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KTM's new 350 SX-F beats 450s first time out at Mantova |
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KTM's new 350 SX-F beats 450s first time out at Mantova |
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KTM kicks off a new era for motocross with launch of 350 SX-F KTM on Saturday launched a strong line-up of international MX stars for the 2010 World Championship racing season and introduced the new KTM 350-SX-F on the eve of the Star Mantova pre-season event in Mantova, Italy, and then went on to win the event against 450cc machines piloted by soime of the world's best. KTM's CEO Stefan Pierer told reporters that the company was proud to be fielding the Red Bull Factory Racing team, which is capable of winning both the MX1 and MX2 World Championship titles. He said the new bike, first shown at the EICMA in Milan in November was a true symbol of the KTM Ready to Race philosophy. "Our factory riders are proven talent and we as a company recognise that the real race is not just on the track but also off it. That is why we strive to produce cutting edge technology and to have it reflected in products like the new KTM 350 SX-F," Pierer said. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing factory team, which includes three current world champions and two vice world champions plus some exciting young talent, is the result of a three year development plan shaped by KTM's Offroad Sport Director Pit Beirer and 10-times MX world champion Stefan Everts, the Team Director. The two, once rivals on the track at the top of the sport, agreed in late 2006 to work together to shape a KTM factory team capable of taking both MX1 and MX2 world titles. The year 2010, which follows two seasons where KTM's factory riders dominated the MX2 class, is one that Beirer and Everts hope to make a similar impression in MX1 with riders of the calibre of Antonio Cairoli, Max Nagl, the MX1 reigning vice world champion and Rui Goncalves, vice world champion of MX2 who moves up a class. Meanwhile, French MX2 world champion Marvin Musquin , Scotsman Shaun Simpson and 15-year old Jeffrey Herlings, considered by Beirer and Everts to be one of the brightest up-and-coming talents are after the MX2 honours. The factory team line-up is further strengthened by WMX World Champion Steffi Laier who is going for back-to-back world titles in 2010 and who races with the men in Sunday's Star Mantova. "Our Ready to Race philosophy means we must have the best factory riders on our KTM bikes but we must also consider the next generation of young talent. The Red Bull KTM Racing Team is a good reflection of this and we are confident that we can be a force to be reckoned with in both MX1 and MX2 this season. It is also a great vote of confidence from the private teams that this season there will be more than 20 KTM bikes in the GP paddock," Beirer said. Everts has been an important influence on the development of the KTM 350 SX-F, which is respectfully referred to as his "baby". The bike heralds a new era for KTM product development and features both fuel injection and linkage. Developers, in constant consultation with Everts, set out to create a bike that is almost as light to handle as a 250, with an all new chassis and frame and the pro lever linkage system for increased controllability even on the most brutal tracks on the Grand Prix calendar and match it with typical KTM motor power. In 2010 the factory team will also be onboard the proven 250 SX-F and the 450 SX-F bikes. Both machines have benefited enormously from KTM's big development program for the revolutionary new 350 SX-F, which had such strong support from Everts and the company's R&D team. "We are excited to see what both our factory riders and bikes are going to produce in 2010," Everts said. "The 350 SX-F launches a new era for MX racing and it's also a reflection of the company's commitment to racing and to producing the best offroad machines for anyone who shares the same passion as we do." KTM's new 350 SX-F beats 450s first time out at Mantova Tony Cairoli, Shaun Simpson and Marvin Musquin wrapped up a near perfect weekend for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team at Star Mantova in Italy on Sunday with a first in MX1 and a 1-2 in MX2 just one day after the successful introduction of the revolutionary new KTM 350 SX-F bike. Cairoli, the reigning MX1 World Champion and the latest recruit to the Red Bull Factory Racing squad rode the ground-breaking bike to victory in the first two of three finals and was third in the last race for a clear overall victory. "It was a fantastic start for me and I enjoyed riding the 350 bike. Today I wanted to do some tests to see how it went at the start and everything went well for me. I'm happy with the bike and the results today and its always a terrific atmosphere here at Mantova," Cairoli said. Great return to competition for Simpson KTM Teammate Shaun Simpson, who missed much of last year because of injury made a triumphant start to the season by being well up with the bigger 450 machines in the race format which combines both MX1 and MX2. Marvin Musquin, KTM's MX2 world champion moved up the ranks as the days progressed to finish behind teammate Simpson in second place on the final podium. Revolutionary new bike The results were a great start to the 2010 racing activity for KTM and the factory riders following the official factory team launch and presentation of the new KTM 350 SX-F bike at a reception on Saturday in Mantova. The latest Orange racer features an all new chassis and frame and a pro lever linkage system for increased controllability and has been developed by the KTM R&D department in close consultation with Stefan Everts. The 10-times MX World Champion is Team Director of the Red Bull KTM Racing Team and together with Pit Beirer, KTM's Offroad Sports Director, has formulated a three-year development program aimed at winning both the MX1 and MX2 world championship titles. Cairoli thrills Italian fans Cairoli, who comes to the Orange family together with his manager Claudia de Carli, wrapped up the Star Mantova with 70 points to finish in front of Belgian riders Steve Ramon and Clement DeSalle. The Italian thrilled the home fans with two superb rides in the first two motos and was third in the final race. Cairoli, who already has two MX2 and one MX1 title, enjoys cult status with the fans at home. Simpson and Musquin 1-2 Simpson was the best MX2 rider on the day, a good omen for his return to the track, fit and healthy in 2010. Like Cairoli, the Scottish rider also won the first two motos and was second to Musquin in the third. "The entire race weekend was good for me," Simpson said. "I just wanted to come here and fun. The first two races went really well but then I crashed in the third race. I had a good start and the good race in the first and I finished up there in fourth place with the 450s and then I was really pumped for the second race. I came seventh but then I had the crash in the third. I've only been on the bike for two weeks so it was a good result for me. I'm in good physical shape and now I'll settle down to training on the bike. MX2 World Champion Musquin in good pre-season shape Musquin was also pleased with his weekend and the way he performed on the track. His 4-2-1 result was a reflection of how he took a steady approach to getting accustomed to the Mantova track and his win in the final moto is an indication that he is in good form ahead of the world championship season. "It was difficult at the start today because we were racing together with the 450s but it was great training for me and for the GP season. I was happy that I got better and better as the day went on and the last race was really perfect because I was riding along with Philippaerts and Nagl, the 450 guys," Musquin said. Red Bull KTM's Women's World Champion Steffi Laier was the only woman on the track and finished with 16 points. The team's remaining two factory riders, Rui Goncalves and Jeffrey Herlings did not ride at Mantova. Star Mantova is the first of the pre-season races and one which is a perfect opportunity for teams and riders to face off against the opposition and test their form and their machinery. While Cairoli was onboard the bike that is being called the new KTM "baby" because it launches a whole new era for the company and its development of MX racing bikes, Simpson and Musquin rode the latest 250 SX-F bikes, which have also benefited enormously from the R&D development project for the revolutionary 350 SX-F. MX1 Results 1. Tony Cairoli, Italy, KTM, 70 2. Steve Ramon, Belgium, Suzuki, 52 3. Clement DeSalle, Belgium, Suzuki, 51 4. David Philippaerts, Italy, Yamaha, 51 5. Marc De Reuver, Netherlands, Suzuki, 50 MX2 Results 1. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM 72 2. Marvin Musquin, France, KTM 65 3. Arnaud Tonus, Swizterland, Suzuki, 56 4. Markus Schiffer, Germany, KTM, 56 5. Herjan Brakke, Netherland, Yamaha, 43 |
