The following is from Next Level Sports Management’s Tony Gardea:

I know it’s been some time since we’ve released information on Ernesto’s recovery, so I thought I’d drop a quick note so we can all continue to keep him in our thoughts and prayers!

The overflow of support has really been impressive and it’s been overwhelming to watch how our sport can come together for one of its own. We’ve received thousands of letters and warm thoughts from all over the world (and Ernesto has us read them all to him!) and told him that several race wins were dedicated to him, including those of RC and Roger Lee Hayden at Daytona and the recent victory in Paris by world class bicyclist Floyd Landis. This support, as well as the many who have sent along their well wishes through internet posts and word of mouth, has been relayed to Ernesto over the past few weeks.

Tomorrow (Tues.) will mark three weeks since his injury and he continues his recovery at the hospital in Riverside. He has been slow to regain full strength in his lungs, but his overall health has been good and the doctors continue to remind him that his road to recovery will be long (especially when Ernesto asks “when do I get to leave?”) and to look for results over time, and not day-to-day. The movement in his arms and hands continues to show improvement and all other progress with his legs will begin with rehabilitation, time and prayers.

He has the heart and determination to fight this thing and also has an excellent support group that begins with his wife, Carolina, and parents, who have been at his side the entire time. He also wanted to send along his gratitude to the many who have shown their support through these tough times. He will be leaning on that support group as he begins his road to recovery.

P.S. Several programs are being planned to generate support for Ernesto, including “Fonseca 10″ wristbands, “collector’s edition” wallpapers for both desktop and mobile phones, t-shirts, stickers and other support-related items. Announcements will be released in the coming weeks to inform everyone on just how they can get behind Ernesto in his fight!

Regards,

Tony Gardea

KTM Press Newsletter

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MOTOCROSS
KTM Factory Motocross riders - Background stories (27.03.2006)
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MX1 riders

Mickael Pichon
Mickael Pichon is just one of two genuine World Championship contenders that KTM have within their MX1 ranks for 2006. The most successful Frenchman in Grand Prix history (35 career wins) dominated the 250cc category in 2001 and 2002. He finished runner-up to Everts in 2003 and also the first year of MX1 in 2004. No other rider has come close to the current World Champion in terms of race victories. He has owned 8 Grand Prix from 33 since the MX1 class formed at the start of 2004. The 29 year old has stated that 2006 could be his final season meaning that there won’t be many more riders motivated for a title push than Pichon.

‘With KTM I believe I have what I want and need,’ he said last year after signing a one year deal. ‘It is a factory team and many people think like I think and want to give their best. They treat their riders like they should, and they have a lot of power and resources for developing the bike.’

Sebastien Tortelli
Like his countryman and new team-mate, Sebastien Tortelli has experience in winning the blue ribbon class of motocross when he (significantly) beat Stefan Everts to the 1998 250cc World crown. He was also World Champion in the 125cc contest in 1996. After only four years in Grand Prix, Tortelli headed to the US and the lure of AMA competition. Despite gaining a runner-up position in the 2000 250cc AMA Motocross Championship the 27 year old suffered a string of seasons affected by injury problems.

His signature and return to Europe and the World Championships was seen as something of a coup for KTM and Frenchman will start as one of the favourites for the title.

Jonathan Barragan
Jonathan Barragan has been supported by KTM since he made his breakthrough into the World Championships during 2003, initially contesting the 125/MX2 class on the immensely successful 125 SX (still the last two-stroke motorcycle to win a Grand Prix with Tyla Rattray’s triumph at Neeroeteren, Belgium in 2004) and then moving to the MX1 category backed by KTM Spain in 2005 where he impressed with a string of lively results and finished seventh overall in the Championship.

His moto podium finish in Sweden and top four positions in Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, France and Spain grabbed attention and led towards his inclusion in the factory’s plans for 2006 for a one year deal. ‘This is has been a dream of mine for a long time now; many seasons. I believe that 2006 could be a fantastic year for me,’ he said. ‘I will be a part of the factory team and I just want to do my best for them.’

