MARKUS LACHER
What’s your name?
Markus Lacher
Where are you from?
Karlsruhe, Germany
Who is(are) your rider(s)?
Emile Lacher
How long have you been a moto mom?
Emile has been riding since 2012 and I have always been his mechanic, coach, and dad but I am his moto mom/dad since 2016.
Were you into motorcycles before becoming a moto mom?
I raced in Europe myself and have been on and off the bike for over thirty-five years. According to him, I am not a good rider. 🙂
Describe a typical race weekend for you.
The weekend starts on Thursday when I get everything ready. Ensure I washed all of his gear and buy necessary drinks and food for the weekend. I am getting the bikes ready. Like most of us (change chain, sprockets, oil etc.) I put the travel back together (gear, clothes, and toiletries) I will load the trailer and clean the RV if it is a longer weekend or get the sprinter van ready if we don’t use the RV. It seems we are using nowadays the RV only for the nationals.
What’s your family’s favorite meal at the track?
Emile and I like to cook at home but on the road, it’s often microwave food. It’s tradition to have a bacon, egg and cheese croissant for breakfast. One advantage of being a single moto dad is that he and I often get invited for lunch or dinner at the track. I think the moto moms feel they need to feed us. The moto family is amazing. Everybody helps everybody.
Do you have any pre-race rituals or superstitions while spectating?
I can’t really spectate as I bring him to the gate. But we have a ritual at the gate. He chooses the gate, he preps the gate. I tell him to be focused, fast, smart and safe. He will tell me he loves me and I will touch his nose with my pointer finger. I have a little stone in my pocket which I play with while he is racing. I think to keep me calm. I guess I am loud when he gets the holeshot (I was told) 🙂
Most nerve-wracking moment watching your kid(s) race/ride?
His strength is the rollers and whoops. He goes so fast through them and often does it in a way no other kid in his age group does. His way is creative and fast. I see a lot of kids crashing and I am getting nervous. Which is weird, because he controls the rollers well.
Favorite part about being at the track?
Sitting at our camper or RV and just relaxing watching the kids play or ride pit bike and not being on the phone or computer.
Favorite and least favorite part about traveling to the races?
Favorite part is, of course, talking with my boy about where we have been and where we want to go next or talking about racing and the world. He always surprises me with what he knows. It’s great to spend time and talk. I obviously don’t like driving. Some races are over 1000 miles away. Being the only driver is not really fun, especially nights. I think I don’t like riding at night.
Craziest travel story?
Maybe not the craziest but the coolest story was for sure 2015 Lorettas. We had our teacher-parent meeting at the podium when Emile won the second moto. We live in Florida and his school teacher Ms. Pantley has been at Loretta like us. We did not know she would be his teacher. Now that her son is racing too we got to be friends afterward and she makes the best cream cheese bagels in the world. She made us some whenever we have been at the same races. I think it’s crazy to have your teacher-parent meeting on a track seven hundred miles from home.
The most important lesson motocross teaches at a young age.
Focus and responsibilities.
What’s your secret to getting all the dirt stains out of riding gear?
I wash the gear (if needed) with J3 and pressure washer first and then in the washing machine. We try to wear every day a fresh set of gear which helps. And it is important to wash as soon as possible. Leaving the dirt in for a few days makes it harder to get out. We never use the dryer. We do air dry only and don’t use the white gear. We prefer colorful gear, the stain won’t be seen so easily 🙂
Proudest moment of your career as a moto mom thus far?
2015 Loretta Lynn MX when my boy was on the podium to receive the shield and the number one plate and he told everybody he loves his mom and dad.
What’s your favorite track?
As a moto dad? Emile would not agree with me but as a Floridian racer dad, I have to choose Gatorback. It’s a nice track but the ability to see easily every corner of the track from the tower is just great.
Who is your favorite pro racer?
Ken Roczen (we German need to hold together)
What is your favorite genre of music?
80s Rock
What is your favorite movie/tv show?
NCIS 🙂
What is in your red solo cup?
I better don’t talk about this, but it’s strong.
Any advice for the moto moms of the future?
We are nervous when they race. But stay calm and have fun and enjoy the time with your kids. As a dad I can just say, stay out of the way from the dads. They are stressed as hell, they all think their little PeeWee rider will go pro at 9 years old. They work okay on the bikes, clean them and take the kids to the gate. They (the dads) will be here and there frustrated and disappointed. They will yell at their rider because they feel they put so much in and the kids don’t try hard enough. Trust me, I know, I was one of them. As moms, we need to stay calm and be the rock in the surf. Give dad a beer and let him be a little alone.
