Five minutes with TM factory rider Max Nagl
Below the wheel, Max Nagl (30) started his World Championship campaign strongly with the brand new factory TM MX 450 F. Nagl is currently 8th in the MXGP world championship. In the second series of the Argentine GP he finished 8th. We spoke to Max before his team's first home Grand Prix.
The agreement with TM was difficult for the ex-vice world champion and he suffered an elbow injury in February. Nevertheless, Nagl is well on schedule with the development of a completely new TM. After years as a factory rider for KTM, HRC Honda and Husqvarna, the R&D task was a major challenge for the sympathetic German.
All too often the small Italian TM is seen as the 'last chance' for top riders in the MXGP. Yet the MX450 has the reputation of a powerful engine. There is certainly potential to revive the heyday of Tanel Leok, Manuel Priem and Anthony Boissière. An important element in the TM puzzle is the experience of Max Nagl. The nine-time GP winner can take the manufacturer from Pesaro to a higher level thanks to his feeling for the right adjustment and work ethic.
On the other hand, a seat at TM allows Nagl to work in the shadows with less pressure and thus give his career a new boost.
How did the adjustment to the TM, a completely different type of dirt bike, go for you?
Max Nagl: “It's just different from a Japanese bike, a KTM or Husky, but I like it. The engine is strong, we have found a good solution for the suspension and the frame is also good. We had modified the frame a bit, and that was initially a prototype. To continue you always need a few weeks of extra and additional tests. This obviously takes time, but the basis was already good. I also enjoy driving the TM!”
Did you have to think about other goals before the season? To not focus so quickly on victories and podiums?
Nail: “Yes, at the moment I am not yet able to follow the best drivers. This winter there wasn't much riding and the preparation was tough this time. But of course we are still doing our best, we now have to continue to build game by game. We will simply continue testing and developing new parts.”
How is the MX 450FI set up, what is your personal preference?
Nail: “In terms of power, the TM is comparable to motorcycles but there is a lot of torque and that is what I really like on the 450. I like the aluminum frame and that was also the case when I rode for Honda. In my opinion, an aluminum frame is more stable and stiffer than a steel frame. The TM is a little different to ride. That's why I had to change my style a bit, but I like it.”
You've driven for some big factory teams, how does TM compare?
Nail: “Compared to HRC or KTM, there are much fewer people at TM. Actually that's good. “Less people, fewer problems,” I always say. If I ask for something, it can be changed almost overnight. They are really fast. The TM is also a pure factory motorcycle because everything is built in Pesaro and they don't buy anything. They can just change or create whatever is necessary.”
Do you now look at success in a different way? What is a fantastic result for you?
Nail: “It is completely unrealistic to think about winning now. Still, I hope that later in the year we can reach a top 3 or win a series.”
Tekst: Adam Wheeler
Photos: TM-Racing
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