In good but challenging race conditions, the fans experienced exciting opening races at the ADAC MX Masters in Dreetz on Saturday. Simon Längenfelder (D/Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team) made a successful debut on the 450cc bike with the victory.

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Scott Smulders (NL/SixtySeven Racing Team) confirmed his position as the leader of the standings in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup with a race win. Martins Cirulis (LAT/Schmicker Silve Racing) won the first round of the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 well ahead of a four-man chasing group. In the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125, Lucas Leok (EST/KTM MX Futures) will start from pole position on Sunday.

Max Nagl (D/Dörr Motorsport Triumph Racing) took the lead with the Red Bull Holeshot, but the reigning MX2 World Champion Längenfelder passed the veteran in the lead on the first lap. These two clearly set themselves apart from the rest of the field in the course of the race and offered the spectators a thrilling duel. Jörgen-Matthias Talviku (EST/SHR Motorsports by Hartje) took third place in the first third of the race, but was then overtaken by Maximilian Spies (D/Becker Racing). Spies had previously worked his way up from seventh place. Acerbis Best Qualifier Roan van de Moosdijk (NL/KTM Kosak Racing Team) also had some work to do with tenth place after the opening lap. In the last third of the race, he passed Talviku in fourth place with Jere Haavisto (FIN/Schmicker Silve Racing) in tow. Längenfelder made a mistake towards the end of the race, which brought Nagl very close again, but Längenfelder kept control and won ahead of Nagl, Spies, van de Moosdijk and Haavisto.

"It feels mega to have won my first race on the 450. But I had a few moments where I don't know how I stayed on the bike in those situations. I knew that Max wouldn't let up and gave it my all. However, that didn't necessarily make it any better on the big bike, which you have to ride rather calmly," Längenfelder was satisfied.

Bence Pergel (HU/HTS Racing Team) raced to the front of the field with the Red Bull holeshot ahead of Saku Mansikkamäki (FIN/Schmicker Silve Racing) and Valentin Kees (D/ KTM Kosak Racing Team). But after three laps, the Red Plate carrier Smulders took the lead from eighth place. Mads Fredsoe (DK/Cat Moto Bauerschmidt KTM) also passed Pergel in second place on the same lap. On lap five, Nicolai Skovbjerg (DK/MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing) pushed the Hungarian out of the top three from 14th place and took up the chase of the leading duo. With five laps to go, Skovbjerg overtook his compatriot and sharply reduced Smulders' lead in the closing stages. But Smulders was able to improve again and defended the lead ahead of Skovbjerg and Fredsoe until the finish.

"To start the weekend with a win is excellent. We're still very early in the season and the opponents are strong. That's why I try to win as many races as possible," said Smulders.

ADAC MX Junior Cup 125: Leok on pole position: In the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125 on Saturday, it was all about qualifying and starting the grid for the two ranked races on Sunday. Lucas Leok set the fastest lap in qualifying and will be the first to choose his starting position tomorrow, followed by Emil Ziemer (CH/Motobike Racing Team) and Finn Lange (D/KTM GST Berlin Racing).

ADAC MX Junior Cup 85: The first race of the youngest racing class was a clear thing for Martins Cirulis, who dominated the race from the start and won confidently. Behind him, a group of four formed early at the start of the race consisting of Gregor Lootus (EST/KTM), Luca Nierychlo (D/KTM MX Futures), Patriks Cirulis (LAT/Schmicker Silve Racing) and Kenzo Jaspers (NL/AK Bouw-Hutten Metaal Junior MX Team), which was close together throughout the race. The gaps between each other varied throughout the race and each rider had strong phases. Two laps before the end of the race, Nierychlo managed to overtake Lootus for second place. In the last lap, Lootus also slipped to fifth place behind Patriks Cirulis and Jaspers.

"That was my first race win of the season. After the holeshot, I was able to do my own race and found a good rhythm. Tomorrow I'll try to do the same," beamed Martins Cirulis.

You can watch the live timing for today right here.