Scott Smulders takes his first event victory in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. Emil Ziemer wins the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125, while Kenzo Jaspers dominates the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85.

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The junior classes also provided excitement at the weekend at the season opener of the ADAC MX Masters in Grevenbroich. Scott Smulders (NL/SixtySeven Racin Team) not only secured his first podium with the race win in the third race, but also his first event victory in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. In the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125, Emil Ziemer (CH/Motobike Racing Team) and Lucas Leok (EST/KTM MX Futures) shared the two race wins.

In the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85, Kenzo Jaspers (NL/AK Bouw-Hutten Metaal Junior MX Team) won with the maximum number of points. In the ADAC MX Masters team classification, the Dörr Motorsport Triumph Racing team won. The Young Talents team classification went to Team MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing.

In the closely contested ADAC MX Youngster Cup, it is difficult to achieve consistent top positions in the three races due to the close competition. Smulders succeeded best in Grevenbroich. In the first race, he finished second after Nicolai Skovbjerg (DK/MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing) snatched the lead from him three laps before the end.

After a race was stopped in the second race, Liam Owens (AU/Cat Moto Bauerschmidt KTM) won ahead of Jan Krug (D/Dörr Motorsport Triumph Racing) and Mads Fredsoe (DK/Cat Moto Bauerschmidt KTM), Smulders was classified sixth. In the third race, Smulders won ahead of Owens and Skovbjerg, which earned him the event victory and the championship lead.

Skovbjerg started strongly on Saturday as Acerbi's Best Qualifier and race winner in the first race. After a botched start in the second race, his catch-up race was ended early in eighth place before the race was stopped. Third place in the last race was enough for second place in Grevenbroich.

The local hero Krug thrilled the fans with strong races. In the first run, he came in sixth place after a botched start and a fall, but already showed his high speed. With second place in the second race, Krug achieved his best result of the weekend. In the third race, he crossed the finish line in fourth place, which was enough for third place in Grevenbroich.

A crash at the start in the first run cost Owens a better event position than fourth place. Lyonel Reichl (LIE/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) and Fredsoe each drove three consistent races and are tied on points in fifth and sixth place in the standings. Saku Mansikkamäki (FIN/Schmicker Silve Racing) also attracted positive attention with a third and fourth place in the first two races, but only finished seventh in the event after a retirement in the third race.

"I feel very comfortable in my new team and on the Husqvarna and have worked very myself over the winter. That paid off today," said Smulders happily.

Ziemer and Lucas Leok left their mark on the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125. Leok shone in the first race with a lights-to-flag victory and clearly distanced the rest of the field. Aston Allas (EST/Redmoto Racing) was in second place for a long time until he dropped back after a crash with four laps to go. Acerbis Best Qualifier Ziemer and Timo Heuver (NL/JP Xtreme Xperience) were the beneficiaries and moved up to second and third place. In the second race, the Red Bull Holeshot also went to Leok. But Ziemer attacked quickly, took the lead on the first lap and then built up a lead of several seconds, which he controlled until the finish.

The leading duo clearly distanced the rest of the field during the race. Travis Leok (EST/MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing) finished third. In the day's standings, the victory and the red plate of the leader of the standings went to Ziemer due to the better result in the second race, even though Lucas Leok achieved the same number of points. Kay Zijlstra (NL/Gebben Motoren) finished fourth and seventh for third place in Grevenbroich. Finn Lange (D/KTM GST Berlin Racing) and Travis Leok rounded out the top five of the day.

"The track was already very worn out in the second run, which I enjoyed. In the rain, I attacked Lucas quickly and then tried to get a lead, which was successful. The podium was my goal for the season opener and I'm happy that I achieved that with the victory," Ziemer beamed.

In the youngest racing class, the two race victories went to Jaspers. His success scheme was the same in both ranked races: After good starts, he worked his way forward continuously and calmly, took the lead in the last third of the race and then extended a lead. In the first race, he caught Red Bull Holeshot winner Patriks Cirulis (LAT/Schmicker Silve Racing). Luca Nierychlo (D/KTM MX Futures) finished third. In the second race, Martins Cirulis (LAT/Schmicker Silve Racing) started best and held the lead until he was overtaken by Jaspers.

Kash van Hamond (NL/Kosak Racing Team) came in third. In the event ranking, Jaspers won with the maximum points ahead of the Cirulis twins Patriks and Martins. Nierychlo and Harry Dale (GB/KTM MX Futures) rounded out the top five of the weekend.

"That was a good start to the season and I hope I can repeat that a few more times this year. My starts were good, but could have been even better. But I was able to work my way forward well and take the lead. My goal is to become champion this year," said Jaspers confidently.