The 22nd season of the ADAC MX Masters began with a thrilling kick-off in Grevenbroich. The three ranked races of the day were won by Max Nagl (D/Dörr Motorsport Triumph Racing) in the ADAC MX Masters, Nicolai Skovbjerg (DK/MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing) in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup and Kenzo Jaspers (NL/AK Bouw-Hutten Metaal Junior MX Team) in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85. In the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125, Emil Ziemer (CH/Motobike Racing Team) will start from pole position on Sunday.

Max Nagl dominated the first round of the ADAC MX Masters class © Photo: ADAC

ADAC MX Masters: The favourites for the top places

The first Red Bull holeshot of the new season went to Harri Kullas (EST/Schmicker Silve Racing), but he had to give way to Nagl after the first lap. Nagl controlled his lead from that point on and extended it to over 20 seconds by the finish. Reigning champion Roan van de Moosdijk (NL/Kosak Racing Team) was in the top five after the start and displaced Kullas from second place on lap five. After eight laps, Kullas crashed after a jump and ended the race prematurely. Jere Haavisto (FIN/Schmicker Silve Racing) took over third place, but was pushed into fifth place by Tom Koch (D/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) and Maximilian Spies (D/Becker Racing) in the last quarter of the race. With Jordi Tixier (F/KMP-Honda-Racing powered by DVAG) in sixth place, another top rider made a solid start to the championship.

"I arrived with a good feeling after a strong winter preparation. The course was quite demanding in the first race. After I was in the lead, I took the intensity out a bit to divide my strength, but lost my rhythm a bit. My hard training and the further development of the bike in the race-free period were two important pieces of the puzzle for this success," said Nagl during the winner's interview.

Nicolai Skovbjerg gave his new team their first race win in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup © Photo: ADAC

ADAC MX Youngster Cup: Skovbjerg victorious after varied race

Bence Pergel (HU/HTS Racing Team) took the lead with the Red Bull Holeshot ahead of Saku Mansikkamäki (FIN/Schmicker Silve Racing) and Maximilian Werner (D/Dörr Motorsport Triumph Racing). After two laps, Scott Smulders (NL/SixtySeven Racing Team) took over second place and two more laps later the lead from Pergel. Werner, meanwhile, gradually fell back. The Acerbis Best Qualifier Skovbjerg did not come out of the starting gate in the best possible way and had to move forward first. In the sixth lap he passed Pergel, who ended his race prematurely one lap later due to a crash. With three laps to go, Smulders had to give in to pressure from Skovbjerg and relinquish the lead. In the final two laps, Mansikkamäki reclaimed third place from Mads Fredsoe (DK/Cat Moto Bauerschmidt KTM), who had previously worked his way up from sixth place. In the Ensdpurt, Lyonel Reichl (LIE/KTM Sarholz Racing Team) also passed Fredsoe again. Thus, the first victory of the season went to Skovbjerg ahead of Smulders, Mansikkamäki, Reichl and Fredsoe.

"Qualifying was excellent, but then I messed up the start of the race and let go of the clutch too slowly. But my pace was very good today and so I was able to successfully ride my way forward. I'm happy to start the season with a win on a new bike in a new team," Skovbjerg summed up.

Emil Ziemer starts from pole position in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 125 © after setting the fastest qualifying time Photo: ADAC

ADAC MX Junior Cup 125: Ziemer 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. Emil Ziemer set the fastest lap in qualifying and will be the first to choose his starting position tomorrow, followed by Lucas Leok (EST/KTM MX Futures) and Aston Allas (EST/Redmoto Racing).

Kenzo Jaspers showed his strength in victory in the ADAC MX Junior Cup 85 © Photo: ADAC

ADAC MX Junior Cup 85: Jaspers pushes to the top

Patriks Cirulis (LAT/Schmicker Silve Racing) took the lead with the Red Bull holeshot ahead of Kash van Hamond (NL/Kosak Racing Team), Luca Nierychlo (D/KTM MX Futures) and Jaspers, while Harry Dale (GB/KTM MX Futures) left the grid outside the top ten. But van Hamond crashed twice within a very short time after two laps and fell far behind. Jaspers increased the pressure on Nierychlo after the first third of the race and passed the German on lap six. One lap later, he took the lead from Cirulis and extended a clear lead until the finish. Dale, meanwhile, worked his way up to fourth place. Nierychlo drove up to the rear wheel of Cirulis at the end of the race, but was unable to overtake him. Behind Jaspers, Cirulis, Nierychlo and Dale, Liam Gassbeek (NL/Kemco Management) rounded out the top five.

"I had a good start and then gave everything to work my way up to first place. I feel that in my arms now. I was then able to continue to drive consistently good lap times and am very happy with this victory," beamed Jaspers.

The re-live of the first day of racing is available on the ADAC Motorsport YouTube channel available. The live stream of all races on Sunday starts at 09.50 a.m. and can be downloaded at adac.de/mx-mastersbe prosecuted.

Results Grevenbroich