MX2 riders

Tyla Rattray
2004 World Championship runner-up Tyla Rattray was frustrated by a dislocated shoulder and damaged knee ligaments last season that ruined his quest for the title. He completed a perfect clean sweep at Zolder for the first round of the series being fastest in every single practice session and then winning both motos.

Rattray arrived in Europe during 2002 and started to establish himself the following season where he gained a podium at Genk for the Grand Prix of Belgium. He enjoyed some decent scraps with friend and KTM team-mate Ben Townley and was a constant threat on the 125cc SX in 2004 despite the wide-spread dominance of the 250cc four-stroke. Rattray will start his 5th season in 2006 and already boasts 7 Grand Prix victories in two years as the next major star to emerge from South African in the mould of Greg Albertyn and Grant Langston.

David Philippaerts
Drafted into the team during 2005 after long-term injuries to Rattray and Marc De Reuver, David Philippaerts went on to show enormous progression riding the works 250F and took 3 moto wins and 2 Grand Prix victories. The Italian, with a Belgian father, started the year riding the 125cc SX and after finishing fourth at Teutschenthal in Germany was given the 250F vacated by Rattray after his accident in Namur.

He grabbed the opportunity to impress with both hands and rose to fourth in the World Championship earning a permanent slot for 2006.

“I’m really happy to be a factory rider next season” he said, “and I am already looking forward to the challenge I will have in 2006. 2005 was very positive for me and I am glad and grateful that KTM saw my potential.”

Carl Nunn
Carl Nunn entered the KTM family at the eleventh hour during the winter of 2004 and went from offering the team ample back-up on the 125cc SX to winning the British Championship and gaining his first Grand Prix podium since 2000.

Nunn was briefly left to shoulder the KTM MX2 effort with injuries to both of his team-mates but his adaptation to the SX 250 F was admirable and swift. He did not finish out of the top three once in 8 rounds and 16 races of the British series and gained his first Grand Prix moto victory in five years in front of a noisy crowd at the British Grand Prix.

Several podiums towards the end of the season confirmed his growing comfort and confidence as part of the factory set-up.

Always a fast, smooth and consistent rider, Nunn is one of the UK’s best and will no doubt improve on a steady 2005 in his second term with the team and on the four-stroke.

Marc de Reuver
A ruthless sand rider (as proved by his accomplished 2004 Motocross of Nations performance despite missing the better part of the season) Marc de Reuver has been plagued with injury and misfortune for the last two years.

The Dutchman dislocated his hip after winning his first Grand Prix in Germany during 2003. He then fractured vertebrae at the same track (Teutschenthal) in 2004 and needed a knee reconstruction after an innocuous crash during a pre-season meeting at the start of 2005. Despite a lack of victories there is no doubting his pace and various podium appearances; 3 moto wins during his sparse appearances in 2004 and 2005 do not fairly reflect the threat that De Reuver poses. The 23 year old will enter his fourth season with the Champ squad.

MX3 riders

Sven Breugelmans
Belgian Sven Breugelmans first came to the attention of the Grand Prix paddock with a podium at Grobbendonk in 2000. He then produced some decent rides in the 2001 125cc World Championship where the undoubted highlight was a 2nd position at Genk, again in Belgium. He finished 12th in the series that year and sealed a high-profile move to the works 250cc Suzuki team but his opportunity was wrecked by a knee ligament injury that sidelined him for a year.

Breugelmans signed for KTM in 2004 and has been a constant presence inside the MX3 top group for almost two years. The 26 year old won the World Championship by 16 points from his team-mate last season.

Yves Demaria
Yves Demaria has a wealth of Grand Prix experience in all classes as well as being part of the French Motocross of Nations winning team in 2001. Unsurprisingly Demaria firmly stamped his authority on the first MX3 World Championship and only an ankle injury prevented the 34 year old from reaching a similar level in 2005.

When he has made brief MX1 outings Demaria has consistently been on the pace and during the 2004 French Grand Prix even grabbed a podium position.

