KTM goes into the MX GP season in 08 not only with a strong Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team and expectations of podiums but also supporting five other teams in MX1 and MX2 as well as the continuation of the proven efforts in MX3 via the JM Racing Team.
The move not only significantly lifts to number of KTMs at the start gates but also underlines KTM's policy of encouraging and supporting young talent. Pit Beirer, KTM's Offroad Director says the move is all about making a commitment to help talented young riders make the leap into top class racing and he paid tribute to the managing directors of KTM country subsidiaries whose keen eyes were able to select young talent for the new teams.
MX factory team boss Stefan Everts, himself one of the true MX legends also goes into the season in a positive light, saying he is very happy with the bike and the preparations. Certainly the world championship title fight in MX2 class will be one to watch closely this season. Tommy Searle and Tyla Rattray have both performed well in pre-season events and both are definitely podium and title contenders. New to the MX2 factory line-up is Rui Goncalves, a rider, according to Everts with talent and podium potential.
Searle, who has signed to race for KTM in the USA in 2009-10, is one of the hottest talents in MX2. Everts is expecting the young Brit to chase the title as an attractive extra credential to take with him when he moves across the Atlantic. Meanwhile Rattray, the experienced South African rider, will be one of his strongest opponents. He has been impressive in pre-season events and is clearly in top physical form and fully recovered from major knee construction surgery that took him out of title contention just before the close of the 2007 season.
Germany's Max Nagl is the MX1 factory rider in the Red Bull KTM Racing Team in a year where both Everts and Beirer expect him to gain experience, mature and be up with the top riders in his class. Jonathan Barragan retains his full factory rider status but starts in 2008 for the Italian-based, KTMsupported Team Silver Action where he will also play mentor to the team's two MX2 exponents - Angelo Pellegrini and Jeremy Tarroux. Also racing in the KTM-supported teams is Marcus Schiffer who moves up to MX1 for Germany's Team Sarholz Racing along with Kornel Nemeth. Team KTM UK is brand new at the starting gates with talented riders - James Noble in MX1 and Shaun Simpson in MX2.
Team HDI France will field two MX2 riders in Anthony Boissiere and Julien Vanni while GP Juniors Team Champ has Jeremy van Horebeek and Joel Roelants racing against the world's best in MX2. Joel was discovered by Jacky Martens (JM Racing) and Jeremy by Kees van de Ven, Beirer reports. He says that it i s KTM's hope for the future to be able to draw on riders from the junior program for the factory team berths.
KTM continues to fully support JM Racing in MX3 for the 2008 season with top rider Sven Breugelmans who finished second in the title fight last season and Spanish Alvaro Lozano. At European championship level, Valentin Teillet and one other rider will contest MX2 for JM Racing.
The season starts as usual in the sandy conditions at Valkenswaard (the Netherlands) on the first weekend in April. The 2008 calendar comprises an action-packed 15 GPs that take teams across the length and breadth of Europe and also to South Africa in July. It concludes at Faenza, Italy in September, followed by the Red Bull MX of Nations, this year being hosted by Donington Park in Britain on September 28.
