ERZBERGRODEO XX: The world’s elite dirt bike athletes prepare for an exceptional summit at the Iron Giant!
In less than 90 days, the small town of Eisenerz located right in the heart of Austria will be transformed into the epicenter of the international dirt bike community by more than 1500 motorcycle offroad riders from all over the world. The Erzbergrodeo’s 20th anniversary will once again gather pro-riders and ambitious amateurs from all continents to challenge the mean and unforgiving mountain called the “Iron Giant”. The starting grid of the exceptional 2014 edition sounds like the Who-is-Who of offroad motorcycle sports and guarantees maximum excitement for all race events during the four days of Erzbergrodeo. Here’s the lowdown on who will grace the Erzberg’s red carpet from May, 29th to June, 1st 2014:
The KTM Extreme Enduro Factory Racing Team will sport an extremely powerful line-up at the Erzbergrodeo’s 20th edition. After a 2-years break at Erzberg, Taddy BLAZUSIAK (POL) returns to his favorite mountain. The Erzbergrodeo’s most successful rider ever has won the notorious Red Bull Hare Scramble Xtreme Enduro for a consecutive 5-times (2007-2011) and crowned himself FIM Superenduro World Champion for the 5th time just a few weeks ago. Even though Taddy took a break from Erzberg over the past two years, the 30-years old dirtbike and trials specialist is one of the clear favorites at the Erzbergrodeo XX.
Taddy’s orange teammates this year are no strangers to the podium as well. Jonny WALKER (UK), Taichi TANAKA (JAP) and KTM’s new acquisition Andreas LETTENBICHLER (GER) will bring loads of skills and experience to the Iron Giant. 23-years old Brit Jonny Walker catched his first podium right at this debut in 2011 and took his first Red Bull Hare Scramble win in 2012. Last year Jonny had to manage an unlucky 4th place and made sure that he wants to be ON the podium again in 2014, instead of standing aside. Japanese top-rider Taichi Tanaka can look back on a successful record at Erzberg as well: four times at the start, four times in the finish! The fast and sympathic Samurai will definitely be a contender for a top-5 finish in 2014 as well. Being well known as the most successful German Xtreme Enduro athlete, Andreas Lettenbichler is very familiar with the Red Bull Hare Scramble podium. “Letti” was on the podium for a remarkable 5 times, but has yet to put a win under his belt. With a new powerful bike and an even more powerful team, 2014 could be definitely his big moment at the iron mountain. 22-years old Philipp SCHOLZ (GER) may be the youngster of the KTM team, but the ambitious German already finished the Red Bull Hare Scramble in 2013 and collected top results at the Red Bull Sea to Sky Xtreme-Enduro. Phillipp is regarded as one of the biggest talents for the years to come and completes the powerful KTM factory team effort at the Erzbergrodeo 2014.
The newly arranged Bel Ray Husqvarna Enduro Factory Team presents a powerful line-up, featuring two of the main candidates for the prestigious win of the Red Bull Hare Scramble 2014. Graham JARVIS (UK) and Alfredo GOMEZ (ESP) are both eager to collect the first ever Erzbergrodeo triumph for the renowned motorcycle brand. Graham Jarvis celebrated his first, emotional and long-desired win at Erzberg last year and is definitely the man to beat in Xtreme Endurosports. 24-years old Spaniard Gomez turned some heads with an impressive third place finish in 2013 and has become a constant podium-contender at all major Xtreme Enduros over the past years. The extremely experienced Xavi GALINDO (ESP) will also strengthen Husqvarna’s efforts, and last but not least the blue-white-and-yellow factory team will bring a true Enduro legend to the Iron Giant: 8-times Enduro World Champion Juha SALMINEN (FIN). The quiet and ultrafast Finn has already won the Red Bull Hare Scramble in 2001 and returns back to Erzberg as the reigning Enduro E-1 World Vice-Champion.
