Earlier this year, Stark Future was cleared to enter Romaniacs on its EX model, making it the first year the EV manufacturer competed in one of the hardest enduro events of the year—it's important to note that it's "one of the hardest", but not the hardest. The hardest, as recognized by the top riders in the world, is the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, and now, Stark has just been cleared to ride it.
For the first time in its history, the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo has opened registration to electric motorcycles in 2026, specifically the Stark Varg. The thing is, these bikes will have to compete side-by-side with their internal combustion engine counterparts. And that's fantastic because if Stark does well in the competition, the praise won't come with an asterisk.
All Stark owners will be admitted into the Open Class during the Prologue Qualification and have the chance to qualify for Sunday’s Main Race. Now, I know what fans of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo are thinking: how would a Stark EX with its limited battery range, especially under racing conditions, ever finish Erzberg? OK, the Red Bull Hare Scramble is only about 22 miles, but it's 22 miles of hell, and even gas bikes need to refuel.
To facilitate participation, Red Bull Erzbergrodeo will offer event-side charging solutions, including an emission-free charging station in the Erzbergrodeo Arena and an additional powered location on the mountain for operational use. A battery-swapping point will also be permitted on course at the same location where traditional refueling is allowed.
Anyone riding a Stark, or any other electric motorcycle for that matter, will have a little extra help compared to riders on ICE bikes. Unlike riders on combustion-engine motorcycles, participants riding electric motorcycles may enlist the help of their service crew to swap their batteries at the service point during the race.
Karl Katoch, Founder and CEO of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, said: "The Stark VARG electric motorcycle is special to me because it is the world's first production off-road sports motorcycle that is competitive in almost every current competition and can realistically fight for top positions. This sporting performance also makes it particularly interesting with regard to the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. Accordingly, the Stark VARG has already taken its permanent place in my garage - with an eye on the challenges ahead at Erzberg."
The Stark Varg is also eligible to take part in the Rocket Ride and the Open Class during the Prologue Qualification, but will we see one cross the finish line? I don't lack faith in Stark Future's factory riders, Eddie Karlsson and Toby Martyn—I've ridden with Eddie, and it's like a baby riding alongside, well, Eddie—he even won the Silver Class at the 2025 Red Bull Romaniacs. But Erzberg is a different animal.
There are years when just one percent of riders finish the race within the four-hour limit. Seriously, in 2015, just five riders out of 500 completed the route. Stark Future is already a winner in my books for making an electric motorcycle so capable that the ruleset of the Erzbergrodeo had to be rewritten, and if one finishes the race, that's it, it has arrived.
