The thought that Motocross might be more than just a hobby occurred to Martin Winter at the tender age of six when he first got behind the handlebars of a real motorcycle. Since then, no other activity has got a look-in. The sport has always taken up most of his non-school time - and that's the way he likes it. "I started out in motocross for fun, and I still get great pleasure out of it," says the ADAC MX Youngster Cup challenger. "So I know I'm doing the right thing and that it's worth fighting hard for my ultimate dream of becoming a motocross professional."

Now 18 years old, he passed his Fachabitur school-leaving exam a couple of months ago, leaving him free to concentrate fully on his two-wheeler career. "I plan to spend the whole of next year focusing on training and on the race calendar. I can pick up my studies again at a later stage." Martin looks up to Hunter Lawrence and Stefan Ekerold, whom he admires for their enormous ambition and will to win: "Those two guys work incredibly hard and are now reaping the reward in terms of success. At the same time, though, they've always kept their feet on the ground and been approachable, which are qualities that I very much appreciate. The two of them are therefore definitely role models for me. They have proved that you can achieve almost anything you set your heart on in motocross as long as you stay focused and have faith in your own ability."

As a member of the MH Racing squad, Martin has been contesting his third year in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup in 2017, but his involvement with the ADAC MX Masters race series dates back to when he was just eleven and competing in the Junior class: "The Youngster Cup is a completely different kettle of fish to the Junior category. In Class 2, there are significantly more skilled and faster opponents, and the difference in general is huge. The field is extremely competitive - from the top to the midfield, everyone is very close together. Consequently, it's not always easy for me to shine, but that spurs me on, because I'm forced to improve." Results in the 2017 season have not quite gone the way that Martin had planned. Because of a crash at the start of the Bielstein race, a problem with the bike at Tensfeld and a twisted ankle sustained at Gaildorf, he failed to score the points he had hoped for in three of the six ADAC MX Masters races so far. "It's been far tougher going than I had expected," says Martin, but then adds optimistically: "My results this year have obviously been disappointing, but that is precisely the reason why I'm going to take next year out to see how I can improve my performance."

DMSJ have been supporting him with detailed performance diagnosis, which includes not only a customised training programme but also nutrition planning. In the run-up to each race weekend, the 18-year-old talent spends two days training on his bike, and if there is no imminent event, he can be found up to five times a week on the motocross track: "I live right on the Czech border, so I often travel into the Czech Republic to improve my skills on the bike. In addition, I go running and cycling, and I do fitness exercises daily."

Sometimes, he is also out practising on his own personal track which he and his father laid out a few years ago 400 metres from his parents' house: "The small track is a fun track which I like to ride my pit bike on. I do a lot of that with my friend Simon Längenfelder, who lives in Rehau just like me and is registered in the ADAC MX Junior Cup. It's a great way of clearing your head." Martin also enjoys riding a BMX bike or scooter if he fancies a change from his motocross machine.

The 18-year-old can rely on the support of his parents, Michaela and Manfred, who accompany him to every event and provide him with financial assistance. "Motocross is certainly an expensive sport, but I have put every cent of my pocket money into it right from the start. My whole life is geared towards motocross, and that has been the case since I entered my first race at the age of six, competing in the Nordbayern series in Triptis. That was when I first became passionately involved in the sport which has since dominated my life." In the long term, Martin hopes to compete against the seniors in World Championship races. For the, moment, however, that prospect still remains some way off and, rather than putting himself under pressure, he prefers to concentrate on the present.