The Italian Beta Enduro Factory Team enters this years edition with brothers Ben and Dan HEMINGWAY (UK), and Californian Cody WEBB (USA). With one 3rd place finish and four top-5 results, Ben Hemingway has a truly impressive record at Erzberg. The 36-years old from Leeds is competing in all major Xtreme Enduros worldwide and regularly ranks amongst the top-5 spots. His older brother Dan is either talented and has already gathered four top-10 results at Erzberg as well. Cody Webb, America’s most successful Xtreme Enduro rider, will celebrate his debut at the Erzbergrodeo 2014 and is definitely no stranger to his competition. The 25-years old trials rider from sunny California has already earned his laurels as one of Taddy Blazusiak’s main rivals in the AMA Endurocross series and placed a respectable third at this years Hell’s Gate Xtreme Enduro (ITA) behind Graham Jarvis and Jonny Walker.
The South African Brother Broadlink KTM Team will send dirtbike youngster Wade YOUNG (RSA) overseas to compete at Erzberg. The 18-years old protege of Erzbergrodeo legend Alfie Cox was the youngest ever rider to win the infamous Roof of Africa Hardenduro-Rallye in 2012 and added a more than impressive 11th place finish at last years Red Bull Hare Scramble to his record. Wade is indisputable one of the biggest talents in international Xtreme Enduro racing, and – even though he might lack the longtime experience of his competitors – definitely could be a podium-contender in 2014.
Crowd favorite Paul BOLTON (UK) will once again carry the flag of the privately funded british Eurotek KTM Team of Mark Jackson and is fully motivated for his eigth visit at the Iron Giant. The 34-years old „working class hero“ already celebrated a Red Bull Hare Scramble podium finish in 2008 as well as some more top results at Erzberg. Last year “Bolts” had to call it quits way too early as his bike drowned right after the start, so the ever-smiling hard-charger of Xtreme Enduro will accept nothing else than a top result in 2014. Another Erzbergrdoeo fixture is no other than trials legend Dougie LAMPKIN (UK). The 12-times (!) Trials World Champion already clinched the Red Bull Hare Scramble podium 3 times and definitely has to be regarded as one of the main contenders for the prestigious win of the Erzbergrodeo’s 20th anniversary edition.
There’s still a big question mark over another top-caliper rider to compete at this year’s Erzbergrodeo: David KNIGHT (UK). Even though the Sherco mounted Manx-man announced that he will fully concentrate on the major Xtreme Enduros in 2014, the “Knighter” has yet to confirm his plans for another shot at the Iron Giant. A 3-times Enduro World Champion and 2-times GNCC Champion, David Knight dominated the Red Bull Hare Scramble in 2005 and 2006 by leaving a bold impression on his fans and fellow competitors at Erzberg. It would be truly awesome to see this outstanding dirt bike athlete in an epic head to head battle with other icons like Blazusiak, Walker, Jarvis, Lampkin, Lettenbichler & Co. at Erzberg.
Homegrown competitors go big at Erzbergrodeo XX
Despite the powerful international competition at Erzberg, Austria’s top dirt bike riders manage to keep the crowd on their feet each year. To place amongst champions from all over the world and earn the respect (and interest) from factory team principals and industry people is indeed a huge motivation. Lars ENÖCKL (KTM), Erich BRANDAUER (KTM), Dieter RUDOLF (KTM), Ossi REISINGER (Husqvarna), Seppi FALLY (Kawasaki), Michael STAUFER (KTM), Mario HIRSCHMUGL (KTM), Matthias WIBMER (KTM), Walter FEICHTINGER (KTM) and Niki STELZMÜLLER (Husqvarna) are only the spearheads of a full phalanx of national riders, who are eager to prove themselves in front of thousands of local fans at the Erzbergrodeo XX.
Lars Enöckl and Erich Brandauer have already put their names in the record books of international Hardenduro racing and are considered Austria’s top guns at the Red Bull Hare Scramble. Reisinger, Fally, Wibmer, Hirschmugl and Staufer already earned their laurels in the Kärcher Rocket Ride uphill race and the spectacular Generali Iron Road Prologue, and are ready again to make the Austrian motorsports fans cheer at this years Erzbergrodeo.
Two crowd favorites from a truly different stage will challenge the Iron Giant as well in 2014: brothers Tobias MORETTI and Gregor BLOEB are both one of Austrias most renowned theatre- and movie-actors. The multi-time award winners are enthusiastic offroad motorcycle riders as well and successfully competed in the Africa Eco Race in 2012. The 20th Erzbergrodeo will mark Moretti’s and Bloeb’s third appearance on the Iron Giant’s ruthless and rocky stage!