Both riders and spectators needed nerves of steel during this year's ADAC MX Masters season, as the championships were not decided until the very last moment. The three motocross riders, who won through in conditions that were extremely tough at times were: ADAC MX Masters rider Dennis Ullrich (23, KTM Sarholz Racing Team), ADAC MX Youngster Cup competitor Bas Vaessen (18, Team Suzuki World MX2) and ADAC MX Junior Cup young talent Rene Hofer (14, AUT, MSC Imbach/Kini KTM Junior Pro team by Mefo Sport). All three riders positioned themselves at the top of their respective classes and were crowned champions during the ADAC MX Masters finale at Holzgerlingen, Baden-Württemberg.

But special prizes were also awarded at the end of the season in addition to the trophies. Prize money of around a quarter of a million euros was divided up among all those riders who had participated in at least five of the seven ADAC MX Masters events and had finished among the best. In the ADAC MX Masters, prize money went to the top 20 riders, while the top 15 were rewarded in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup and ADAC MX Junior Cup. The best starters of the year were also honoured as Kings of the Red Bull Holeshot at the annual award ceremony in Holzgerlingen. Triple ADAC MX Masters champion Dennis Ullrich, ADAC MX Youngster Cup participant Michael Sandner (17, AUT, Cofain Racing Team, KTM) and ADAC MX Junior Cup competitor Adam Kovacs (13, HUN, Team KTM HTS by mefo sport) were delighted to be presented with a new Red Bull drinks fridge which will be kept stocked during the year with the energy drink, plus two VIP tickets for a Red Bull event, including accommodation.

ADAC MX Youngster Cup rider Jeremy Sydow (16, Falcon Motorsports KTM) swept the board as regards the special prizes, just like Ullrich. The 16-year-old received the Michael Spacek special prize in recognition of the fact that, despite only moving up from the juniors to the ADAC MX Youngster Cup in 2016, he is also one of the few riders in his class to utilise a two-stroke engine. This award is presented by former motocross rider Stanislav Spacek, who owns the Goldfren brake product company and is an ADAC MX Masters sponsor, to exceptional young talents or to those showing special commitment to motocross in memory of his late son, Michael. Consequently, Sydow will now receive support in the form of brake components from Goldfren for one year. Sydow was also delighted to receive his trophy as winner of the two-stroke standings.

However, the ADAC MX Youngster Cup rider was not the only one to benefit from the Michael Spacek Special Prize. ADAC MX Junior Cup competitor Cameron Dürow (13, GPR Promo MX Team by mefo sport, KTM) was also one of the few selected by Goldfren's proprietor for an award. The 13-year-old always has to make a long journey to get to every meeting, flying from South Africa to Europe. Dürow was also rewarded for his commitment with support in the form of materials from Goldfren. The Michael Spacek Special Award for the most exceptional commitment in 2016 went to team boss Herbert Cossack, who drove thousands of kilometres in his truck this summer to help young motocross riders at the Junior World Championship in Russia. To do this, he made a special trip to Orljonok in his big team truck, so that riders like Rene Hofer, for example, did not have to worry about transporting their bikes to the event and also in order to offer comprehensive backup to the team at the track. Spacek made an award of money to help cover costs.

KTM Sarholz Racing won the team standings which aggregate the best results of all team riders. Team boss Burkhard Sarholz, who was awarded prize money totalling 1,000 euros, was visibly proud of the performance of his team composed of Dennis Ullrich, Cedric Grobben (21), Harri Kullas (24), Angus Heidecke (26), Michael Scratch (22) and Valtteri Malin (19). KTM won the manufacturers' standings.