Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2025: Josep Garcia (ESP, KTM) takes victory in the Blakläder Iron Road Prologue
Josep Garcia (ESP, KTM) takes victory in the Blakläder Iron Road Prologue ahead of Andrea Verona (ITA, GASGAS) and Danny Sanders (AUS, KTM)!
The Red Bull Erzbergrodeo field od competitors entered the second and decisive day of the prologue today, Saturday, which presented the riders with an even tougher track. On the worn gravel track, it was difficult to improve on previous times, but the riders still gave it their all to secure their qualification for the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo on Sunday. In the end, Josep Garcia claimed his third victory in the Blakläder Iron Road Prologue!
The second prologue competition day presented participants from 41 nations and all continents with significantly better weather than yesterday. Under sunny skies and a bright blue sky, the starting field took to the track for the second and decisive prologue run. Since the 15-kilometer course was heavily rutted after yesterday's prologue day and therefore very selective, only a few riders were able to improve on their times from yesterday. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing factory rider Josep Garcia was therefore able to secure his third Rock Trophy at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo with his best time from yesterday. The performances of the other two podium finishers were also impressive: five-time Enduro World Champion Andrea Verona (ITA) took second place on the podium with his GASGAS EC 450 F, while Daniel Sanders (AUS, KTM), the reigning Dakar Rally winner, came in third.
The other contenders for the prestigious victory at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo all managed to place themselves among the top 50 in the Blakläder Iron Road Prologue, ensuring an extremely exciting front row for tomorrow's Extreme Enduro highlight. Alongside Manuel Lettenbichler (DE, KTM), Billy Bolt (UK, Husqvarna), Trystan Hart (CAN, KTM), Wade Young (RSA, GASGAS), Mario Roman (ESP, Sherco), Teodor Kabakchiev (BG, Sherco), Jonny Walker (UK, Triumph), Alfredo Gomez (ESP, Beta), Matthew Green (RSA, KTM) and young star Mitch Brightmore (UK, GASGAS) will also be on the front row of the starting grid. Alongside the podium favorites, super talents such as Ryder Leblond (USA, Husqvarna), Carson Brown (USA, KTM), Jack Price (UK, Sherco) and Sonny Goggia (ITA, KTM) are also among the top 50 at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2025.
For two superstars of the Extreme Enduro scene, the Blakläder Iron Road Prologue did not go according to plan: five-time Red Bull Erzbergrodeo winner Graham Jarvis (UK, Husqvarna) and the most successful American at Erzberg to date, Cody Webb (USA, Yamaha), will have to start tomorrow's race from the second row. Also noteworthy is the performance of the two 17-year-old (!) Austrians Valentino Hutter (AUT, GASGAS) and Luca Kropitsch (AUT, KTM), who also qualified for the front row of the grid among the world's off-road elite.
As expected, the twin-cylinder class of the Blakläder Iron Road Prologue delivered spectacular motorsport at the highest level. The exciting three-way battle between KTM, Ducati, and Yamaha came to a head today and was won by two-time Enduro World Champion Jonny Aubert on his KTM 890 Adventure R. Armin Ohrlinger surprisingly took second place on his Aprilia RXV 450, while Kevin Gallas (DE) brought his Yamaha Tenere 700 to third place, thus picking up another rock trophy after the Mitas Rocket Ride.
Sandra Gomez Cantero, the most successful extreme enduro athlete on the scene, won the Lady Cup Prologue classification in convincing fashion.
In total, riders from 17 nations and all continents will be on the front row of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2025.
