Lenni from Ruhla in Thuringia has nurtured a big ambition ever since he was six, he would at some point like to go to the Supercross at Dortmund. But not as a spectator, because the ten-year-old has already experienced this MX highlight several times from the stands, but as a rider. "That would be the coolest thing that could ever happen to me," said the fourth-year primary school pupil, brimming with enthusiasm. His dad, Tino, never thought when he first took the wee laddie to the Westfalenhalle four years ago that the Supercross action would arouse such a passion for motocross in his son, but ever since hearing the MX sound in person for the first time, Lenni can hardly think of anything else. "The jumps, winding the throttle back, the way they take the corners - it's all just fantastic, which is why I find this sport totally amazing and spend all my time watching YouTube videos of motocross riders," said the teenager.

In 2014, his parents finally decided to sign him up for the ADAC MX Academy powered by KTM at MSC Waldkappel-Breitau eV, making it possible for their offspring to at least sit on a proper MX bike for the first time and post a few laps. "Lenni was seven back then and one of the youngest on the taster course, but he wasn't at all intimidated, on the contrary, he even seemed to really stand out, and not just because of his age," says Tino, his dad. And so, it soon became obvious that the ADAC beginners' course was not going to be just a one-off. "Chief trainer Collin Dugmore approached us straightaway after the course and told us that we should encourage Lenni, because he thought he was very talented. He then immediately invited him to come along to their top course at the end of the season, during which the best youngsters from the various ADAC MX Academy courses get another chance to ride," said his dad, looking back, and continued. "Lenni was so smitten that we just didn't have the heart to pour cold water on his dreams, so we bought him a one-year-old bike from the Academy, took him regularly to training, and he became a member of the squad for kids run by the ADAC Hessen-Thüringen."

And in actual fact, success was not long in coming. Just a few months later, while still only eight-years-old, he contested his first race in the Thuringian championship, taking fourth place at his first attempt. "That was an amazing success and showed me that I'm on the right track," said the young MX talent with a chuckle, whose biggest idols are Dominique Thury, Ken Roczen and Collin Dugmore. In the second race at the same local championship, the primary school pupil managed to take fifth place. He finished the 2015 season with an outstanding P2 in the race at Apolda. His strategy - no kamikaze tactics, consistent performance and a highly-developed fighting spirit. "No one ever has to ask Lenni to get on his MX bike. He'd rather sit on the bike than walk," says his dad with a laugh. The self-employed heating engineer and his son have grown much closer together thanks to motocross, and there is never any friction between the two of them. "Lenni puts perfectly into practice all the theory that I've been teaching him. He's very committed and tries to avoid mistakes as much as possible, so he's working hard, because he wants to improve as fast as he can," he told us.

The ten-year-old's free-time is extremely regimented thanks to his new hobby. He trains twice a week on his motorbike, plays football on a further two days and goes trampolining once a week. Plus, most of the family of five go to races with him every second weekend. "My 15-year-old sister Jule especially comes with me to every meeting. She thinks motocross is great and helps whenever she can. She even cleans my bike," says Lenni. Kathrin, his mum, and sister Lea (19) are also actively involved and fully support their youngest family member's passion for the sport.

The ADAC MX Academy powered by KTM at Waldkappel-Breitau has offered taster courses for children aged between 7 and 12 since 2014 and is extremely committed to promoting young motocross trainees. Apart from the Academy, the 300-strong club also offers special training for youngsters riding 50cc and 65cc bikes on a specially designed children's track and for riders on their 85cc and 125cc motorbikes around the regular circuit which is then out of bounds to all other club members and is reserved for the exclusive use of the young riders training, so that they can focus fully on what they are doing. Furthermore, the ADAC Hessen-Thüringen brings on highly motivated MX talents in the MX Masters rookie team's squad for kids, which, by the way, is run by ADAC MX Academy chief trainer Collin Dugmore, and sponsors them for seven training weekends a year. It is precisely to this young MX elite that Lenni belongs.