KTM Press Newsletter

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MOTOCROSS
KTM Motocross Bosses are speaking… (23.03.2006)
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KTM Racing Team - Georges Jobe - MX1

Georges, you are leading a strong team with two former World Champions…
Yes, the situation is a little different with Mickael and Sebastien compared to Jonathan because we are looking for the first two to fight for the title while we want Jonathan to learn as much as possible with all our support.

Mickael and Sebastien are different riders with different personalities but we are approaching the Grand Prix season with the same goal. They are competitors but they are also team-mates. They have known each other for a long time and have worked together in the past, so there is a good environment. I think we saw that in the Pernes International where Sebastien had problems on the start and Mickael stopped to help him.

Barragan is a young guy coming into the team and in a way it is another challenge. He will be looking to get as much experience as possible. We will give everything to help from our side and he will of course be able to learn from being around the other two riders.

Jonathan will be working with the 2007 bike…
His situation is perhaps a little different to Mickael and Sebastien because he will be working directly with R&D on the development on the 2007 model. We are already focussed on that area and Jonathan’s input will be crucial.

Is it nice for you to be back full-time in the World Championships?
Yes! I am very excited and I am just as motivated as the riders. I am happy to be taking on this role in the team and getting that Championship will be the main goal, so I hope we can do it!

KTM Champ - Kees Van Der Ven - MX2

There is a big line-up for the Champ team in 2006 with a cosmopolitan mix of four riders. How have preparations been going?
The team’s preparation began in February but the riders have been looking after themselves for a few months now in their respective countries. We are getting the new parts together and generally making the team ready in the build-up to Zolder.

Will it be difficult handling so many riders?
In a way yes. There is more material and a lot more work for the mechanics to get all the bikes ready and prepared, but on another side it is good to have many riders together. It increases the team’s chances of doing well and there is some good competition among them.

When you haven’t been winning Championships you’ve had bad luck with injuries in recent years…
We are hoping for better luck of course. We had arguably two of the best riders in the series out with long-term injuries last season. Marc has changed his approach now and has cut down the amount of pre-season races he will do, we will see if this helps and he will be able to stay healthier for longer.

Having competition within the team is something we have missed, for sure last season. David is really coming on, Tyla is fit again and Carl will be starting his second year with the team. I have a good feeling about 2006 and I think we might see a similar situation as 2004 where Tyla and Ben were fighting a lot and it was a positive time for the team. The riders help each other; riding and practising together brings them up to a higher level.

Has the 250 changed much for 2006?
We have made some modifications to the engine for more power but the changes have mostly been geared around the rider and what he wants, such as suspension settings.

What GPs are you looking forward to?
Japan is a long way to go and is a lot of work but the track is good and it is nice to be there. It is important for KTM in terms of publicity to be seen around the world.

KTM JM Racing - Jacky Martens - MX3

In 2006 you will be defending the World Championship again. How have preparations been going for another dominant season?
They have been going well. Yves and Sven have been testing some small modifications to the bikes and it is good to see Yves motivated and Sven ready for another season after using a new physical trainer. The races are always different from the testing and practicing but we are looking forward to it. Guiding the young riders in the European series will be a new task and a challenge. Working with youngsters is a different concept altogether compared to those with World Championship experience.

Aside from your new work in the European series how do feel about teaming up with Demaria and Breugelmans again?
Yves brings all that Grand Prix experience but also a special feeling when on the bike in terms of set-up. He had a great first season and won the World Championship and has extra motivation now after some injury problems last year. It was great to see Sven develop into a World Champion in 2005. He had been a factory rider before and when we picked him up in 2004 I thought he had the potential to do it within two years. In the first season he was fourth and learnt a lot about training and the help we could give him. The development continued in 2005 and we all saw the result.

For next year another new step for the team will working in the European Championship, making a selection of promising riders and hoping to take the title there before moving onto the last four GPs in MX2. I like to keep improving and progressing with the team.

Does winning all the time put you in a privileged position or increase the pressure for the new season?
It is a nice position to be in. I always push Yves and Sven hard. I want them fast in international events and every time they race the bike. Some people have a negative impression of MX3 when the reality is that the level between the different series is not that great. In the international events and national series they are beating riders from MX1. I just want to make sure they are always fast and motivated and give the MX3 division of KTM good publicity.

