Winning the title was a natural progression. A career as a racing driver was never the plan. Dreetz had his best race of the season.

For the second year running, a Dane has won the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. Nicolai Skovbjerg has taken his riding to the next level this year, with a level of raw speed that his rivals found almost impossible to match. Despite a few poor starts at the beginning of the season, he clinched the championship with some way to spare. He also made a strong impression in the European Championship by finishing as runner-up, which has earned him a contract with the Ducati works team for the 2027 MX2 World Championship season. In this interview, Skovbjerg revealed his formula for success and explained why he can’t actually remember his early days in motocross all that clearly.

Congratulations on winning the ADAC MX Youngster Cup! How would you sum up the season? Nicolai Skovbjerg: “My personal goal was to at least be in contention for the championship. I hadn’t expected to clinch the title as early as the penultimate round in Vellahn. I knew I could compete at the front, so I’m just absolutely delighted that I managed it so early on.”

You’ve been among the fastest in the field for the past few years. This year, however, it seems you’ve taken a big step forward over the winter. What made the difference? “I’ve made quite a few changes: the motorbike, the team and so on – naturally, that has an impact on my performance. But I think the most important thing was that I’ve now got the starts under control, at least towards the end of the season. The speed has always been there. Even last year in Fürstlich Drehna, I was about twentieth after the start and still managed to win one of the races in the end. But it’s much easier when you’re straight into the top ten after the start. The start makes a big difference, but of course my speed has also improved a bit since last year.”

Was there that one missing piece of the jigsaw that was found – or was it more of a combination of everything, just a bit better in every area? “I think it’s the combination, and I’ve simply got a bit better in every area. I feel that I’m also in much better physical shape this year. Not because I was bad last year, but because I’ve simply built on what I already had.”

How did you get into motocross? “My dad certainly had an influence. He used to ride a bit himself until he suffered a serious injury. After that, he became a coach and I was always at the track with him. I was told that as soon as I could ride a bike without training wheels, I’d get my first motorbike. I can’t actually remember it myself, but my parents told me that one day I came along without training wheels and said, ‘Now I can have my motorbike.’ I started motocross when I was just two years and ten months old – really young.”

How did the rest of your racing career go? “Actually, I never planned to compete in races. It was just a case of: ‘Let’s give a race a go’, then we went to the next one – and I think it’s the same story for most of us after that: I competed in bigger and bigger races, a lot in the Danish Championship and then a few EMX races on the 65cc bike. From the 85cc class onwards, I also competed in the ADAC Championships. So I’ve been racing here for a really long time.”

How significant is the ADAC MX Masters, with its junior classes, for a young rider – and how important is it currently in the racing calendar? “It’s a great racing series. I really like it, partly because you get a bit of money back. They simply do a bit more for the riders here than in other series. And the races are really well organised. The riders here are strong, and overall I think it’s just a really good event. It’s also great because it’s not easy to finish at the front in the ADAC. Some of the top ten riders from the EMX compete here, and you have to be in absolutely top form to win.”

Was there anyone who had a decisive influence on your development as a rider? “I was with the Wozniak MX Racing Team for a long time – five years, I think – and my coach, Emil Larsson, has been with me since I was 17. On top of that, there are lots of long-standing sponsors who have supported me almost since I started out, and of course my parents. So my support network consists largely of the same people, even if there have naturally been a few minor changes here and there.”

Which ADAC MX Masters round was the highlight of the season this year? “That’s hard to say, but I think it was Dreetz. I had poor starts there but still finished second, second and first in the races. I can still remember a few corners in the final laps where I overtook riders. In the third race, I crashed, but then worked my way back up the field and overtook Fredsoe, amongst others. Afterwards, I actually thought Smulders was too far ahead – and then they told me at the finish line that I’d won the race and, with it, the event classification. I couldn’t believe it. But overall, things went well throughout the whole season.”

Next season you’ll be racing for the Ducati works team. How did things go with the SixtySeven Racing Team this year, after you joined them midway through the season? “I’m really happy with the SixtySeven team and with everything they’ve done for me in such a short space of time since I joined them. The main reason for my move to a proper works team is primarily financial, because Marcus and his team are brilliant and know exactly what they’re doing. I’d just like to thank the whole team and everyone who’s supporting me. I’m in a really good environment at the moment, and everyone’s doing their bit – that motivates me to keep working hard.”