In the Enduro 1 class, the team will be fielding two new names. The first is talented Italian Simone Albergoni who has moved from Yamaha to the Austrian manufacturer after finishing third in the 2008 world championships. Albergoni will be joined by Finland's Eero Remes in E1. The 23-year-old was a KTM-supported rider last season. "What we need is for Simone to take that one more step to be the champion this year and with Eero we have a young guy who has lots of talent," team boss Fabio Farioli reported. Remes had both a solid start and finish to the 2008 season but missed three GP mid season due to injury. Both riders will be onboard KTM 250 EXC 4-stroke machines.
New challenges also await Frenchman Johnny Aubert in E2, who may be riding in his debut year for the KTM factory team but brings with him the 2008 E2 world championship title. He will be joined by KTM team stalwart Alessandro Belometti of Italy who finished a very creditable third in last year's championship. Aubert will pilot the KTM 450 EXC 4-stroke in the competition while Belometti will be onboard the 250 EXC 2-stroke machine.
The big bike category is in the capable hands of two regular KTM factory team members, Samuli Aro of Finland, the reigning world champion and Spain's Ivan Cervantes. Aro will ride the KTM 300 EXC 2-stroke and Cervantes will take on the KTM 530 EXC 4-stroke. Cervantes, who finished second in E1 at the close of 2008, is currently leading the World Indoor Championship going into the final race in front of his home crowd in Madrid Spain. The Spaniard has made good use of the winter competition to keep his riding skills at a peak.
