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

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

KTM Press Newsletter

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MOTOCROSS
MX1 — Valance International Tortelli and Pichon take podium spots in France (20.03.2006)
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Pichon fought with rampant defending World Champ Stefan Everts in the first race and was narrowly defeated after an exciting battle. In the second event it was Tortelli who clung onto the roost of Everts with Pichon in third.

After a busy pre-season developing the 450 SXF the two former Champions marked their best finishes of 2006 in the tricky French terrain and will now look towards Zolder and the Grand Prix of Flanders, the first round of fifteen in the 2006 contest, on April 1st/2nd.

“We still did not beat Everts but we managed to get very close and the distance is now minimal,” said KTM Motorsport Manager Kurt Nicoll who was present at Valance. “Sebastien was riding really well and made his best results of the pre-season. Mickael was fast and fought with Stefan for the first race win so it was an encouraging weekend. The first Grand Prix is almost here and we are happy with how the development of the team is coming along.”

Moto1

1 Stefan Everts. 2 Mickael Pichon. 3 Sebastien Tortelli. 4 Tanel Leok. 5 Pascal Leuret. 6 Yves Demaria. 7 Sebastien Pourcel. 8 Lauris Freibergs. 9 Christophe Martin. 10 Danny Theybers.

Moto2

1 Stefan Everts. 2 Sebastien Tortelli. 3 Mickael Pichon. 4 Sebastien Pourcel. 5 Pascal Leuret. 6 Julian Bill. 7 Yves Demaria. 8 Sven Breugelmans. 9 Christophe Martin. 10 Cedric Melotte

KTM Press Newsletter

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MOTOCROSS
Jobe to lead potent MX1 push in 2006 (16.03.2006)
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KTM Racing is pleased to announce that five-times Motocross World Champion Georges Jobe will be team manager for its MX1 effort in the FIM 2006 World Championships.

With riders Mickael Pichon, Sebastién Tortelli, both former World Champions, and promising young Spaniard Jonathan Barragan, the factory will have the strongest line-up ever.

Due to the bulk of his experience, Jobe is considered a capable team leader and will pass on his knowledge to the riders and the rest of the technical crew.

“I’m very proud and happy to have signed such a strong personality as Team Manager for our MX1 Team”, said KTM Motorsport manager Kurt Nicoll “and I’m sure his skill and experience will help us in reaching our goals.”

“This is a very exciting position for me and it is also an honour,” commented Jobe. “It shows that I have been doing a good job so far and that KTM trust me. It will be a challenge but I have always relished situations like these throughout my career.”

Moerbeke-Waas, Belgium
13/3/2006

World Champion Stefan Everts continued his excellent run of results in the build-up to the 2006 Grand Prix season by dominating the first round of the Belgian Championship yesterday in a soggy Moerbeke-Waas.

The Belgian guided his factory YZ450FM to first position in all three motos and led the last race from start to finish. It was another confident display from the 33 year old who has now won all of the four events he has contested (the first three being the Internationals in Italy, France and Britain) since the motocross calendar cranked into life during February.

Riding the new version of the YZ, Everts has already stated how comfortable he feels on the 450 and is happy with the testing programme and modifications carried out by the Rinaldi team. Combined with this recent sizzling form Everts is a sure-fire favourite going into the first round of the World Championships that will take place in three weeks time at the Zolder circuit in Belgium for the Grand Prix of Flanders.

“It went well and the conditions improved during the day,” he said regarding his latest success. “It had been raining before the meeting and the temperatures dropped the eve of the race so the track was frozen in the morning. It started to melt however and this meant that it was very soft and became rough. The jumps were very rutty so it was a very technical course.” “Except for the first race I was happy with my riding. We made some suspension changes after that first moto and everything was great; I just got stronger. Strijbos pushed hard and then Ramon was there also, but I led the last moto from start to finish.”

