ADAC MX Masters rider Dennis Ullrich has really put his stamp on this year's motocross season. The 20-year-old from Saarlouis beat off the opposition during the final weekend in Holzgerlingen, securing the vital points needed to take overall victory. "I am absolutely overwhelmed by my title. The standard was unbelievably high. I'm incredibly pleased because it's a real dream come true," said the KTM rider, who contested every race on a 450cc machine prepared by Sarholz Racing. As ADAC MX Masters champion, he is officially International German Motocross Champion.

This is Ullrich's third success in an ADAC series; he won the ADAC MX Youngster Cup in 2010 and was runner-up to current MX2 world champion Jeffrey Herlings two years prior to that in the ADAC MX Junior Cup. His third season in the ADAC MX Masters has now brought him the most important success of his career. Ullrich finished in the points in all 16 races, claiming four podiums. He achieved best start ten times and won the holeshot. "Motocross is my life. Everything revolves around this sport for me, so it's nice to get some recognition for all the hard training and the time invested," said Ullrich. The rider has a strategy all of his own: "I always like to have plenty of hard facts to go on, and I find it very helpful to analyse mistakes rather than to simply rely on just twisting the throttle back hard."

Pro rider Ullrich now has 15 years experience of the cut and thrust of track competition under his belt and knows exactly how and when to utilise a particular technique. He inherited his fascination with motocross as a young boy from his father, who was an enduro rider at the time. When he was five, Dennis Ullrich got on a friend's motorbike and did not get off again until he had used up all the petrol. "That was the turning point in my life. I just wanted to go motocrossing from then on," said the rider, looking back. He took part in his first race when he was six, winning his first championship trophy a year later in the 50cc DJMV championship (German Youth Motocross Association).

However, motocross is not always only about the purely sporting side of things, mental toughness also plays a crucial role, which is why Ullrich decided three years ago to stop working with his father, who had trained him until then and find a new coach. A decision he has never regretted: "There came a point when working with my father ceased being of benefit. I can trust my current coach, Thomas Kneip, with everything. He understands me totally and supports me through thick and thin. He even used to compete in the world championship himself and consequently, is able to give me plenty of good advice. I have found working with him to be very positive in every respect," said Ullrich, telling us about the current setup.

However, the bright, young rider from the Saarland does not find it easy to talk about his success as a professional motocross rider. Ulle, as he is known to everyone in the motocross scene, prefers to celebrate victory with his coach and his girlfriend Vanessa." I am not really keen on being the centre of attention," said Ullrich. And after a strenuous race weekend, he like nothing better than to chill out for a while and enjoy some fast food and a big bar of hazelnut chocolate instead of the usual vegetables and white meat.