With three Red Bull Hare Scramble wins to his credit Jonny Walker returns to the Iron Giant this year having been forced to watch the ErzbergRodeo last year following an injury. Fired up and 100% healthy his goal is to challenge for a fourth Hare Scramble crown. Last competing in 2015, Walker did the double – posting the fastest time in the prologue before going on to be named as one of four winners together with Graham Jarvis, Andreas Lettenbichler and Alfredo Gomez. Jonny’s previous victories came in 2014 and 2012.
“I can’t wait to get racing at Erzberg this year. In some ways it feels like this year’s race has come around sooner than in previous years, but I’m really looking forward to getting back on the mountain and lining up for my first prologue run,” said Walker.
“Not racing at Erzberg last year due to injury was really tough but being back there a few weeks ago for KTM’s 2018 EXC TPI launch was special – it was just cool being back there – but nothing compares to the atmosphere, the craziness of racing at the ErzbergRodeo. No one ever knows what to expect when it comes to the course, the weather and how everything will pan out, but that’s part of what makes Erzberg so special and such a huge event. I feel good at the moment and after finishing on the podium at Lagares in Portugal recently I’m definitely fired up. The goal for the prologue is the same as always – to get safely to the top of the mountain and onto the front row of the start. After that it’s just to try and make as good a start as possible, keep my head down and keep pushing all the way to the finish.”
KTM’s highest placed rider in the Red Bull Hare Scramble in 2016, Alfredo Gomez heads into this year’s event in impressive form. Despite a number of small falls in recent events hampering his final results, Gomez knows he has both the speed and experience to challenge for a podium result.
“Erzberg is the big one, and this year I really have a lot of motivation to do well,” said Gomez. “Even though I won the prologue at Red Bull Minas Riders in Brazil recently things didn’t go how I hoped they would there. Also, at Extreme Lagares I won the prologue and was riding well but a crash stopped me fighting for the win. So, I really want to do well. Last year I was fighting for second almost all the race with Cody. This year will of course be difficult – it always is at Erzberg – but I’m riding well and I’m focused on another Erzberg podium.”
Joining both Walker and Gomez is Cody Webb – the first ever American to finish on the podium at Erzberg with his runner-up result in 2016. Carrying great form into this year’s event having finished as a strong runner-up to Graham Jarvis at Red Bull Minas Riders in Brazil, Webb will be looking to go one better than his 2016 Erzberg finish and challenge for the win.
Also, competing in the prologue will be Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Racing team rider Mathias Walkner, who will participate on his KTM 450 Rally machine. Dakar Rally runner-up, Walkner, who topped the warm-up Rocket Ride event in 2014, will unleash his powerful rally bike as he goes all-out to post the fastest time up the 13.5km prologue.
The 23rd running of the ErzbergRodeo starts on Friday, June 16th with the Red Bull Hare Scramble taking place on Sunday, June 18th.
The Red Bull Hare Scramble will be broadcast live, for more info check out the KTM Factory Racing Facebook page for details.
