From June 8th to 11th the 27th edition of the Erzbergrodeo will take place in the Eisenerz area. On Thursday, the event was presented in the legendary Café Landtmann in Vienna by organizer Karl Katoch, KTM consultant and motocross icon Heinz Kinigadner and enduro ace Michael Walkner, and the most important facts and innovations for this year were explained. A show area was also set up between the café and the Burgtheater.
“Our goal would be an Austrian on the podium,” said Kinigadner, pointing the way to GASGAS pilot Walkner, who finished 6th last year. At that time, the man from Salzburg celebrated his first Erzbergrodeo finish and was in a group of only eight riders.
The 25-year-old was particularly troubled by the technically and physically extremely demanding rock section “Carl’s Dinner”, which regularly pushes not only the many hobby riders, but also the stars of the enduro scene to the limit. “I ran out of strength,” Walkner admitted and openly admitted: “A win would be my greatest dream.”
For 2023, Walkner has the Erzberg specialists Graham Jarvis and last year’s winner Manuel Lettenbichler (Red Bull KTM) on the bill. Ex-ski star Marcel Hirscher was also there last year, he finished a respectable 97th place. Hirscher might still slip into the starting field in 2023; According to Mastermind Katoch, there are already 1300 registrations.
The world-famous event in Styria will also be broadcast in Austria in 2023 by the private broadcaster ServusTV, where Kinigadner is once more on duty as a co-commentator. Like 2022, the Erzberg race is part of the Hard Enduro World Championship, which starts in Serbia in mid-May. “We are in the middle of the preparations,” said Walkner, who is currently particularly busy with motorcycle tests.
A charity raffle is already in progress for the benefit of the “Wings for Life” foundation set up by Kinigadner and Dietrich Mateschitz. A VIP package will be awarded to the winner, promising exclusive access with Kinigadner and Katoch throughout the weekend.
There is also the “Red Bull Driving School” for class B driving license newcomers. Ten winners will receive driver safety training under extreme conditions, including very special pit stops, on the Erzberg.
