He came, he saw, he conquered: shortly before the start of the season in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup 2022 in Dreetz, Guillem Farres (E/Raths Motorsports) still did not know he would be competing. The 19-year-old from Balsareny, just north of Barcelona, had originally planned to compete for another team in the European championship. However, the young Spanish rider with the nickname “Mogli” produced a surprising and triumphant performance in the deep sand during ADAC races and left his mark on the hard-fought championship throughout the season. His top ten results in the MX2 World Championship and the American Motocross Championship demonstrated the high level of driving skill in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup, as did his riding performance in the Spanish MXON team. The astonishing aspect is that last winter, he was working in a store to earn a living and seemed miles away from a professional career with a top team in the USA, where he now has a contract for 2023 with the Star Racing Yamaha Team. He was able to claim the championship crown in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup with one event of the season still to go.

Congratulations are in order for winning the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. How does it feel to take the title?

Guillem Farres: “It is really wonderful to win the championship, especially as this happened one round before the end of the season. In September, I had no idea what the future would hold and what would happen after my races for Star Racing Yamaha in the USA. Winning the title in Holzgerlingen relieved a lot of the pressure. I was also aiming to compete in the finale in Fürstlich Drehna, but unfortunately this was not possible. I had already heard a lot about the ADAC series before the season, but I had never been in a race. So, it felt great to do that and then win the championship at the first time of asking.”

Three weeks before the season-opener in Dreetz, you did not know that you would be competing in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup. What were your expectations and objectives?

“The series was originally not part of my plans for the year. I had no expectations when I headed to Dreetz and I didn’t know who else was competing there. So, I made the journey and just concentrated on myself and my riding, which was a good thing. It then went pretty well.”

Last winter, you were still earning a living by working in a shop and did not know if you would be able to pursue an MX pro career. Now you are the ADAC MX Youngster Cup champion, you’ve chalked up some top results in the MX2 World Championship and the American Pro Nationals, and you have appeared in the Spanish team at Motocross of Nations. That sounds like a Cinderella story!

“For the last three years, I have worked through the winter to earn money for fuel, rent and things like that. I trained hard in the off-season, but the year then started off really badly and I had problems with my motorbike and arm pump. I was advised to have an operation for arm pump, which is what I did. This prevented me from competing in the first EMX race and I was without a team. I didn’t know what the future would hold, but then I received the offer from Raths Motorsports. It was a really good decision to join the team with Niklas and his family.”

Which race was a highlight for you in the 2022 ADAC season?

“Dreetz was a highlight for me, no question. I won all three races, even falling at the beginning of the final race and restarting from right at the back. I was able to move into the lead on the final lap. That was definitely my highlight.”

Which race would you prefer to forget?

“I would choose to write off the race in Tensfeld. I had problems with the track all day. In the last race, I finally made a good start but then fell right away and repeated the trick later. I raced with twisted handlebars and could only finish 14th.”

How did you come to be in motocross?

“My father rode motocross at amateur level in Catalonia and Spain when I was a child. One year, I got a small motorbike for Christmas, but I never rode it on a proper circuit and just rolled around in the woods. Until I reached the 125 ccm class, I never really took the sport seriously. Once I was on the big machines, I started to work seriously and train hard.”

Do you have a dream for your MX career?

“It was always my dream to ride in America. I don’t just mean being there, but winning. It is difficult to make it to the USA and tougher still to win here, but that is my goal.”

What will you do in 2023?

“I have been in the USA since MXON and I am preparing for the new season with the Star Racing Yamaha Team. I still do not know whether I will compete in the entire US series with Supercross and the Nationals, but I will definitely be in the Outdoors. We shall see. I would like to thank everybody in Germany who was at the races, especially the entire Raths family and my mechanic. They all worked so hard for me and were so dedicated. I had the feeling that everyone was very friendly, including the fans. It was a superb year and I hope to see you all again soon. Thanks!”