Landshaag Hillclimb 2026: Altenhuber Wins for the Second Time, Datzer Record Stands

• 300 entries mark a new record in the history of the hillclimb
• Thomas Altenhuber posts the fastest race time of the day at 1:11.339 minutes
• Track record holder David Datzer only competes in the naked bikes class

When the L1507 regional road between Landshaag and St. Martin in Upper Austria’s Mühlviertel transforms into a racetrack once a year, it brings domestic hillclimb racing to a standstill. On April 12, 2026, MSC Rottenegg hosted the 45th FUCHS Silkolene Motorcycle Hillclimb, which also served as the opening round of the FIM Europe Hillclimb Championship, the Historic Hillclimb European Championship, and the Austrian Motorcycle Hillclimb National Championship. At the end of a long race day, Thomas Altenhuber stood at the top of the podium. The Salzburg native claimed his second overall victory at Europe’s fastest hillclimb after his 2024 triumph.

Entry Record and Harsh Conditions During Friday Setup

The event had already made headlines in advance. With 300 entries, MSC Rottenegg broke a historic barrier – the previous year had seen 260 participants. Among them were six women, another new record in the history of the hillclimb. While the organizers battled heavy rain showers and temperatures barely above freezing during Friday’s setup, the 3,620-meter course was in good condition by training Saturday. Both practice sessions ran smoothly between 12:00 and 17:00, with no notable incidents.

Emanuel Reisinger caused a minor sensation already on Saturday. The Superstock 600 rider posted the fastest time across all classes in the first practice session on his Yamaha YZF-R6, beating Manuel Schleindlhuber on his BMW M 1000 RR by 237 hundredths of a second with a time of 1:14.142 minutes. Reisinger also led the second session initially with 1:13.698 minutes. Only Thomas Altenhuber, the 2024 Landshaag overall winner, managed to undercut that mark with 1:13.327 minutes, securing the best practice time. The gap to third-placed Markus Mitterbauer was a mere 0.134 seconds.

Altenhuber Enters with Two Motorcycles for the First Time

On race Sunday, only a few riders took advantage of the morning practice session. After rain in the early hours, the track was still wet and slippery. However, by the time the timed runs began at 12:00, thousands of spectators had streamed to the course. Unofficial reports suggest a possible new spectator record, with parking areas completely full and viewing areas packed tight.

A two-rider battle emerged in the first race run that would define the event across both heats. Thomas Altenhuber, who had arrived with two motorcycles for the first time – to deny his competitors the double-start advantage they had enjoyed in previous years – dueled with Markus Mitterbauer on a borrowed Yamaha. After the first 3,620 meters, less than 19 hundredths of a second separated the two. In third place was TT-experienced Italian Salvatore Sallustro on a Yamaha, who narrowly held off the Schleindlhuber brothers Manuel and Harald.

In the second run, Altenhuber sealed the deal. With a time of 1:11.339 minutes, he posted the fastest race time of the entire day, securing the overall victory. For the 33-year-old technician from Bischofshofen, it was his second triumph at Landshaag after 2024. Mitterbauer, who proved to be the toughest competitor, had to settle for second place. Ten days before his 40th birthday, the silver laurel wreath nonetheless represented a special honor. “It is the most important trophy in my career,” Mitterbauer said about his golden laurel wreath from the previous year.

Italian Duel Goes to Sallustro

Salvatore Sallustro won the internal Italian battle. The Manx Grand Prix-experienced rider kept his compatriot Gabriele Peticca, who claimed fourth overall on a Kawasaki, at a distance. Places five through seven went to Manuel Schleindlhuber on BMW, Altenhuber on his second machine – a Suzuki – and Harald Schleindlhuber on BMW, who lost ground in the second run.

Datzer Without a Chance for Overall Victory on Naked Bikes

The biggest absence from the fight for the day’s top spot was simultaneously the most prominent return of the weekend. David Datzer, who had set a phenomenal record of 1:08.795 minutes (average speed 189.43 km/h) the previous year, was at the start line but only with two unfaired BMWs. The IRRC Superbike champion, who suffered serious injuries in May 2025 during a road race in the Czech town of Staré Město when he was hit by the motorcycle of a crashed competitor, only competed in the Special Bikes and Naked Bikes classes. A track record attempt was therefore out of the question. The asphalt was reportedly too cold, and Datzer’s record remained untouched. The 34-year-old from Lower Bavaria did secure the class victory in the Naked Bikes category ahead of Patrik Grainer and Samuel Edenhauser.

