Heinz Kinigadner
Encyclopedia
Heinz Kinigadner was an Austria
n motocross
racer. He was one of the top riders in the Motocross Grand Prix World Championships during the mid-1980s. He was the F.I.M.
250cc Motocross World Champion in 1984 and 1985 while riding for the KTM
factory racing team. After his motocross career, Kinigadner began competing in off road
races such as the Paris to Dakar
rally. He also serves as a sporting director for KTM. After his younger brother and son were paralyzed in accidents, Kinigadner helped start the Wings for Life foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries
. Heinz also has a stake in the KTM Sport-motorcycle Corporation. Being the first Austrian World Motocross Champion racing on the Austrian KTM made him a national hero in his home country.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
racer. He was one of the top riders in the Motocross Grand Prix World Championships during the mid-1980s. He was the F.I.M.
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
250cc Motocross World Champion in 1984 and 1985 while riding for the KTM
KTM
KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer.The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen. It started out as a metal working shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen...
factory racing team. After his motocross career, Kinigadner began competing in off road
Off Road
Off Road may refer to:*Super Off Road, 1989 arcade game released by Leland Corporation*Off Road Challenge, 1998 console game released by Nintendo*Ford Racing: Off Road, 2008 video game published by Empire Interactive...
races such as the Paris to Dakar
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
rally. He also serves as a sporting director for KTM. After his younger brother and son were paralyzed in accidents, Kinigadner helped start the Wings for Life foundation, which is dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injury
A spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence...
. Heinz also has a stake in the KTM Sport-motorcycle Corporation. Being the first Austrian World Motocross Champion racing on the Austrian KTM made him a national hero in his home country.