KIWI RIDER MARCH 2021 VOL1 | Page 93

DIRT NEWS

WALKNER JOINS GASGAS HARD ENDURO TEAM

G asGas has announced another addition to its growing official rider list with news that test rider Michael Walkner will campaign the firm ’ s EC300 in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship . Already a part of the GASGAS family – Walkner ’ s day job is as GasGas ’ official test and development enduro rider – he ’ ll now also join the GASGAS Factory Racing enduro team as an officially supported junior rider for the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship , formally known as the WESS Championship . Already a seasoned and passionate competitor with international hard enduro experience , Walkner will continue in his development role at GasGas while also setting his sights on becoming one of hard enduro ’ s leading riders .

It ’ s a win-win situation for GasGas , with the 23-year-old set to gain valuable experience in the racing conditions the bikes are set to be used in , while also getting the opportunity to further develop his hard enduro skills . With the start of the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship still some months off , Walkner will first compete in the opening two rounds of the Italian Enduro Championship . The Austrian will then switch his attention to the opening round of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship , which is scheduled for 7-9 May . “ I ride GasGas bikes almost every day so to now be competing for the brand , it ’ s a real honour ,” Walkner says . “ Recently , I had been testing suspension settings together with Andrea Verona – the
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