Rupert Hollaus Race: Last chance to see historic motorbikes

The Rupert Hollaus Race, which commemorates the world champion who died in a crash in 1954, is hugely popular with riders and enthusiasts of vintage motorbikes alike. This year, too, 400 participants from eleven countries have registered for the event, organised by former racing driver Wolfgang Stropek and his team, which takes place at the Red Bull Ring on the first weekend in August.

The combination of the unmistakable sound of old two-stroke engines, the smell of engine oil and the unique atmosphere has attracted many stars in the past. The list reads like a starting grid from a bygone era. Stropek has welcomed Giacomo Agostini – the most successful motorbike racer of all time with 122 Grand Prix victories and 15 world championship titles – as well as his prominent colleagues Luigi Taveri, Jim Redman, Phil Read, Freddie Spencer, Carlos Lavado, Peter Williams and Gianfranco Bonera.

Auch das revolutionäre Beo-Gespann von Rolf Biland war zu sehen

Foto: Ohner & Ohner

Bruno Kneubühler has also been a regular at the event for many years. This year, too, the Swiss Grand Prix winner and three-time World Championship runner-up – who will soon turn 80 – is coming to Aichfeld to put his motorbike through its paces. Tobias Moretti, an actor known far beyond Austria’s borders and a self-confessed motorbike enthusiast, will also be making an appearance at the 23rd edition of the Rupert-Hollaus Race.

There is sure to be a touch of wistfulness this year when the chequered flag falls on Sunday and the trophies are presented, as, as things stand, this will be the last time that historic treasures on two and three wheels can be admired on the MotoGP circuit. The reasons for this are, on the one hand, the ageing organisers and, on the other, the soaring costs coupled with declining sponsorship funds. There is hope that a group of racing drivers will take over the event; initial discussions are currently underway.