[1] He also earned 38 international caps for the West German national speedway team.

[2] Maier began his career in 1975 and soon established himself as one of the world's leading longtrack riders.

[3] He was crowned world longtrack champion for the first time after winning the 1980 Individual Long Track World Championship in Scheeßel, defeating Egon Müller into second place and taking Müller's place as Germany's longtrack hero.

[3] Maier would go on to become long track world champion four times, earning further wins in 1982, 1987 and 1988.

[5] He rode three seasons in Britain, riding for Belle Vue Aces in 1979[6] and Birmingham Brummies from 1982 to 1983.