Dieter Rudolf dominates in Otočac as X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team takes victory in Croatia

The Team Silber Enduro event in Otočac, Croatia, delivered a tough weekend of racing, with heavy rain before the event turning the clay-based terrain into a slippery challenge.

Representing the X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team, Dieter Rudolf returned to familiar ground, having raced in the area several years ago. That experience would prove useful across a demanding weekend.

Prologue chaos and a strong statement

Saturday’s prologue featured a 20-kilometre loop with two timed runs. But the format came with an extra challenge: the professional riders started at the very back of the field.

That meant Dieter had to fight his way through a large number of riders on tight singletrail sections, where overtaking was anything but easy. Near the end of the course, an artificial obstacle created serious traffic, with dozens of riders stuck and blocking the line.

Despite the chaos, Rudolf still managed to dominate the opening run, setting the fastest time with an advantage of around one and a half minutes.

Clear track, full attack

For the second run, conditions improved as the course dried out, and the organizers changed the starting order, allowing the pro riders to start first.

With a clearer track ahead, Dieter went full attack. His second run was more than 10 minutes faster than the first, giving him the overall prologue victory and the best possible starting position for Sunday’s main race.

Untouchable in the main race

Thanks to his previous experience in Otočac, Dieter already knew what to expect from the track layout and the key technical checkpoints early in the lap.

From the start of Sunday’s main race, the X-GRIP GASGAS rider pushed hard and quickly opened a comfortable gap over the rest of the field. Once in front, he controlled the race completely and was never really challenged.

After nearly two and a half hours of racing, Dieter crossed the finish line with more than 20 minutes advantage, taking a dominant overall victory for the X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team.

Perfect warm-up before Erzberg

The race in Croatia also worked as valuable preparation ahead of Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2026. While Otočac was not as extreme as the Iron Giant, it still offered race intensity, slippery terrain and enough technical work to sharpen the tools before one of the biggest events of the season.

The entire X-GRIP GASGAS Racing Team now turns its focus toward Erzbergrodeo 2026 with confidence, motivation and another strong win in the bag.