KTM Press Newsletter

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MOTOCROSS
KTM Motocross Teams are ready for the Championship (22.03.2006)
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The Red Bull KTM Motocross team approach the MX1, MX2 and MX3 FIM World Championships with the same determination and resolution for the 2006 season.

The factory’s effort extends to 9 works riders, 3 within MX1, 4 within MX2 and 2 within MX3 where the Austrian manufacturer has yet to be beaten. The MX1/MX2 calendar will visit 15 Grand Prix in a 6 month period and travel to 14 different countries.

MX1 - KTM Racing Team
5 time World MX Champion Georges Jobe will head-up a new-look MX1 crew for 2006. Georges is making a return to team management (he was previously team manager in 1996 to the KTM 250cc MX team including Kurt Nicoll) and will keep a watchful eye over two major acquisitions in the shape of former World Champions Mickael Pichon and Sebastien Tortelli. Young Spaniard Jonathan Barragan will maintain KTM’s philosophy of developing promising talent in the premier class and joins the factory for the first time this year.

‘Our most important project of 2006 is definitely our MX1 team and this obviously can be seen by the investment we have made,’ says Jobe confidently. ‘There is more pressure now than we’ve perhaps had before in MX1,’ he also concedes. ‘When you take kids and are not expected to win it is a completely different thing from signing two former World Champions with minimum sights on the title. There is pressure and expectation compared to previous years.’

The 450SXF gets ready for its third full season in the World Championship. The 2006 spec features minor modifications in line with the requests of Pichon and Tortelli, and hope remains in the ‘orange’ camp that the overall win tally of 4 victories to-date can swiftly be increased. Barragan’s motorcycle meanwhile will be of interest to technical enthusiasts: ‘Barragan will have a completely new bike with a view to the 2007 production model which is different from top to bottom,’ remarked Jobe.

With four wins and seven moto victories since the inception of the MX1 class in 2004 KTM is chasing an overdue period of success, the seeds of which were sown by Ben Townley in 2005. The New Zealander gave the team their first Grand Prix triumph at Bellpuig for the Grand Prix of Spain.

MX2 - KTM Champ
The Red Bull Champ KTM MX2 team will field four riders from four different countries this season in their biggest line-up since 2003. KTM have a very strong pedigree in the 125/MX2 class having won four Championships in the last six years with both the 125cc SX and 250 SX-F. The firm clinched the riders and manufacturers crown in 2004 and Tyla Rattray won the last three Grand Prix of the 2005 season (the team collected 6 wins from 17, and 10 motos from 34 in 2005 despite injuries to two of their key riders).

“There is more material and a lot more work for the mechanics to get all the bikes ready and prepared, but on another side it is good to have many riders together,” said team manager Kees van der Ven. “It increases the team’s chances of doing well and there is some good competition among them.”

“I have a good feeling about 2006 and I think we might see a similar situation as 2004 where Tyla and Ben were fighting a lot and it was a positive time for the team,” said Kees van der Ven referring to the season where Champ claimed the top two positions in the series. “The riders help each other; riding and practising together brings them up to a higher level.

MX3 - KTM JM Racing
Reigning Champions, double winners and currently unbeaten in the short history of the MX3 series Jacky Martens will again lead his potent rider line-up of Yves Demaria (2004 Champ) and Sven Breugelmans (defending number one this year) but also undertake responsibilities within the European Championship as KTM help to develop the stars of the next generation.

For Belgian Martens working with the victorious duo of Demaria and Breugelmans has its advantages. “Yves brings all that Grand Prix experience but also a special feeling when on the bike in terms of set-up,” he said. “He had a great first season and won the World Championship and has extra motivation now after some injury problems last year. It was great to see Sven develop into a World Champion in 2005. He had been a factory rider before and when we picked him up in 2004 I thought he had the potential to do it within two years. In the first season he was fourth and learnt a lot about training and the help we could give him. The development continued in 2005 and we all saw the result.”

The fourteen round MX3/European calendar will start on April 2nd (France) and run until September 3rd (Switzerland).

