Motocross is a fascinating but equally tough sport. While some talented riders were promoted early on by teams and sponsors, enabling them to turn professional with support, there is another group of riders who never planned to become professional motocross riders but have worked their way up to the top of the national rankings. The ‘working class heroes’ Mark Scheu, Lukas Platt and Tim Koch are prime examples of a career path marked by passion and great challenges.

Tim Koch has never been a full-time professional, but has always worked or been in training. "I was never really a professional. I concentrated quite a lot on the sport during the summer while I was studying, but for me, being a professional means being able to earn a living from the sport and having professional structures in place, not just riding motorbikes for a few months because your parents can afford it or you're spending all your savings." The 32-year-old now works in his parents' roofing business. ‘You have to structure your day extremely well to make everything work. If you're not prepared to get up early and put in long days, you'll find it tough.’

Financing – How the three afford their sport

Motocross is an expensive sport: motorcycles, spare parts, travel and entry fees all cost a lot of money. If you're not a factory rider, you have to take care of the financing yourself. ‘I've never had a big sponsorship deal. Without my private sponsors, who I've had since this season, the season wouldn't be possible. I invest all my savings in my season, but I'm happy to do it,’ says Mark Scheu, who started the season for the Sixty Seven Racing Team Husqvarna and has since moved to the Johannes Bikes Suzuki team. Working with benzim is new for him: ‘It's been like a knighthood for me. A big energy drink sponsor is probably out of reach for me, but I think it's awesome to put on my new benzim helmet every time.’

Lukas Platt also had to build up his own network: "I was lucky that a sponsor supported me early on and helped me to race at international level. But I also always made sure that I was financially secure, with insurance and savings. I learned that in advance and it was important to me for my professional career. I don't want to have to say to my girlfriend, “I'm just riding motorcycles now, but you're responsible for food, rent and so on.” Thanks to my private sponsors such as Stahlbauhoch3 and Platinum Carwash, I can continue to live my professional dream." As a professional athlete with his own business, the KTM Sarholz Racing Team rider has also learned a lot since then: ‘I didn't have to worry about things like advance VAT payments and so on before. But that's part of my development.’

Tim Koch sees it similarly: ‘Without strong support from my family and sponsors, it wouldn't be possible. Motocross is a good sport for losing money,’ he laughs. He tries to finance the sport through his sponsors, the VisuAlz Production Team and other supporters. ‘And sponsors like Weber-Werke really help a lot and make life a little easier in many areas.’

The differences between professionals and amateurs

One major difference between the full-time professionals in the factory teams and the ‘working class heroes’ is the infrastructure. A top rider often has a whole team behind him who take care of everything – from mechanics to mental coaches. ‘A real professional gets on the bike and rides. I have to clean and repair my bike myself during the week and organise everything else,’ says Mark Scheu. ‘When I was still working, there was no time for anything else, no girlfriend, no meeting up with friends, it was just work and motocross.’

Another important aspect is regeneration. Those who work alongside their sport often don't have enough time to recover properly. ‘After a hard day of training, I still had to get up early and go to work. A full-time professional can rest after training, which is a big advantage,’ says Lukas Platt. "In the past, my whole day consisted of training, work, preparing the motorbike and so on. When things weren't going well, I often trained even harder and then arrived at the races tired and exhausted. That's different now. I often finish training at 5 p.m. during the week and have time for my girlfriend.

Tim Koch, who has already won the German championship twice as an amateur, sees things a little differently: "Of course, I often have to get up very early to complete my first run before work. After work, I have training or motorcycle preparation to do. You have to be very well organised and have a good environment that you can draw on. Recovery is also a matter of planning. I try to structure my days so that I get enough sleep and don't neglect my recovery. Of course, sometimes I skip a training session in consultation with my trainer Konrad in favour of regeneration.‘

Encouragement from fans – the heroes of ordinary riders

Many fans particularly appreciate the authenticity and down-to-earth character of the ’working class heroes". ‘I often get messages from people who say they can identify with me because, like them, I have to work to finance my sport,’ says Tim Koch.

Mark Scheu also experiences this encouragement: ‘I'm not a superstar, I'm someone who had to work hard for everything. Many see that as an inspiration.’

Goals for the 2025 season

All three riders have ambitious goals for the current season. Mark Scheu wants to continue to improve: ‘I don't set my goals based on rankings, I don't want to stagnate, I want to improve year after year. As long as I continue to develop, I'm happy.’

In addition to achieving as many single-digit race results as possible in the ADAC MX Masters, Lukas Platt has set his sights on becoming German champion: ‘My goal is the DMX Open title. I know it will be tough, but I will give it my all.’

‘I want to finish the season in the top ten of the ADAC MX Masters and achieve consistently good results,’ said Tim Koch before the season, but he had a difficult start to the season and has now adjusted his goals slightly.

Career planning – back to work after a professional career?

Many motocross riders have to ask themselves at some point what comes after their career. For the ‘working class heroes’, this is often easier as they have already learned a trade. ‘I know that I can go back to working as a carpenter at any time when my motocross career is over,’ says Mark Scheu. ‘That's why I'm enjoying it as it is right now and taking things as they come.’

Lukas Platt also has a plan: ‘I completed my carpentry training and even received an offer to take over a company. But I turned it down because I really enjoy being a professional motocross rider at the moment. As long as I can race at this level, I'll keep doing it. However, I can now even imagine not returning to my old profession, but continuing to work in the industry after my career.’

Tim Koch is staying in the family business: "I will continue to work in our company and contribute there. It's a lot of fun and I can help shape and steer many things that would be difficult for me to do as an employee. I can't say how long I will continue to ride actively. Maybe this is my last season, but it's also quite possible that I will continue racing for a few more years. I enjoy racing; just training doesn't give me the same adrenaline rush, the battles and much more."

The true heroes of motocross

The stories of Mark Scheu, Lukas Platt and Tim Koch show that motocross is not just a sport for super talents. It's a sport for fighters, for people with unbridled determination and a hard-working attitude. While the big stars are often in the spotlight, it's the ‘working class heroes’ who make the sport what it is. They prove that you can live your dream without million-dollar contracts, but with a lot of passion and discipline.