PRESS INFORMATION, 2015-06-08
FOUR WINNERS IN MOST
EXTREME ERZBERGRODEO
The 2015 Red Bull Hare Scramble at the Styrian Erzberg
dwarfed anything heretofore seen and with only five riders
that made it to the finish it turned out to be the hottest and
most extreme Hard Enduro in its 21-year history! Four
riders were declared joint winners, among them the KTM
factory riders Jonny Walker and Andreas Lettenbichler.
Four exhausted but happy winners at the winner´s arch
Some 500 starters lined up to contest the toughest one-day
of the Red Bull Hare Scramble 2015
Hard Enduro on the sporting calendar and of the five finishers,
four were declared joint winners in an event that was marked by
high action from start to finish. Drama unfolded right from the
start of the first wave of 50 fastest qualifiers from the Iron Road
Prologue. Riding alongside each other were Red Bull KTM’s
five-times Hare Scramble winner Taddy Blazusiak of Poland and
his factory teammate and 2014 winner Jonny Walker, who
charged together up the steep gravel slope that launches the
race. Walker reached the top unscathed but Blazusiak went
down close to the summit and was struck on the head by his
race bike.
After taking the start Walker broke away from his competitors on Britain´s Jonny Walker, one of the winners, climbed the
Erzberg aboard his KTM 300 EXC
his KTM 300 EXC and for long time it looked like a repetition of
last year´s start-finish-victory. Shortly after checkpoint “Carl´s
Dinner” Walker was caught up and overtaken by Graham Jarvis
and his teammate Alfredo Gomez. The three riders then
reached a new section called “Downtown” an uphill slope that
finally proved to be impossible to ride, whereby KTM factory
rider Andreas Lettenbichler was able to approach the group.
After close consultation, they decided to pool their resources
and help each other up the hill. By the time they got to the top,
the organizers had decided to remove the section “Lazy Noon”.
The four riders opted to ride together to the Red Bull winner´s
arch and crossed the line just inside the four-hour time limit.
Jonny Walker: “I made a good start and early on I pushed really The return of five-times Erzberg winner Taddy
Blazusiak came to an early end
hard. I got a five-minute lead then I made a stupid mistake on
one of the hills and I lost maybe 3-4 minutes. That allowed
Graham to catch me. I tried to push but I had a small crash and
dented the radiator, so it was letting water out. Graham and
Gomez passed me, and then we all got stuck on this hill. We
talked and decided to pull each other up and ride to the finish. It
was by far the hardest Erzberg I have ever done.”
Andreas Lettenbichler: “It was a really tough one. This is my
10th edition and today was the hardest. The “Downtown” section
was impossible to ride and we had to help each other. Everyone
was completely exhausted after this section and it was too
dangerous to have a restart. It was an incredible race, difficult
but I’m happy.”
KTM factory rider Andreas Lettenbichler celebrated his
first win at the Erzberg
Karl Katoch (Organizer): “Today the Erzberg flexed its muscles.
But I promise that it won´t be that tough next year.”
KTM SPORTMOTORCYCLE GMBH
Thomas Kuttruf // PR-Manager // Tel.: +43 7742 6000 – 866 // Mobile: +43 664 81 62 490
Fax: +43 7742 6000 – 5866 // e-Mail: thomas.kuttruf@ktm.at // www.ktm.com
Alex Doringer (Team Manager KTM Factory Racing):
“Sunday’s race was very special and it was more difficult with
this extreme temperature. I didn’t see it, but I heard that Taddy
and Jonny came together on the first uphill and I am sorry about
what happened to Taddy when he crashed. This is racing and it
happens, but he’s a five-times winner and he’s the king here at
this event. The last part where they got stuck was really difficult
but I am happy that we made an agreement with our riders that
they would help each other to finish. I also want to give a big
thanks to Karl Katoch, Martin Kettner and everyone involved.
The organization was fantastic.”
Heinz Kinigadner (Motorsport consultant KTM Factory Racing):
“The Erzberg has once again lived up to its reputation as the
toughest Extreme Enduro. It was also good to see that fairness
emerged above sporting ambition and that four winners were
declared. Too bad it didn’t come to a duel with Taddy but except
for headache and neck pain he is okay and is already on his
way to the airport for the flight back home to Spain. I am
especially happy for Letti who has his long deserved victory after
many podiums.”
Results Red Bull Hare Scramble Erzbergrodeo 2015
1. Alfredo Gomez (ESP), Husqvarna, 3:58.25 h
1. Jonny Walker (GBR), KTM, +0 sec
1. Graham Jarvis (GBR), Husqvarna, +0
1. Andreas Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, +0
5. Mario Roman Serrano (ESP), KTM +31 sec
Only together and with pooled forces the four winners
were able to reach the finish
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KTM SPORTMOTORCYCLE GMBH
Thomas Kuttruf // PR-Manager // Tel.: +43 7742 6000 – 866 // Mobile: +43 664 81 62 490
Fax: +43 7742 6000 – 5866 // e-Mail: thomas.kuttruf@ktm.at // www.ktm.com