KTM steps up junior support
KTM Australia has expanded its commitment to the breeding ground of Australian motocross, announcing an 8-rider KTM Junior Racing Team squad for 2014.
KTM’s junior teams have long been regarded as breeding grounds for the future of the sport, as former KTM Junior Team racers such as Brenden Harrison, Tye Simmonds and Todd Waters emphatically illustrate.
As part of KTM’s ongoing commitment to junior racing the company is bringing the team 100% in house and expanding its geographical coverage to cover four states.
The line-up contains some of the cream of Australian junior racing and includes North Queenslander Mitch Evans, Sunshine Coast World Vice Champion Hunter Lawrence and his brother Jett, Hunter Valley rider Egan Mastin and Rhys Budd from Sydney.
Callum Norton and Mason Semmens make up the Victorian contingent, while Perth’s Caleb Grothues, the 2012 FIM 65cc Junior Motocross World Champion, is the sole Western Australian.
KTM’s National Brand Manager and Team Coordinator Tam Paul is justifiably excited with the project, “It’s very exciting time for the junior team. Obviously we had a very successful relationship with Glenn MacDonald for a number of years but for 2014 we’ve brought the team back 100% in-house.
“One of our aims was to improve our geographical balance and after retaining three riders, adding a few more and welcoming Egan back to KTM after a year away, we now represent four states.
“It’s a super-strong team with countless state and national titles behind it. Hunter finished second in the world junior championships, Egan and Jett are current Australian champions and Caleb was a 2012 World Champion – they’re all the cream of the crop and it is KTM’s philosophy to try to support promising riders right through the system to seniors.
“KTM has competitive machinery to take junior riders from 50cc right through to 250cc.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the support of all internal KTM Australia staff involved in the project.”
