Martin Herrling is cheerful in the Ore Mountains. He shows that with a smile, especially before and after his competitions in the East German championship in motorcycle trials, when he is out in the paddock in shorts and his lower leg prosthesis is visible on his left leg. Many people would then ask him how that even …
Martin Herrling is cheerful in the Ore Mountains. He shows that with a smile, especially before and after his competitions in the East German championship in motorcycle trials, when he is out in the paddock in shorts and his lower leg prosthesis is visible on his left leg. Many people would then ask him how this could even work? Constantly standing on the footrests and without a seat on the motorcycle to cope with the many sections several times with driving times of several hours. “In any case, better than without half a leg. I would fall over with the motorcycle,” grins the 41-year-old. He adds seriously: “I just want to encourage other people with a similar fate not to give up. My sport gives me a lot. It is also very good training for the leg,” says Herrling, who privately owns a 900 Kawasaki and one in trials 300 series Vertigo controls. How optimistic he is about life is also shown by the fact that he built a house in Thum after his accident.
It was February 2008 when he initially lost his grin. As a carpenter in the construction of churches, he fell three meters down while dismantling a bell in the Italian capital, Rome, and the bells landed on his foot. After returning to Germany, five operations followed. Until it was determined that the lower leg had to be amputated. “It was not easy to look under the covers after the operation at the university clinic in Dresden and there was a large piece of leg missing,” recalls Herrling.
But giving up was not an option from the start. Bit by bit he felt his way back to life with the first prosthesis, also supported by competent friends and acquaintances. “First I had to learn how to walk without crutches again. Then I drove a car, motorcycle and cycled on the Elbe Cycle Path. To be honest, it felt strange at first,” says Herrling. Even today he still works as a carpenter in a construction business in Thalheim. “My employer made everything possible for me. For example, I was given a van with an automatic transmission for my work. It’s not always that common,” he says.
Five years ago he set the course again. “A friend took me to the MC Scheibenberg trial. As a beginner, I borrowed a motorcycle from the organizer and was immediately infected by this sport.” Logical consequence: Martin Herrling has been driving in the East German championship since 2017. And with his two second and two fourth places so far this season in Thalheim and last weekend in Schönborn, he is promising in the championship race of the strong adult class 5.
Even more: For his commitment to the club, Thumer was recently awarded the Ewald Kroth Medal from ADAC. Frank Krumbiegel, chairman of the MSC Thalheim, also praised: “Respect for this achievement. Martin is an important member of our association, a role model.”