Red Bull Erzbergrodeo organizer Karl Katoch, Wings for Life founder Heinz Kinigadner and hard-enduro pilot Michael Walkner provide a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo.
Enzersfeld (OTS) – Last Thursday, March 30th, 2023, Red Bull Erzbergrodeo organizer Karl Katoch presented the press present with all the news about the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, which will take place from June 8th to 11th, 2023 for the 27th time on the mighty stage of the Styrian Erzberg. High-calibre guests from the off-road camp were there: Heinz Kinigadner, KTM Motorsport consultant and Wings for Life founder, and Michael Walkner, Austria’s figurehead in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. ServusTV motorsport expert Philipp Krummholz led through the press conference.
Red Bull Erzbergrodeo: positive outlook for the future of the unique motorsport event
“With currently almost 1,300 riders from all over the world, we have a well-filled field of participants and are pleased that new partners will also be present at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2023 in addition to the long-standing, renowned sponsors. This gives us the opportunity to advance the further development of the event for all participants and visitors.” Karl Katoch describes the economic situation behind the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. “Of course inflation is an issue when organizing such a large event. The event costs for 4 days of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo are now in the millions, which would not be possible without our partners and sponsors,” says Katoch. Long-standing partners of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo include KTM, Red Bull, Motorex, Blakläder Workwear, Mitas Tires, Husqvarna Motorrad, GasGas, Egger Bier, 24 MX, Acerbis, Akrapovic, Milwaukee Tools, Humer trailers, Husqvarna Bicycles, Heli Austria, Wacker Neuson, Gebrüder Weiss transport logistics, Erzberg Adventure, Styria Tourism, Erzberg Leoben Tourism Association and Xajo Pure Moto Shop. Newcomers are HDI Versicherung, Louis Motorrad, Polaris Off Road, Yamaha Motor Europe and the ÖBB Rail Cargo Group.
ServusTV, Epamedia, motorradreporter.com and Red Bull TV act as media partners of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. kronehit is also on board as the official radio partner in 2023 and will once again provide cool sounds in the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Arena.
“In order to integrate new ideas and topics into the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, we work on the event 3 years in advance,” Karl Katoch describes the organizational structure of the world’s largest motorcycle off-road sport event and gives a preview of the highlights of 2023 and the near future of the Red Bull Erzberg Rodeo.
Red Bull Driving School: the toughest driving safety training in the world at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2023
With the Red Bull Driving School, the organizers are presenting a new highlight on the “Mountain of Iron”, which is aimed at new drivers. Ten winners can face the “toughest driving safety training in the world” at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2023. Under the expert guidance of the Red Bull Driftbrothers Elias and Johannes Hountondji, the correct drifting technique, braking manoeuvres, cornering technique, parking on contact, changing tires with a sledgehammer and even an official burnout course are on the program. Anyone who has a class B driver’s license by June 9, 2023 and has completed the online test at www.redbull.com/drivingschool can take part. With a bit of luck you will be one of the 10 selected participants of the Red Bull Driving School at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2023! The application period runs until May 10, 2023.
FIM Trial-WM am Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2024
“We are in close talks with those responsible at the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) to bring a trial world championship race to the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo in 2024. Trial riding technique is one of the most important foundations for modern hard enduro sport, so that would be a more than right combination,” explains Katoch.
TransFER by ÖBB Rail Cargo: with the car passenger train to the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2024
A very special initiative is currently being worked on in cooperation with ÖBB Rail Cargo. Car trains to Eisenerz are planned from various European destinations, which will take participants with their motorcycles by rail to the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. “We are thus relieving the volume of traffic, reducing congestion and CO2 emissions and offering drivers a comfortable, energy-saving journey to the action,” says Katoch happily.
KTM and Red Bull Erzbergrodeo join forces for Wings for Life
As a motorsport consultant for the KTM Factory Racing World Championship teams, Heinz Kinigadner has not only been a close partner and sponsor of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo from the very beginning, as the founder of the Wings for Life Foundation, Kinigadner is tirelessly committed to spinal cord research. The two-time motocross world champion was all the more pleased to be able to present a very special sponsorship campaign by KTM and Red Bull Erzbergrodeo: “In cooperation with KTM and the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, we are presenting a spectacular charity campaign. The main prize of the Wings for Life VIPRIZE is an exclusive VIP visit to the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2023 – including a VIP package, helicopter flight, meet-and-greet with the KTM factory team, exclusive access to the starting area on Sunday and an exclusive tour with Karl and me,” says Heinz Kinigadner.
Up to and including May 28, 2023, tickets for the charity campaign can be purchased at www.viprize.org/Erzberg. All proceeds go 100% to the Wings for Life Foundation and thus support spinal cord research to find a cure for paraplegia.
Michael Walkner: Austrian Red Bull Erzbergrodeo podium as a goal
After his sensational arrival at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2022 and his sixth place overall in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, the 25-year-old from Salzburg is one of the top players in extreme enduro sport. At the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo press conference, Walkner spoke about his preparations for the 2023 season and the big goal of getting on the podium at the Erzberg. “The 2022 season went really well and I gained a lot of valuable experience. I’m already in the middle of the preparations for the upcoming Hard Enduro season, and trial riding technique and speed in faster passages are right at the top of the agenda. As an Austrian, the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo is of course extremely important to me and a win at the Erzberg would be the crowning glory of my career. The international competition is very strong, in addition to the favorites Lettenbichler, Bolt and Jarvis, the young drivers are also on the rise. For this year, I’m aiming for the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo podium and will do everything to be as far up the front as possible in the world championship,” says Red Bull athlete and GasGas driver Walkner, describing his plans for 2023.
Red Bull Erzbergrodeo also strongly represented at the Steiermark Spring
Following the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo press conference, Karl Katoch gathered his guests for a photo shoot in front of Cafe Landtmann on Vienna’s Ringstrasse, where exhibits from the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo fleet could be admired over the entire weekend. With the EPAMEDIA LED video wall, the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo made a great impression on passers-by and tourists. Together with the Mayor of Eisenerz Thomas Rauninger, the Mayor of Leoben Kurt Wallner, the Mayor of Trofaiach Mario Abel and Rudolf Tischhart, Chairman of the Tourist Association Erzberg Leoben, Katoch also visited the Steiermark Spring in front of the Vienna City Hall, where the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo together with the adventure Erzberg presented to almost 150,000 visitors over the weekend.
Questions & contact:
Erzbergrodeo GmbH
Martin Kettner
+43 699 113 46 833
martin.kettner@redbullerzbergrodeo.com
www.redbullerzbergrodeo.com / www.motorradreporter.com