Final results BLAKLÄDER IRON ROAD PROLOGUE 2025 (after 2 runs):
1. Josep Garcia (ESP, KTM) 10:25.661 minutes
2. Andrea Verona (ITA, GASGAS) 10:32.804
3. Danny Sanders (AUS, KTM) 10:46.804
4. Dominik Olszowy (POL, Rieju) 10:54.455
5. Carson Brown (USA, KTM) 10:54.891
6. Billy Bolt (UK, Husqvarna) 11:02.426
7. Jonny Walker (UK, Triumph) 11:03.519
8. Szymon Zajaczkowski (POL, KTM) 11:04.068
9. Will Riordan (AUS, Sherco) 11:09.074
10. Chris Gundermann (GER, KTM) 11:09.516
11. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER, KTM) 11:10.919
12. Wade Young (RSA, GASGAS) 11:11.886
13. Camilo Herrera (CHI, Beta) 11:12.898
14. David Cyprian (CZ, KTM) 11:15.288
15. Dieter Rudolf (AUT, GASGAS) 11:17.316
The complete results for Blakläder Iron Road Prologue can be found at www.redbullerzbergrodeo.com
Trial Xtreme Challenge: Stephan Stockhammer (DE) secures a spot on the front row of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo starting grid in a spectacular super final
Tonight at 8 p.m., the packed Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Action Arena was the scene of the spectacular racing side event. In the Trial Xtreme Challenge Super Final, the 40 fastest riders from the qualifying rounds competed on identical GASGAS trial motorcycles to win the coveted prize money. After the spectacular final runs, young German Stephan Stockhammer ultimately claimed victory and with it a spot on the front row of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo main race.
Red Bull Driving School: the world's toughest driver safety training at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2025
With the Red Bull Driving School, the organizers are presenting a highlight at the “Iron Mountain” that is aimed at new drivers. Through an online application process, 10 tough participants and 1 wildcard participant were selected who, after passing their B driver's license test, were able to put their driving skills to the test, away from the usual traffic regulations. Under expert guidance, the participants then learned the correct drifting technique, risky braking maneuvers, and cornering technique at the “toughest driver safety training in the world.” Tomorrow, Sunday, the participants will experience the most spectacular hard enduro race on the scene up close and get to know the Iron Mountain “backstage” (including accommodation, meals, meet & greet, and much more).
Spectacular Dakar Rally Show Run before the start of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo
Before Heinz Kinigadner and Karl Katoch open the race tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. sharp in the starting area at the lowest point of the impressive open-cast mining area, the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo will treat tens of thousands of visitors to a spectacular full-throttle off-road show. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing factory rider Danny Sanders (AUS), winner of the 2025 Dakar, will put on a breathtaking high-speed off-road show of superlatives on his KTM 450 Rally together with young Californian Seth Quintero (USA) in his Red Bull Toyota GR DKR Hilux Rally Car. Afterwards, the Red Bull Skydivers deliver the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo starting flag from a dizzying height directly into the hands of Red Bull Erzbergrodeo mastermind Karl Katoch.
Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2025 LIVE on the Iron Mountain and on TV
Tomorrow, Sunday, thousands of motorsport fans will witness first-hand how the world's best off-road athletes take on the mighty Erzberg and what is probably the most selective race track of the Xtreme Enduro season. For those who can't experience this extraordinary spectacle live on site, the globally unique race with its expanded set-up and huge commitment of people and equipment will be broadcast live on ServusTV from 12:35 p.m. in 2025. Presenter Philipp Krummholz and his experts Heinz Kinigadner, Stefan Nebel, and hard enduro athlete Michael Walkner will guide viewers through the broadcast, while presenter Nicole Oberlechner and Dakar Rally winner Matthias Walkner will provide interesting facts from the start and finish areas on site. The Red Bull Erzbergrodeo livestream will also be available on the ServusTV ON streaming platform starting at 12:35 p.m.
The international live stream on Red Bull TV will be hosted on Sunday, June 1, starting at 12:30 p.m. by Pat Parnell and Ed Leigh, along with experts Darryl Curtis, Rob Warner, and race reporter Paul Bolton. The English-language livestream will also be available for Red Bull Erzbergrodeo visitors on site in the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo Action Arena.
"We have set up visitor zones at the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2025, which can be reached via two shuttle bus lines. In addition to classic sections of the track such as the start area, the “Gmoto water pipe,” the “Blakläder center on the mountain,” and “Wacker Neuson,” there will of course also be visitor zones at the legendary “Carl's Dinner,” at “Siberia Dynamite,” and at the “Motorex Highway” checkpoint. “The race is often decided in these sections, so visitors can look forward to extremely spectacular and exciting scenes,” says Red Bull Erzbergrodeo mastermind Karl Katoch. Some visitor zones are also equipped with food stands to keep fans energized with snacks and cool drinks.
Authority: Red Bull Erzbergrodeo
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