Rupert Hollaus
Rupert Hollaus in 1953
NationalityAustrian
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1952 - 1954
First race1952 250cc West German Grand Prix
Last race1954 250cc Swiss Grand Prix
First win1954 Isle of Man 125cc Ultra-Lightweight TT
Last win1954 250cc Swiss Grand Prix
Team(s)NSU
Championships125cc - 1954
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
11 5 10 0 5 63

Rupert Hollaus (4 September 1931 – 11 September 1954) was an Austrian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who competed for the NSU factory racing team.[1] He is the only Austrian to win a road racing World Championship, and the first racer to do so posthumously.

Motorcycle racing career

Hollaus was born in Traisen, Austria. He began his Grand Prix racing career in the 1953 season. In the 1954 season, he dominated the 125cc class by winning the first four Grands Prix. His victory at the 1954 Isle of Man TT was notable because he was one of only seven riders to have won an Isle of Man TT race in their first attempt.[2] Due to the circuit's 37.7 mile length, it usually takes competitors two or three attempts before they learn its nuances.

Later that same year, Hollaus was killed during practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.[3] Hollaus became the first posthumous World Champion in 1954, in the 125cc class and was runner up to his NSU teammate, Werner Haas, in the 250cc class.[1][4]

On 23 February 1955 he was elected as "Austrian Sportspersonality of the year 1954" (posthum).

Motorcycle Grand Prix results

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6
Points 8 6 4 3 2 1

(Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points Rank Wins
1952 250cc Moto Guzzi SUI
- 		IOM
- 		NED
- 		GER
9 		ULS
- 		NAT
17 		0 — 0
1953 125cc NSU IOM
- 		NED
- 		GER
- 		ULS
- 		NAT
- 		ESP
3 		4 9th 0
250cc Moto Guzzi IOM
- 		NED
- 		GER
6 		ULS
- 		SUI
- 		NAT
- 		ESP
- 		1 15th 0
1954 125cc NSU IOM
1 		ULS
1 		NED
1 		GER
1 		NAT
- 		ESP
- 		32 1st 4
250cc NSU FRA
3 		IOM
2 		ULS
- 		NED
2 		GER
2 		SUI
1 		NAT
- 		26 2nd 1

References

  1. ^ a b c "Rider Statistics – Rupert Hollaus". MotoGP.com. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  2. ^ Procter, Guy (2015), "Bitesize", Classic Bike, Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, ISSN 0142-890X
  3. ^ Rupert Hollaus career profile at Motorsport Memorial
  4. ^ a b "Rupert Hollaus career profile at the Isle of Man TT Homepage". iomtt.com. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
Rupert Hollaus grave at Traisen


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