He was promoted to Germany's senior K-4 crew in 2005. His senior debut, at the European championships in Poznań, went badly - Bröckl has admitted that he "froze" - and the German crew finished outside the medals in both the 500 m and 1000 m races. They did take the 200 m bronze medal on the last day of the championships, but the German coaches decided that Bröckl was not yet ready for the responsibility of leading the crew from the bow-seat in the (more tactical) longer distance races. He therefore switched seats with the more experienced Lutz Altepost for the 1000 m races at the world championships in Zagreb, Croatia. This time there were no nerves and Germany won the K-4 1000 m gold medal. In the 200 m final, with Bröckl leading, they picked up a silver medal.