Motocross talent Pius Bergmann wants to make the leap to the pros.
The 17-year-old can be trusted to do anything - especially since a key experience.
Freising / Putzbrunn
- When it comes to screwdriving, nobody can fool them.
And certainly not when driving.
On the motocross track, Pius Bergmann (17) beats pretty much everyone out of the field when things go well.
Not infrequently among them competitors who are older and stronger or have significantly more horsepower under the saddle than him.
This is what happened in the MX 1 series in southern Bavaria, in which he won several races in 2019.
But that's not enough: In addition to the motocross sport, the regular driver of the MSC Freisinger Bär has also discovered the Supercross series for himself - with no less success.
In the Westfalenhalle, the whiz kid was even named Junior Prince of Dortmund in 2020.
But Bergmann wants more.
He wants to continue to cause a sensation in the premier class of motocross, in the said MX 1, and in supercross.
Tough training camp in California
Of course, it shouldn't be because of the material.
Pius Bergmann knows his way around this well, if not to say very well.
So good that he earns money on the side doing small repairs on motorcycles, such as large enduro bikes.
There's always something to do on his own machines, a 250-cc Husqvarna four-stroke for supercross and a KTM 250-cc two-stroke for motocross racing.
Pius does everything himself - and he has always ridden excellently with it.
But the young driver feels avowed to do something higher.
Even if he “doesn't have that much experience” in the top classes, as he admits, that could and should change soon.
There is no lack of self-confidence and skill.
Since a key event in the United States, the exceptional talent can be trusted to do anything.
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Talented youngster: The Putzbrunner has been driving for the Freising Bear Motorsport Club since 2012.
© private
And this is how it happened: After a stay in the USA with his family, the rookie moved alone to California, near Los Angeles, at the age of 13.
That was in 2017. Pius completed a tough training program in motocross there on the so-called Halfpro Ranch.
He took care of his colleagues' bikes, washed them and, if necessary, serviced them.
“Every day we went on a different route,” Pius remembers this extraordinary, incredibly inspiring and effective time.
This resulted in a whopping 240 operating hours on and with the bike.
Which is an enormous amount, since otherwise as a crosser you might work up to 100 hours a year.
“It's a completely different league”, Pius is still convinced of the intensity in his “training camp”.
In any case, it gave him a huge boost - and he returned to Germany as a completely different one.
Mother Doreen (47) sums it up as follows: “He went there as a little boy and came back as an adult.” Mum should know, because after the stay abroad, her son had matured to become self-sufficient.
"The decisive factor was the tour in America - it was so serious, it really changed me," says Pius with certainty.
The young driver is what you would call a “self-made man”.
He copied motorcycling from his father Thomas Bergmann (47).
At the age of four, after his big brother Tim (now 21), he too started “trying it out”.
Later his younger brother Lenz (now 13) joined the group.
Pius has been competing for the MSC Freisinger Bär since 2012 - and the successes came quickly.
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Screwdrivers and tinkerers: The 17-year-old has the necessary know-how to keep going.
© Alexander Fischer
In 2017, for example, Pius won two titles in the MX 2/1 class and in the two-stroke cup.
In 2019 he finished ninth in the German championship in the 125 cubic centimeter class.
The highlights of his career so far have been several victories in the MX 1 series in southern Bavaria. His next goal is to further establish himself at the ADAC Masters Youngster Cup.
He is also hoping for a place on the grid in well-known Supercross races.
“I would like to drive the Masters or, if possible, also take part in international races,” the Putzbrunner makes clear.
For this he is even ready to put everything on the motorsport card.
The dad is the coach and main sponsor in personal union
Pius has just graduated from Isar Business School Munich East.
Professionally, however, he would first like to concentrate on motorsport: “I want to get away from the hobby area and get on professionally,” he emphasizes and at the same time admits that we still have to work on the right concept so that it can work.
Because in order to get to the limit, it takes a little more.
"A lot has to fit together," he clarifies, but also deliberately says: "I'm not afraid of that - I trust myself to do it."
One reason for this confidence is certainly his father, who stands behind him and fully supports him.
“As the main sponsor,” as Pius emphasizes, and as a co-founder of the Radical Rhythm team, which we set up jointly.
Papa Bergmann is a driver, coach and consultant in one person.
And together, according to Pius, they have "always got everything right" to date.
The rookie with the clear ideas has so far been spared health problems, i.e. worse injuries.
“I've never broken anything,” says the 17-year-old.
You can only keep your fingers crossed that it stays that way.
Alexander Fischer
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