1994 marked the birth of this unique offroad event. In those days, Enduro motorcycling lay in agony and despair. New ideas were desperately needed to create media attention and mainstream exposure. It is time to act for two people in the know: Reitwagen Magazine editor Andreas Werth and Karl Katoch, editor of the internet portal Motorrad-Reporter. In a common effort, they lay the foundation for today’s biggest motorcycle offroad event without overboarding red tape restrictions, without tedious discussions about rules and regulations.
They created a race that brought and still brings its competitors to the very edge of their physical limitations, with a race organiser who knows a thing or two about what he is doing. What they had in mind was a big offroad spectacle, a grand come together of the enduro scene. And they did not mind wheter man and machine were near the the pain threshold or not. Enduro bikers are tough guys who know how to face adversities.
When the first offroad tire ploughed the red surface of the Erzberg, everyone knew that the search for a perfect location had come to an end. Today, Erzbergrodeo is the biggest offroad motorcycle event in the world, period. In its inaugural year in 1995, 120 bikers headed towards the peak of the Iron Mountain. In 1996, the number of competitors had already doubled. News of this fascinating offroad race spread faster than bushfire.
The toughest race in the world
The mission was clear: In order to satisfy the enduro scene’s hunger for variety, Erzbergrodeo had to be the toughest Enduro competition known to mankind. A delicous mixture of endless steep slopes and breathtaking downhill passages, horizonless gravel deserts and almost impenetrable woods. “Fairytale Forest”, “Bathtub”, “Rolling Stones” – these harmless „pet names“ symbolise overheated engines, weeping riders and separate the boys from the man – once and for all. Year after year, only a chosen few cross the finishing line within 4 hours. Tired and worn out, but knowing that they have achieved something incredible, that they are amongst the best in the world from this day on. The organisers are satisfied.
Whenever there is talk of the Red Bull Hare Scramble at the regular’s table, even grown up men become timid and wide-eyed. Those in the know nod affirmatively, the ignorants soak in stories of untold drudgery. When in 1996 Karl Katoch, founder of the motorsport assocociation ASKÖ (MSA) „invented“ the Iron Road Prologue, a high speed race to the summit of the mountain, even more attention was drawn to the Styrian Erzberg and even more riders were eager to take up the challenge.
A success story in its making
More and more offroad enthusiasts were now willing to follow the call of the Erzberg. News of the invincible mountain, the high-speed-full-throttle hunt to the Erberg’s peak and the the legendary after party spread out to motorcycle magazines and offroad riders alike. In 1999 a magic barrier was broken: more than 1000 competitors started their engines to roar up the Iron Road. Entourage, spectators, exhibitors and side events: Erzbergrodeo is in a constant process of growth and improvement. Even people, who just want to spend a fabulous (party) time, who do not even own a bike, have made it a habit to travel to the Red Giant in late spring.
Economically, the Erzbergrodeo sets record after record in this area in the (green) heart of Austria that is not too spoilt by big events. Ever more riders and visitors equals more overnight stays, equals more turnover in the local gastronomy and an increasingly high profile of the region nationally and internationally. In order to tackle these new challenges organisation- and safetywise and in order to lift the quality of the event to new heights, co-operations with sponsors are quintessential. From the very beginning, long term partners the like of KTM, Red Bull and ORF Sport were an important mainstay of the event, ensuring a stable basis for further development of the „fascination Erzbergrodeo“.
Memorable Moments –the evolution into today’s mega-event
No one will ever forget Heinz Kinigadners short-sleeved dare devil ride on a KTM 660 Rallye. Try to get a copy of the official Erzbergrodeo video tape of 1999: Even the cam-copter had problems in keeping track of the twofold MX world champion! In just over 12 minutes he stormed the summit of the Erzberg, mastering the longest Iron Road to date. „Constant muscle tension pumps up your forearms. I had to grab the throttle with my left arm for a few times to shake my cramping right hand in the last third of the track!“, Kini told us in the finish area of the prologue.
In 2003, Freestyle enterpreneurs of the likes of Andy Bell, Kenny „Cowboy“ Bartram and Ronnie Renner „discovered“ the Erzbergrodeo. From this time on, Freestyle MXers from the New World continousely added some spice to the already tasty event‘s mixture. They have left their marks not only in the race, but even more so in the famous rider’s party. One year later, double backflip legend Travis Pastrana joined the pack and finished second in the Iron Road Prologue. After having crossed the finish line in the Red Bull Hare Scramble, there was no doubt left: This guy really knows how to handle a bike as well as he knows how to fascinate the masses!
In 2004, the race promotors had to pay tribute to the ever growing demands of this mega event and independent teams were formed within the organisation. (Media relations, sports administration and event organisation). Now Erzbergrodeo was fit for even more (internationally) successful years to come!
king’s Class – the 2-Cylinder Bikes are coming!
Again, Heinz Kinigadner and KTM lay the foundation for some new excitement: In 2002, for the first time KTM twin cylinder bikes (KTM 950) took part in a Erzbergrodeo race. Three years later, the organisers presented a new race competition: Big bore BMWs and KTMs fought for the crown in the King’s Class. Starting from the town of Erzberg, the big Enduro bikes hammered their way to the peak of the Erzberg, leaving a lot of mouths open amongst the thousands of spectators lining up alongside the track.
