in Thuringia because I feel most comfortable at home, even outside of motocross. We have a lot of training opportunities and I train with other riders, like Paul Haberland and other riders from the KS-Sportsworld training group. Konrad Smolinski is still responsible for my fitness training and I still train with Marcus Schiffer on the motorcycle when the opportunity arises."

There was one change: your brother Tim hung up the racing helmet. Is that a strange feeling?

"We already had a cord cutting phase last year (laughs) and actually didn't race a single race together, apart from the MXGP in Teutschenthal. Nevertheless, I come to the races with my usual environment and of course Timmy will support me where he can. In the end, you don't get to know much about each other in the race anyway and everyone has their own routines. If he still comes by at a race and supports me, then of course I'm very happy."

You inherited the role of driver spokesman from your brother. How did this come about and which aspects of this task are particularly important?

"After it was clear that Tim would no longer drive, the ADAC offered me the role and I was happy to accept it. I think I have common sense and a lot of experience to be able to assess the different situations well. Of course, it is important to maintain the track, that the ground is well prepared in certain places so that it is suitable for the younger classes, but of course also for the MX Masters class and that certain things run properly, such as the preparation and work of the track costs or the handling of critical points on the track. You can always judge that a little better from the driver's point of view than if you 'just' stand by."

How did the pre-season go?

"It went really smoothly this year. I was able to do my training well, even though the weather with all the rain and snow did not provide really good conditions for anyone. But it's always important to make the best of it and that's what I did. I used the time and tried out a lot of things on the bike together with Gerrit, even small details, and tested various things on the suspension with Pepper Motorsport. The bike is now in very good condition and gives me a lot of confidence that I can ride it well."

Since 2020, you've always finished in the top three of the ADAC MX Masters, three of them as runner-up. What ingredient has been missing to win the title so far?

"I would say Max Nagl was always there. (laughs) In 2024, I didn't start the championship well with a vertebral injury and didn't expect to finish runners-up in the end. With three ranked races per race, a lot of points are lost if you are only half fit at the first three events. You can't make up for that over the year. In 2023, I was relatively close and the title fight was open until the season finale. It just wasn't enough. In 2022, I also had a foot injury at the beginning of the season. To win the title, everything always has to work well together. In terms of speed and consistency, I see myself at the front again. My starts have held me back a bit in recent years. If I improve it, I don't see anything that could prevent me from achieving my goals. I can only do my best and of course I want to compete for the championship title."

Who will be the strongest competitors?

"Max Nagl is always a force to be reckoned with. Roan van de Moosdijk will also be good again and will be in contention for the title. Max Spies should not be underestimated either and Jordi Tixier will be good. It's always hard to predict, but in the end you'll see in the first races who will line up where and what surprises there are."

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