The three junior classes in the ADAC MX Masters also produced extremely exciting racing in Dreetz last weekend. In the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, Nicolai Skovbjerg (DK/MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing) took victory and moved to the top of the table. Meanwhile, two race victories gave Lucas Leok (EST/KTM MX Futures) the upper hand in the championship race in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125. Martins Cirulis (LAT/Schmicker Silve Racing) now leads the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85, courtesy of two wins at the weekend. Victory in Dreetz also saw the Kosak Racing Team move to the top of the Team competition in the ADAC MX Masters. The Young Talents team classification was won by the Schmicker Silve Racing team.
ADAC MX Youngster Cup: Skovbjerg makes it exciting
Nicolai Skovbjerg might not have caught the eye with his starts at the weekend, but that made the way he battled back to the front of the field all the more impressive in all three races. Scott Smulders (NL/SixtySeven Racing-Team), who travelled to Dreetz as the championship leader, took, comfortable victories in the first two races. Skovbjerg followed him home in second place in both races, but had to fight his way back from the middle of the field to do so. Mads Fredsoe (DK/Cat Moto Bauerschmidt KTM) was third in Saturday’s opening race. Race two saw Skovbjerg spectacularly pass Valentin Kees (D/Kosak Racing Team) to take second place, with the German eventually finishing third. Both Smulders and Skovbjerg found themselves at the back of the pack after the opening lap of race three. Skovbjerg once again demonstrated his pace and outstanding fitness, and overtook Smulders early in his charge to the front. The Dane not only made up seven seconds to catch race leader Fredsoe over the final two laps, but also overtook his compatriot, to the acclaim of the many fans, and went on to take the win. Lyonel Reichl (LIE/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) withstood the attentions of Jan Krug (D/Dörr Motorsport Triumph Racing) in the closing stages to finish third. Skovbjerg’s victory in Dreetz, ahead of Smulders and Fredsoe, was sufficient to move him to the top of the table, with the aforementioned pair his closest rivals.
“My trainer and I worked very hard to improve my strength and fitness over the winter, and that had a positive impact here. My team is giving me a very good bike with a great motor and good chassis, on which I can ride very fast. Now I just need to work on my starts, to make life a bit easier for myself. I had an awful lot of fun here in Dreetz,” said Skovbjerg.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 125: Leok not to be beaten
The fastest time in qualifying made Lucas Leok the Acerbis Best Qualifier, and also gave an early indication of just how determined he was to get a good result in the deep Dreetz sand. In the opening race, he took advantage of his good starting position to claim the Red Bull Holeshot, before pulling clear of the field. He eventually complete a lights-to-flag victory with a lead of more than half a minute over Emil Ziemer (CH/Motobike Racing Team) and Timo Heuver (NL/JP Xtreme Experience). Storm Maymann (DK/Team BuyMX Yamaha) and Mika Plaas (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) rounded out the top five. In race two, Ziemer led after the opening lap, but then crashed on the entrance to a corner after two laps of racing. That cleared the way for Leok to take the lead. Leok again dominated the race and won by a comfortable margin. Ziemer ended race two in second place. Finn Lange (D/KTM GST Berlin Racing) overtook Mark Tanneberger (D/Becker Racing) a third of the way into the race, and held onto that position to take the third spot on the podium. Tanneberger and Tim Schröter (D/KTM GST Berlin Racing) completed the top five. Leok also won the event classification, ahead of Ziemer and Schröter. That propelled Leok to the top of the championship, with Ziemer second and Lange third.
“That was a good weekend ‘in the office’. In the opening race, I was able to ride my own race after the Holeshot, and found a good rhythm. After Emil skidded off in race two, I was able to pace myself well in that race too. It is great to be in possession of the Red Plate, but I am not thinking about the championship at all yet. I am just concentrating on learning and improving from race to race,” said a happy Leok.
ADAC MX Junior Cup 85: Martins Cirulis in a class of his own
Martins Cirulis dominated the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 in Dreetz with two comfortable lights-to-flag victories. In the opening race, the crowd was treated to a captivating fight for the remaining podium places, with a group of four riders battling it out. Luca Nierychlo (D/KTM MX Futures) took second place shortly before the end of the race, and crossed the finish line ahead of Patriks Cirulis (LAT/Schmicker Silve Racing). In race two, Patriks Cirulis found himself sandwiched between his twin brother in front and Nierychlo behind him. While Martins opened up a commanding lead out in front, Patriks was unable to shake off the German. However, Nierychlo could not find a way past the Estonian. As such, Martins Cirulis claimed his first event victory in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85, ahead of his brother and Nierychlo, who finished level on points. In the championship, Martins Cirulis now occupies top spot in the table, followed by Kenzo Jaspers (NL/AK Bouw-Hutten Metaal Junior MX Team), Patriks Cirulis and Nierychlo.
“After winning my first race in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 on Saturday, I wanted to do the same thing on Sunday. That worked out perfectly. I am working very hard to be successful, and hard work pays off in conditions like these. The track was very demanding. Thank you to all my supporters,” said a beaming Martins Cirulis.
Team competitions: Kosak Racing Team and MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing lead the way
A team’s best result in each class counts towards the ADAC MX Masters team classification, whereby the result in the ADAC MX Masters class counts double. Kosak Racing Team won in Dreetz, ahead of Schmicker Silve Racing and Dörr Motorsport Triumph Racing. That was enough to move Kosak Racing Team to the top of the table, followed by Dörr Motorsport Triumph Racing and Schmicker Silve Racing. Results from the ADAC MX Masters class do not count in the Young Talents team competition. Here, victory went to the Schmicker Silve Racing team, ahead of Kosak Racing Team and MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing. MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing continues to lead this championship, with Schmicker Silve Racing and KTM MX Futures their closest rivals.