Exploring new target groups
The twin-cylinder King’s Class has not only firmly established the class of big displacement motorcycles, it also attracted new groups of motorbikers to the Erzberg. Not only hardcore offroad riders, but even touring fans and people preferring „milder“ Enduro tracks became frequent visitors of the Erzbergrodeo. Entertainment, catering and service was thoroughly adapted to the needs of this new target group and now the event‘s ambience offers a package suitable for anyone interested in motorcycles, even whole families. They all benefit though from the general masterplan behind the event - to offer unlimited entertaining action that you won‘t see at any other motorsports event in the world!
Talent Factory Erzbergrodeo
Chris Pfeiffer, Cyril Despres, Gerhard Forster, David Knight, Andreas Lettenbichler, Paul Bolton, Cory Graffunder, Kyle Redmond and Taddy Blazusiak - they all have one thing in common: these riders have grabbed the opportunity and have used the Erzbergrodeo to superboost their careers and nowadays they are among the best riders in the world. Finishing the Red Bull Hare Scrambe not only gives you respect among your peers. It can open doors to factory teams and professional motorcycling. Because it is a special feature of the Erzbergrodeo that despite the many factory riders, ambitious privateers still have excellent chances to place in the middle of the stars and make the dream of a professional career come true!
Endurocross
Just another success story of the Erzbergrodeo. In 2007, the organisers presented this new race series at the Erzberg-Arena, right before the face of the „Iron Giant“. And again, a trend was born. There had been indoor Endurocross races in Genua, Barcelona and Las Vegas before. But Endurocross as an outdoor event, sometimes even in the midst of an urban setting, this was something new and different. Endurocross race events in big cities have become a common sight and new training sites are opened regularly. While the fairly new type of motorsports spreads further upon the European continent, Karl Katoch and his crew stay ahead as one of the innovators of the sports.
15 years of Erzbergrodeo
June 2009. The financial crisis hits the world - and more riders from more nations than ever before flood the little town of Eisenerz. It‘s the 15th anniversary of the infamous Erzbergrodeo. The races and side-events are fully booked, the number of entourage exceeds all expectations and spectators come in thousands to celebrate the Erzbergrodeo 2009 - which has become Austria‘s biggest and most important motorsports event. The race promotors have learned their lessons well - and serve more service, more entertainment, more safety for the competitors. Most of these competitors still come from the European main land, but Erzbergrodeo has rapidly gained prestige in countries like Canada, USA, South Africa, Australia and Great Britain.
While European TV-stations like ORF, PRO-7, Puls 4 or DSF broadcast stories from Erzbergrodeo even in their morning shows, it‘s American cable-networks like Fox, Versus, Fuel-TV or Spike that go for extended footage of the exciting race. Magazines and newspapers from all over the world gather their stories on site. The Erzbergrodeo jubilee simply exceeds all expectations of race promotor Karl Katoch and grows into an international success once more.
Erzbergrodeo 2010: bigger than ever
With a 15 years of success under the belt, one would lean back and just rest on his laurels. But if you know Karl Katoch, you‘d know that the phrase „stagnancy“ is not an option for the Erzbergrodeo‘s mastermind.
After restructuring his organisation, Katoch and his crew work on a further improvement of the infrastructural services for spectators and competitors, as well as on a new layout for the Erzbergrodeo Arena. More fun, more excitement and even more racing action - the 2010 edition of Erzbergrodeo manages to astound even long time partners and frequent flyers amongst the participants. Every section of the event profits from the organisers efforts to raise customer satisfaction: new spacious parking opprtunities, improved sanitary conditions for riders and spectators, enlarged rider paddocks featuring an all-new family-paddock and an extended guidance-system to ease orientation within the massive playground.
Once again, the race itself is sold out within a few weeks after registration has started – with more than 800 dirtbike enthusiasts inscribing on a waiting list! Due to the massive coverage in newspapers, TV and radio prior to the event, 45.000 spectators add up to the more than 6.000 riders, mechanics, friends and crew – and turn the whole region around the Iron Giant into the world’s epicentre of motorcycle offroad madness.
The 2010 sporting competition matches the economic success of the event: KTM’s Polish superstar Taddy Blazusiak gathers his fourth consecutive win at Erzberg. Taddy is challenged by the world’s elite dirtbike athletes which give him a run for his money. In the end, only 16 riders manage to reach the 2010 Red Bull Hare Scramble’s finish line - featuring rookie Taichi Tanaka from Japan, who immediately puts himself in the limelight of the factory teams!
red bull motorclash
One of the highlights of Erzbergrodeo XVI is the spectacular duel Rallye-Car versus offroad motorcycle. Red Bull and KTM join efforts to bring former Formula-1 world Kimi Räikkönen and his Citröen WRC Rallye Car to Erzberg to challenge Taddy Blazusiak and his KTM at the Prologue racetrack. Thousands of spectators as well as journalists and TV-networks from all over the world witness the epic fight. Even though Blazusiak squeezes every single horsepower out of his big-bore KTM four-stroke, Raikkönen’s 300hp AWD-rocket triumphates in the end. Besides the breathtaking action provided by this two superior athletes, the Red Bull Motorclash draws further international attention on the Erzbergrodeo – making it the household term for outstanding motorsports action in living rooms around the globe.
The Erzbergrodeo’s goals for 2011 are clearly set: the 17th edition of the world’s biggest motorcycle offroad event shall turn heads once again by providing even more service, more action and more entertainment to it’s guests from all over the world. It will offer a fully new dimension of motorsports action according to the Erzbergrodeo’s philosophy: Tougher than Iron, Harder than Steel!