It was a busy weekend for national motocross as most domestic series commenced their 2006 campaigns. Reigning MX2 World Champion Antonio Cairoli was only able to score 3rd and 7th positions at Gallarate, Malpensa for the third round of the Italian series. The De Carli Yamaha rider lies second in the standings behind KTM’s David Philippaerts, but was forced to concede the runner-up spot yesterday to Ricci Racing’s Davide Guarneri. The young Italian’s team-mate, former World Champion Alessio Chiodi, was fourth overall.

In Britain Billy Mackenzie was second to Marc de Reuver (making a one-off appearance in the series) at the Cadders Hill circuit in Norfolk with results of 4th and 2nd. The Bike it Yamaha representative negotiated a bumpy track in cold conditions for a positive start to the first of eight races in the typically action-packed British competition. “At every first round of the British Championship I have either won or crashed so I was determined that I would leave with a couple of good races this time,” the 21 year old Scotsman said. “I was only worried about Carl Nunn and the options for the Championship as he will be the one to beat. Overall it was not a bad weekend,” he summarised. “For once it was a steady performance and taking De Reuver out of the equation I am leading the series so in that respect it was positive.”

KTM Press Newsletter

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MOTOCROSS
Excellent MX2 weekend for KTM (13.03.2006)
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Champ KTM riders Marc de Reuver and Carl Nunn were in action at a sunny but cold Cadders Hill circuit for the opening round of eight in the 2006 Maxxis British Championship.

On a damp and rough track the duo claimed the top two positions during the first moto and despite a crash after a run-in with a back marker late in the second race, De Reuver was able to complete a double success. The Dutchman was making a one-off appearance in the highly competitive British series after racing at HawkstoneParkthe week previously and then remaining in the UKat the home of his agent and former KTM World Champion Jamie Dobb.

Nunn dropped back to fifth in the second moto and it was the first time the reigning Champion had placed outside of the top three in over a year; he was still able to finish third overall.

A third Champ KTM rider, David Philippaerts, was again strong in the ‘Campionati Internazionali d’Italia’. The Italian won both motos in the third round of the series at Gallarate, next to Milan’s Malpensa airport and venue of the 2004 Italian Grand Prix. Philippaerts, who scored 3 motos wins and 2 Grand Prix victories in a breakthrough 2005 World Championship campaign, leads the standings by ten points over defending MX2 number one Antonio Cairoli.

In other news MX3 World Champion Sven Breugelmans took a 4th and 3rd place at Moerbeke-Waasfor the opening round of the Belgian Championship.

Lyng - MX2 Moto1

1 Marc De Reuver. 2 Carl Nunn+19.990. 3 Wayne Smith+21.674. 4 Billy MacKenzie +26.088.5 Tommy Searle +27.636. 6 Brad Anderson +1:11.939. 7 Scott Probert +1:23.588. 8 Shaun Simpson +1:36.887. 9 Gareth Swanepoel +1:51.703. 10 Jim Murro +1:52.567

Lyng - MX2 Moto2

1 Marc De Reuver. 2 Billy MacKenzie +5.353. 3 Tommy Searle +12.075. 4 Brad Anderson +43.816. 5 Carl Nunn +1:01.250. 6 Jason Dougan +1:05.903. 7 Gareth Swanepoel +1:09.991. 8 Shaun Simpson +1:37.789. 9 Jamie Law +1:56.856. 10 Scott Probert +2:00.605

Lyng - MX2 Overall classification and Championship standings

1. Marc De Reuver 60, 2. Billy MacKenzie 50, 3. Carl Nunn 48, 4. Tommy Searle 46, 5. Brad Anderson 42

Campionati Internazionali d’Italia standings:

1.Philippaerts (KTM) p. 141; 2.Cairoli (Yamaha) p. 131; 3.Guarneri (Yamaha) p.108; 4.Chiodi (Yamaha) p. 102; 5.Caps(Honda) p.92.