Heinz Kinigadner (born 28 January 1960) is an

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

former professional

motocross Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom. History Motocross first evolved in Britain from motorcycle trials competi ...

racer. He competed in the

Motocross World Championship FIM Motocross World Championship is the premier championship of motocross racing, organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), divided into two distinct classes: MXGP and MX2. Race duration is 30 minutes plus two laps per ...

s from 1978 to 1988. Kinigadner is notable for being the first Austrian competitor to win an

FIM FIM may refer to: Organizations and companies * Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, the International Motorcycling Federation * Flint Institute of Music, in Michigan, United States * Fox Interactive Media, now News Corp. Digital Media * ...

motocross world championship. He won consecutive 250cc motocross world championships in 1984 and 1985. After his motocross career, he became a successful Rally Raid competitor. In 2016, Kinigadner was named an

Legend for his motorcycle racing achievements.

Biography

Born in Uderns,

Tyrol Tyrol (; historically the Tyrole; de-AT, Tirol ; it, Tirolo) is a historical region in the Alps - in Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Emp ...

, Kinigadner was the FIM 250cc motocross world champion in 1984 and 1985 while riding for the

KTM KTM AG (Kraftfahrzeug Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, formerly KTM Sportmotorcycle AG) is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and sports car manufacturer owned by Pierer Mobility AG and the Indian manufacturer Bajaj Auto. It was formed in 1992 but traces ...

factory racing team. In 1989, Kinigadner began competing in

Rally raid Rally raid, also known as cross-country rallying, is a form of long distance off-road racing that takes place over several days. The length of the event can be as short as 2–3 days for a cross-country baja to as long as 15 days with marathon ra ...

races such as the Paris to Dakar rally and the

Rallye des Pharaons The Rallye des Pharaons (French for "Pharaohs Rally") was a rally-raid event that took place in Egypt between 1982 and 2015. Cairo was both the starting and finishing point at the foot of the pyramids of Giza, and the rally covered roughly around . ...

. He took part in seven career Paris to Dakar races and won several stages but, was never able to complete a race due to mechanical breakdowns or injuries. During his rally racing career he claimed victories in the Rallye des Pharaons (1994), the Paris-Peking Rally, the Dubai Rally (1995, 1996, 1998) and the Brazil Rally (1998). He retired in 2000 after suffering a thigh fracture. After his racing career, he became a Sporting Director for KTM. After his older brother and son were paralyzed in accidents, Kinigadner helped start the Wings for Life foundation together with

Dietrich Mateschitz Dietrich Mateschitz (; 20 May 1944 – 22 October 2022) was an Austrian billionaire businessman. He was the co-founder and 49% owner of Red Bull GmbH. In April 2022, Mateschitz's net worth was estimated at US$27.4 billion. Mateschitz worked in ...

, which is dedicated to finding a cure for

spinal cord injuries A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that causes temporary or permanent changes in its function. Symptoms may include loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in the parts of the body served by the spinal cor ...

. Being the first Austrian motocross world champion racing on an Austrian-made KTM motorcycle coupled with his rally racing exploits boosted his popularity in his native Austria.

References

External links

Heinz Kinigadner home page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kinigadner, Heinz 1960 births Living people People from Schwaz District Austrian motocross riders Enduro riders Dakar Rally motorcyclists Off-road racing drivers Off-road motorcycle racers Sportspeople from Tyrol (state)