Saturday 11th September 1954

Austria’s Rupert Hollaus (23) died after crashing his NSU during a practice run at the 1954 Nations Grand Prix in Monza, Italy. Rupert Hollaus had only began his Grand Prix career in 1952. A year and a half later, in the 1954 season, aboard a works NSU 125 Rennfox, he would totally dominate the 125cc Class, winning the first four Grand Prix races, Isle of Man, Ulster GP, Dutch TT and the German Grand Prix. Hollaus became the first posthumous Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion in 1954, in the 125cc Class and was runner up to his NSU team-mate, Werner Haas, in the 250cc Class.