In the high-octane world of MotoGP, behind every race and every team is a network of dedicated professionals ensuring everything runs smoothly. Maria Pohlmann, the Press Officer for Trackhouse Racing, is one of those essential figures. With a passion for motorsports that began early and a career path marked by determination and resilience, Maria has carved out her place in an industry that demands not only skill but a deep love for the sport. In this interview, she shares the story of how she went from a passionate fan to a key member of a MotoGP team, her journey of growth within the paddock, and what drives her to continue in a career that has become her second family.
Maria’s journey into the world of motorsports began with a personal connection. While studying journalism, she was introduced to motorcycle racing by her boyfriend, his friends, and family, all passionate fans of MotoGP. Maria shared, “Since I’ve been at my home GP for the first time as a visitor in 2007, I knew I wanted to work in this world.” However, reaching that goal was no easy feat. She reflected on the challenging path ahead, explaining, “It was a long and mostly difficult path, from working as a journalist over starting my own business while trying to attend as many races as possible.” Despite these challenges, Maria’s persistence paid off, and in 2017, she landed her first full-time job in the paddock.
Maria continued to push herself forward, saying, “I kept working on myself, trying to improve” and gradually moved up the ranks. Her dedication eventually led to her current role as the Press Officer for Trackhouse Racing in MotoGP. Now, she finds great fulfilment in her work, sharing, “I love traveling and being in this environment where after all these years, I know many people that have become a second family.” This sense of belonging has made it hard for her to imagine life outside of the MotoGP paddock, where she’s built both a career and a home.
As the Press Officer for Trackhouse Racing in MotoGP, Maria Pohlmann plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation of a race weekend. She explained, “A typical race weekend is usually pretty busy and therefore just flies by in the blink of an eye.” The preparation starts weeks in advance, as Maria receives requests from journalists and partners for interviews with the riders and coordination for special events like signing sessions and meet-and-greets. She works diligently to create a schedule that balances the riders’ commitments while allowing time for their technical meetings, physiotherapy, and ideally some rest. With the intensity of a race weekend, Maria’s main responsibility is to ensure the riders attend all their appointments, carefully organizing the logistics to get them from one event to the next.
As the direct link between the team and the media, Maria also serves as a crucial point of contact for journalists, providing them with the necessary information about the team and following up on what’s being reported. Beyond these tasks, there are numerous other responsibilities, “press releases, pictures, helping with social media, etc. It’s definitely never boring!” The role demands versatility and efficiency, making each race weekend an exhilarating challenge.
Representing a team in the high-stakes environment of MotoGP comes with its own set of unique challenges. As Maria Pohlmann explained, “First of all, knowing that the part I’m doing with the riders is their least favourite as they mainly only want to ride their bikes” adds a layer of complexity to her role. Getting the riders to engage in media commitments, especially when they’re focused on their performance on track, requires a great deal of persuasion and understanding. She noted that it often takes "a good deal of convincing them to do everything I ask them for then and when," particularly when race conditions become intense.
In addition to managing rider schedules, Maria also faces the pressure of handling negative feedback and tough questions from the media. As she shared, “We always have to be ready to protect our team, riders and manufacturer,” highlighting the importance of maintaining a positive public image in such a high-profile sport. With everything the team does being in the spotlight, Maria must remain sensitive and vigilant to the various factors at play. “Everything we do is quite public, so we have to be very sensitive and aware of many factors at the same time,” she explained. This constant balancing act is an inherent challenge in the fast-paced, high-pressure world of MotoGP.
In the fiercely competitive world of MotoGP, managing media demands and maintaining a positive narrative, especially after tough races, is no easy task. Maria credits the riders for their resilience, saying, “The riders are very good in that.” She noted that the key to staying focused is maintaining the right mindset. “Like in nearly each situation in life, there is always something positive to find and we all try to focus on that” Maria explained. This positive attitude helps not only the riders but the entire team stay motivated.
Maria and the Trackhouse Racing team prioritize creating meaningful connections with their fans, going above and beyond to engage with them in both personal and digital spaces. As Maria explained, “To connect with fans, we try to contribute as much time and effort we can,” whether it’s arranging opportunities to meet the riders, provide signed items, or offer fans an inside look at the garage. These personal interactions help bridge the gap between the team and its supporters, creating lasting memories for those who follow their journey. The team also leverages social media to connect with fans worldwide, sharing behind-the-scenes footage and engaging with followers directly. “We do really appreciate the support from all over the world!” Maria emphasized, showing how deeply the team values its global fanbase.
One of Maria most memorable moments with Trackhouse Racing came during the German Grand Prix, her home round. As the only German in the team, the weekend was particularly demanding, but the emotional payoff was immense. “Having both our boys in parc ferme on Saturday after Qualifying gave me goose bumps and nearly made me cry,” she shared. The moment became even more special when she ran to the Sprint podium for Miguel, feeling an overwhelming sense of pride. “It’s an amazing feeling to see the people you spend probably most time with throughout all year getting this kind of reward for all the hard work,” she said. The combination of personal connection and team success made this moment unforgettable for Maria.
Maria recognizes the vital role social media plays in connecting a MotoGP team with fans worldwide. “Social media is one of the most important points these days” noting that for many fans who can’t attend races, it’s their primary connection to the sport. Maria credits the team’s digital content manager, Patrick, for building Trackhouse Racing’s strong online presence. “He is full of creative ideas and is able to implement them in an amazing way,” Maria said, highlighting his efforts to connect with global fans. Make sure to support them on Instagram, @trackhousemotogp!
Trackhouse riders: Picture from the official Trackhouse website
Reflecting on her experience as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Maria observed significant progress in recent years. “The number of women working in the MotoGP paddock increased enormously” she noted, a trend she sees as a welcome achievement. Despite facing challenges in a masculine environment, she is proud of the progress made and the obstacles she has overcome. “Our battles are shrinking”.
For young women aspiring to enter the field, Maria’s advice is clear: “Learn, observe, fight, improve and never give up!” She emphasized the importance of dedication, saying, “If this is exactly what you wish for, you have to put everything in at any time.” Her advice reflects a broader truth: “There is always a way.”