TOPRAK RAZGATLIOLU AND MOTOGP STARS JOIN 50CC TWO-STROKE NOSTALGIA AT SPIELBERG’S MOPEDGP

The MotoGP weekend at Austria’s Red Bull Ring in Spielberg kicked off in a very different style on Thursday, with the track taken over not by 1000cc machines but by 50cc mopeds for the “MopedGP of Austria.” Hundreds of small-displacement racers filled the pitlane and start-finish straight, creating a thick two-stroke atmosphere that matched the event’s nostalgic focus.

Despite the rain, fans of classic Puch, KTM and Simson mopeds turned up in force, bringing their machines—either restored or kept in original condition—and even creative rider outfits. On the straight, top speeds hovered just under 50 km/h, and the report noted that some of the mopeds or mopeds/mofas used by riders were “not quite legal” for road traffic, yet still managed to be noticeably quicker than you might expect.

MotoGP stars joined the fun among the 50cc field. Pedro Acosta, Raul Fernandez, Alex Marquez, Brad Binder, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Pol Espargaro were all present, with the atmosphere described as playful from the first moments—wheelies were already spotted at the start line. Razgatlioglu was singled out for taking a slightly unusual approach at the start, “sitting wrong” on his moped to make things more challenging.

The event also drew other motorsport personalities, including Austrian Moto3 pilot Leo Rammerstorfer and German Rookie Cup driver Fynn Kratochwil, who both enjoyed the first track appearance of the weekend. Freestyle motocross rider Johannes Wibmer and ice speedway legend Franky Zorn were also among the crowd.

The MopedGP in Spielberg took place for the third time this year, and the opener was described as a successful one. From Friday onward, the MotoGP World Championship riders returned to the 4.326 km circuit, with much higher speeds taking over again.