The 19-year-old already won the first event in Qatar on 27 February, which was the first ever win for a rookie in the premier motocross championship in a season opener.

Gajser followed it up by another three wins in Argentina, Mexico and Latvia between 10 April and on 1 May.

The youngster took second place in Germany on Sunday to grab the overall lead in the season with 299 points, followed by reigning champion Romain Febvre of France with 291 points.

Gajser is expected to be cheered by a number of Slovenian fans in Italy's Pietramurata in the next race on 15 May.

The Italian town is the place where he won his first race in the MX2 class last season to eventually become champion in the second-tier category.

Tim is coached by his father Bogomir Gajser, who also was a motocross rider and introduced his son to the sport at the age of two.

He won the award for up-and-coming athlete conferred by the Association of Sports Journalists in 2015.