MATTHIAS WALKNER & THE JOURNEY TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GLORY
Matthias Walkner is the 2021 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Champion. Crowned in Morocco with a round of the five-event series to spare, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider lifted his second world title in rally after an exciting campaign aboard his KTM 450 RALLY machine.
Matthias Walkner is the 2021 Cross-Country Rallies World Champion (click play to watch the video) PC @MarcinKin
As you opened this blog maybe you were expecting an interview. Something about the grit, determination and, well, outright speed with riding ability and confidence the very few are gifted with. Maybe you were expecting a story about the journey of rally itself, the navigation, the highest highs to the lowest of lows. A journey that every factory rally rider is familiar with?
Well, no, it’s not quite that. Austrian racer Walkner won the Silk Way rally and took runner-up honours in Kazakhstan and the Rallye du Maroc on his quest for the championship, and while riders rarely get to really take in their experiences when riding in excess of 150km across dunes, trails, canyons and riverbeds, we’re lucky to have some of the world’s best photographers snapping away their story. So instead of an interview, feast your eyes on the journey of a rally rider, the terrain he’s been through and the victory he found at the end of it; for these are our top picks when it comes to the best images of Matthias from the 2021 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship.
The series started in Kazakhstan where Walkner finished second PC @MarcinKin
Walkner on his KTM 450 RALLY at round one of the series PC @MarcinKin
The road books notify riders of terrain changes – but their reactions have to be incredibly fast – Walkner in Kazakhstan PC @MarcinKin
The series headed to Silk Way for round two in Russia PC @MarcinKin
The rallies can be over various types of terrain in different altitudes and conditions – here Walkner is in Russia PC @MarcinKin
More stony ground in Russia, Walkner picks his way through the terrain PC @MarcinKin
Riders pass through some beautiful areas, although rarely do they really get to take it in PC @MarcinKin
Walkner at the Silk Way rally aboard his KTM 450 RALLY machine PC @MarcinKin
Walkner’s hard work pays off with a victory at the Silk Way rally PC @MarcinKin
Rallye du Maroc was round four of the series – Walkner styles it up in the prologue on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rally bike PC @MarcinKin
Epic scenes often are captured by helicopters at the rallies – Walkner here was being followed by the heli in Morocco PC @MarcinKin
A scene change – dunes as far as the eye can see as Walkner navigates his way through. He must follow the road book correctly PC @MarcinKin
Walkner blasts through the Moroccan sand under silky skies PC @MarcinKin
Early mornings and late nights are all part of the rally racer’s schedule – as is the all-important preparation for long days PC @MarcinKin
Sandy but stony, the unpredictability of the terrain is what makes rally so exciting -Walkner picks his way through en-route to championship victory PC @MarcinKin
Austrian ace Walkner celebrates his second FIM Cross-Country Rallies Championship PC @MarcinKin
One epic image to finish – in the dunes! PC @MarcinKin
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