The Italians Maurizio Bottalico and Stefano Bonetti were also absent from the overall fight. Bottalico, five-time Hillclimb European Champion in the Supersport class and runner-up the previous year, and Bonetti, fourth overall in 2025, had decided to focus exclusively on international road races this season, including the North West 200, the Tourist Trophy, and the Macau Grand Prix.

Kastenhuber Fastest 600cc Rider

As in the previous year, Alexander Kastenhuber proved to be the fastest 600cc rider. On the former training machine of Andreas Kofler, he managed to break into the ranks of the higher-displacement motorcycles as eighth overall. In the Supersport/Moto2 class, he won ahead of Emanuel Reisinger and Mario Gastinger. Reisinger, who had shocked the entire Superbike field in Saturday’s practice, claimed the Superstock 600 class victory for himself. The three shared the podium in both classes, just in reversed roles.

Johann Karl Switches Category After 15 Class Victories

A historic moment came in the eighth-liter class. Johann Karl, the 15-time Landshaag class winner in the 125cc category, has retired his 125cc machine and competed this year in the up-to-500cc class. There, he set the pace on his FTR already in practice and won the class on Sunday ahead of Stefan Grüblbauer and Bernhard Hörmann. The 125cc class victory went to Wilhelm Eßsl.

Six Women – More Than Ever Before

With six female starters, the women’s category was stronger than ever in the history of the hillclimb. The trophy for the fastest woman went to Czech rider Kristyna Jakesch, who has had prominent rider David Datzer as her coach since the previous year.

MSC Rottenegg’s Homegrown Talents Impress

From the organizer’s perspective, the performance of the club’s own riders was encouraging. Thomas Altendorfer, who plans to make his debut at the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man this season, along with Mario and Stefan Gastinger, posted fast times on the course. All three were not only active as riders but also played key roles in setting up the racetrack. Altendorfer had completed his first competitive outing on a 765cc Triumph in Saturday’s practice.

Swiss 250GP rider Rolf Haller summed up the weekend’s atmosphere: “This event is the motorsport highlight of the season – shame it takes place at the beginning of the year!

All Class Winners at a Glance

Both timed runs were completed without accidents and with only a few technical retirements. The class winners of the 45th edition: 125cc: Wilhelm Eßsl. 250GP: Simon Romieu (France) ahead of Guido Testoni (Italy) and Bernard Depierreux (Belgium). 500cc: Johann Karl (Germany) ahead of Stefan Grüblbauer and Bernhard Hörmann. Supersport 300: Nicolas Stangl ahead of Gionata Grassi (Switzerland) and Kristyna Jakesch (Czech Republic). Supersport/Moto2: Alexander Kastenhuber ahead of Emanuel Reisinger and Mario Gastinger. Superstock 600: Reisinger ahead of Gastinger and Kastenhuber. Superstock 1000: Gabriele Peticca (Italy) ahead of Thomas Altenhuber and Manuel Schleindlhuber. Superbike: Altenhuber ahead of Markus Mitterbauer and Salvatore Sallustro (Italy). Special Bike: Johann Haas ahead of Rudolf Bauer and Daniel Kronschläger. Naked Bikes: David Datzer (Germany) ahead of Patrik Grainer and Samuel Edenhauser. Supermoto Open: Philipp Neumüller ahead of Rudolf Bauer and Stefan Kuktits. Supermoto Cup: Neumüller ahead of Kuktits and Lieven Wehmann. Youngtimer up to 750cc: Dominik Werkstetter (Germany) ahead of Christian Wild and Julius Enzelsberger. Youngtimer up to 1300cc: Klaus Selmeister ahead of Simon Schlager and Manfred Wechselberger. Sidecars: Franz Kapeller/Markus Billich ahead of Gerald Pointner/Jürgen Samhaber.

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