Ivan Long Recruited to the Motorex KTM Off-Road Team for 2014

Long had a very strong 2013 season which included a fifth place outright finish at the Finke desert race, which included posting the third fastest time outright on Monday's return leg and also led the opening lap of Hattah before a ceased head stem bearing left him to still finish an incredible eighth outright.

"2013 started off with a competitive bang competing against the big names nationally at some local SA Events, this included Baroota Desert Race and King of the Enduro X." Long explained. "I came out with a win at Baroota ahead of Jarrad Bewley, and finished seventh at the King of Enduro X behind six of Aussies biggest enduro names, including Chris Hollis and AORC and A4DE champ Daniel Milner.

"I then hit it off with some strong wins in the SAORC ahead of well known motocross racer Luke Arbon and spent some time cross training with state motocross events on my down weekends.

"When it came to Finke and Hattah time I spent time pre-running to ensure I had a competitive edge," the 24 year old continued. "With these big events I switched on and did what I had to do, gaining a fifth place outright at Finke and eighth place outright at Hattah with podium wins for the big bore 500+ as well.

"My highlight of the year would definitely be running 3rd fastest home at Finke on day two and leading the 1st lap ahead of eventual winner Josh Green at the Hattah Desert race. I then rounded out my successful year with a 5th SAORC championship under my belt."

This year has highlighted Long as a strong desert racer with the fast wide open sand tracks proving to be his speciality, however the rider who originates from Coonalpyn, S.A is determined to show strong results in both disciplines heading into his first year as a full time professional racer.

"Ultimately I enjoy both disciplines of Enduro and Desert Racing, but my strength, speed and experience is in the sand and woops at the Desert Races," Long admitted. "Locally I have done well in the enduro scene, also at a national level back when I focused on just enduro in 2010/2011.

"At the end of the day, my passion is in the Desert, especially growing up in a backyard of mallee scrub and sand. The biggest thing I have learnt in my years of racing so far, it pays to focus on more then one discipline.

"I enjoy off road and desert, I also cross train with MX. This gives me transferable skills and experience for all the events thrown at me.

"My goal is to achieve podium results, strive for wins and show everyone what the KTM bikes are capable of in the desert and off road. I am really looking forward to also achieving great results with the KTM Team up front as a group."