The million dollar baby is becoming a couch potato until the 2006 AMA Outdoor season…I give him 4 rounds until he wimps out and cries from blisters or a dusty pair of shoes…

KTM Press Newsletter

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KTM NORTH AMERICA
Josh Hansen to sit out remaining 2006 SX Season due to back injury (21.03.2006)
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Due to a nagging back injury sustained before the start of the season, Josh Hansen will not be contesting the remainder of the 2006 Supercross series.

Red Bull KTM Supercross Team Manager Larry Brooks said, “We want to make sure that Josh is 100% healthy. We have sent him to numerous doctors and specialists to ensure that the problems Josh is experiencing are fully diagnosed and then treated. We do not want to have reoccurring injuries for our young rider. He will now concentrate on his health and take the remaining 2006 Supercross season off and make a full comeback for the 2006 Outdoor Nationals.”

Jay Marmont will continue to contest the East Coast Supercross series and is currently 19th in the East Coast series points standings.

Motopark Canada’s Motocross Playground

For Immediate Release

Motoparks General Manager, Kristen DeJong, announced today that Tim Marks will move his Titan Racing—Canfield, Ontario operation to Motopark effective April 1.

Tim commented that the move to Motopark will provide him with the opportunity to specialize in the modification and repair of engines and suspension on racing motorcycles

It will also allow immediate testing of the work on a professional motocross track. This will afford amateur racers a level of machine preparation and testing that is usually reserved for professionals.

Motoparks staff of trained instructors will be able to further assist riders with the testing of their modifications at the Motopark facility.

Tim will also be expanding Motoparks off-road training programs by conducting seminars on suspension set up and maintenance for mechanics, parents and racers in Motoparks Training Centre.

Kristen commented, “The addition of Tim to our Motopark family co-incides with a complete renovation of our pro shop and creates new opportunities for the park and amateur motocrossers. This is one of several announcements we will be making in the coming months which will help take amateur racing in Canada to a new level.”

For further information: Motopark, 622794 Motopark Rd., Chatsworth, Ontario N0H 1G0

www.motoparkracing.com tel 519 794-2434 email motopark@log.on.ca

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KTM NORTH AMERICA
WORCS; Round 3, Lake Havasu City, AZ: Mike Alessi competes in his first WORCS Round and wins (21.03.2006)
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Mike Alessi is known for his quick starts and agility and is now also known for his endurance as the oldest Alessi brother took on his first WORCS race and made winning look easy.

In Lake Havasu, AZ Mike Alessi lined up with off-road riding greats Ty Davis, Mike Kiedrowski, Nate Woods and Lance Smail. Some of motocross’ best even came out, like Ryan Hughes and Brett Metcalfe. Once the gate dropped, nothing mattered to Mike except for getting out in front. Bobby Garrison grabbed the holeshot and Alessi was second off the line with Ricky Dietrich and Brett Metcalfe snapping at his back wheel. The four riders were in a league of their own as they left the rest of the group behind them. By the third lap Alessi was battling with Brett Metcalfe for the lead and running flawlessly on the technical course. Alessi’s pit stop was quick and seamless, while Metcalfe ran into problems and moved into second. KTM Teammate Bobby Bonds ran into difficulties at the start of the race and collected a DNF, while Mike Corder was battling a serious flu and also faced technical problems. He finished mid-twenties. Kellon Walch had a little luck on his side as the Las Vegas resident blasted off the gates midpack, stayed strong, but also dealt with technical issues. He finished 17th.

After finishing and taking the overall win, Alessi said, “That is the hardest thing I have ever done”. That statement rang true for other off-roads riders as bikes blew up, riders ran into technical difficulties or simply could not finish due to the demanding WORCS course.

WORCS results; Round 3, Lake Havasu City, AZ (top 7)

1. Mike Alessi KTM
2. Bret Melcalfe
3. Ryan Hughes
4. Bobby Garrison
5. Lance Smail
6. Russ Pearson
7. Ricky Dietrich

KTM Press Newsletter

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KTM NORTH AMERICA
6 Hours of Glen Helen; David Pearson and Matt Gosnell dominate (20.03.2006)
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The first round of the Endurance Series kicked off at the famed Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, CA and David Pearson and Matt Gosnell ran a flawless 6 Hour race, never to be contested.

