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Top-level riders at the Erzbergrodeo 2009

In Enduro

25 maggio 2009

Top-level riders at the Erzbergrodeo 2009

Just a few weeks left before the world's biggest motorcycle offroad event open it's doors to thousands of enthusiastic riders and fans, and preparations are running on full throttle - not only for the organizers of the 15th Erzbergrodeo but as well for the Factory Teams and ambitious privateer riders. It really looks as if the entire offroad community is gearing up for the big battle against the “Iron Giant".

Even though the FIM is holding a round of the 2009 WEC at the same weekend, four international Factory Teams have taken up the challenge called Erzbergrodeo this year:

KTM and Taddy Blazusiak: True Favourites
The KTM Factory Team could once again be the dominant force at Erzberg. Taddy Blazusiak (POL) has won the 2007 and 2008 Red Bull Hare Scramble with such breathtaking dominance, it's plain to see that the orange factory rider is regarded as the true favourite for this year's Hare Scramble. Blazusiak will have to face fierce competition out of his own team though. 2-times Erzbergrodeo winner and Dakar Champion Cyril Despres (AND) will give Taddy a hard run for his money, and so will Extreme-Enduro Pro Chris Birch (NZL) and multi-time Roof-of-Africa winner Darryl Curtis (RSA). The “choice of weapon" for all four KTM factory riders: Two-Strokes! Blazusiak will ride a KTM 250 EXC, Despres, Birch and Curtis all choose 300 EXCs for their race against the Erzberg.
KTM will also bring one of their fastest factory guys to compete in the Iron Road Prologue: 2009 Dakar Champion Marc Coma (ESP) will pilot a KTM 690 to the Erzberg's peak on Friday and Saturday.

BMW takes up the challenge
BMW Factory supported Andreas Lettenbichler (D) already displayed his potential in 2008 when he conquered the Red Bull Hare Scramble podium and rode his BMW G 450 X to a solid second place. The sympathic former Trials rider will be back for BMW in 2009 and could be once again a major threat for Taddy Blazusiak. Fellow Bavarian Gerhard Forster (D) will be backing up BMW efforts. The extremely experienced Enduro rider has Top-10 finishes at all European Extreme Enduros in his bag and will be riding a G 450 X as well.
Further riders under the blue-white flag include Austrian Enduro Champion Rudi Pöschl and multi-time South African Enduro Jade Gutzeit and Gray Dick. While Pöschl dominated the Austrian Cross-Country-Championships during the past years, Gutzeit and Dick have both won the notorious Roof-of-Africa Hardenduro-Rallye before.

HUSABERG - the blue-yellow axes are stronger than ever
Husaberg will challenge the Erzbergrodeo with their all new, innovative FE-models and with an international team featuring top-riders from 3 nations and 2 continents. Shane Cuthbertson (CAN) and Jared Thomas (CAN) belong to Canada's own Enduro elite, while Thomas “Fuxi" Günther (GER) ranks amongst the most successful Enduro riders of Germany. Ex-Snowboard Worldcup Champion Dieter Happ (AUT) and 12-times Austrian Trials Champion Erich Brandauer (AUT) both have tons of experience with even the most crucial offroad tracks under their belts. Except Jared Thomas (FE 450), the complete Husaberg team will attack the “Iron Giant" on board of the FE 570 four stroke machines. “The Husaberg FE 570 offers massive power for the high-speed gravel tracks of the Iron Road Prologue, and it also has enough punch to cover the endless Hare Scramble uphills right after the start. Still the Husaberg is lighweight and easy to handle, which will work perfectly in the tight and technical Trial sections.", Erich Brandauer describes the benefits of his “working tool" at Erzberg.

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