Under gray and rainy skies, David Pearson was the lead rider for the two-man KTM team and found himself in front of 148 other competitors by the second lap, in muddy and sloppy conditions. When Matt Gosnell took over, he was also faced with a muddy main track and kept charging the 10.5 mile long course, lapping all the way up to third place.

Pearson and Gosnell ran a stock KTM 450 XC and both the riders and the motorcycle ran perfectly, again proving KTM is “Ready to Race.”

The next two scheduled races of this endurance series contain the 12 Hour and 24 Hour race.

Gosnell and Pearson now lead the series

KTM Press Newsletter

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KTM NORTH AMERICA
AMA National Enduro; Round 2, Greensboro, GA (20.03.2006)
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The Enduro series moved to Georgia for the second round of the AMA National series and KTM Off-Road rider Mike Lafferty placed third, continuing to hold the series points lead.

The conditions were great for Enduro racing with a cool overcast day and tight wooded sections with nine challenging segments. Lafferty got off to an usually slow start but soon bounced back and regained precious points at the first and second gas stops. Russell Bobbitt, Mike Lafferty and Stephan Edmonson went check for check until the end of the race, where Bobbitt edged out Edmonson by 19 seconds for the win.

AMA National Enduro Results, Greensboro GA

1. Russell Bobbitt KTM
2. Steven Edmonson KTM
3. Mike Lafferty KTM
4. Jason Chancey KTM
5. Rich Lafferty KTM
6. Nick Faringer
7. Mike Grizzle KTM
8. Fred Hoess
9. Andrew Kendrick
10. Tommy Veator KTM

Everts takes another win at Valance

19/3/2006

Rinaldi Yamaha rider Stefan Everts continued his victorious pre-season form by taking another overall triumph at the Valance International in France yesterday.

The Belgian and reigning MX1 World Champion has won every major ‘warm-up’ event since the motocross calendar cranked into life at Mantova, Italy in February. His fifth success in as many weeks arrived thanks to another 1-1 set of results. He holeshotted both motos and enjoyed a tussle with KTM’s Mickael Pichon in the first race before defeating his great rival. In the second sprint he controlled the heat from the first turn until the chequered flag.

“In the first race I holeshotted but I had a small crash after a few laps and that put me back to fourth,” he said. “Two laps later I had worked my way back to second and was attacking Pichon. It was a difficult track to pass and we had a tough battle; it must have been quite spectacular for the fans! Towards the end I was able to make a pass and won the heat.” “In the second moto my start was again very good,” he added. “Another holeshot meant that I was able to lead from start to finish. After fifteen minutes I already had a small gap over the others.”

Everts has now guided the YZ 450FM to the top of the podium in Belgium, Italy, France (twice) and the United Kingdom and is perfectly placed to stretch the run into the first round of the 2006 FIM World Championships that will take place on April 1st/2nd at Zolder in Belgium for the Grand Prix of Flanders.

“This was my last race until Zolder and the whole pre-season period has left me with a great feeling,” he concluded. “I will train hard for another few days and then take a small break before the first Grand Prix so that my body is fresh. To start so well in Valance was something incredible. Half of the race is won with a holeshot. In the past I have been struggling but we have worked on the bike and hopefully we will have a hard package to beat for the GPs.”

Cedric Melotte is still recovering from his injured wrist but was able to post results of 16th and 10th. Bike it Yamaha’s Julien Bill grabbed a decent 6th position in the second moto.

MX1 Moto1
1 Everts
2 Pichon
3 Tortelli
4 T.Leok
5 Leuret
6 Demaria
7 S.Pourcel
8 Friebergs
9 Martin
10 Theybers
16 Melotte

MX1 Moto2
1 Everts
2 Tortelli
3 Pichon
4 S.Pourcel
5 Leuret
6 Bill
7 Demaria
8 Breugelmans
9 Martin
10 Melotte