Posts
3033
Joined
11/9/2012
Location
FM
US
Fantasy
Edited Date/Time
2/5/2023 5:58am
For such a heavy-hitting factory team over the years, they have a poor 250 program, even through satellite teams. I know they show promise under the Husky and GasGas tent, but aside from Vialle's showing last night, it doesn't seem like they put much effort into grooming riders to keep them through 450's. Is their plan to hopefully sign riders when their contracts are up, or are they going to build a solid foundation like Star, Kawi, and now HRC?
It seems like at least for now they’re using MXGP as a feeder to America and seem to get the riders who want to come here. The Coenen brothers will be next. It still is very surprising to me that they let Braswell slip by after his results last year, had some bad luck last night but qualified decent and is promising. They also have Boespflug as an amateur 250 guy
They had some top amateur riders recently to groom, Bennick and deegan both jumped ship for star.
I think it’s the price they pay for cutting spending and moving the money over to tarmac. Hopefully they don’t completely forget where they came from and where their roots are. In gp’s this year they got the 84 in 450’s. He is the only factory 450 entrant for ktm. Do they have an official husky teams?. That’s putting one egg in a big basket..it’s probably the same with 250’s in USA. This will cost them more that they have saved.
Why do they need to spend money? I am sitting in line at 3palms and majority of bikes on track and in line are KTM. Winning on Sunday means nothing come Monday.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
Although Vialle had an awesome ride going I don’t see him being a consistent podium threat especially when MM rides better, Shimoda comes back. Jmart starts to step it up. + smith and thrasher both looking better. Not sure what KTM is doing wrong on the 250 side. Does Vohland get dropped after this year? I believe it’s the last year on his contract?
It was Vialle's first supercross race of his career. He was in a podium position for most of the race until he made a rookie mistake. Not bad, considering he had no prior racing SX experience and has only been at it for a few months.
He's only going to get better.
Poor take.
At this point we know what MM brings. He's inconsistent, podium threat if he's feeling it, but 50/50 he puts it on the ground that day.
Jo - Was hoping to see the breakout MX year translate to SX. New trainer and maybe some program changes seems to have helped. Should see him maybe Rd 3 or 4 of the East?
JMart - Same as MM, he's on a Yamaha just like last year, he's been doing this awhile, what makes you think he can progress faster than a rookie?
Thrasher - Wildly inconsistent, not sure he's ever making that leap.
Smith - Good to see him in contention. Figure he'll be a regular podium guy all year.
Vialle will progress quickly I'd imagine. Pending what whoops look like next few rounds he might snag a podium or two.
At the end of the day, you’re taking about KTM North America fielding 3 factory teams under 3 brands. As such, that’s a total of 6 450 riders and…I think 6 250 riders plus the add’l riders they’ve brought up to SX this season to replace injured riders (like Hawkins last night).
He specifically pointed out that he's just referring to the KTM brand in his question and that the other brands show promise.
Even if you add up all of the 250 riders in the KTM North America umbrella, are any of those guys being groomed for the Red Bull KTM 450 spot?
Ktm, Husky and Gas Gas are struggling with the riders. Besides Hampshire not seeing much from any of these programs. Mosiman is the guy that blows me away. Has the speed and potential to win but can't seem to get it right for some reason.
100% I thought there was a lot of promise shown! Base is there, just needs experience and fine tuning
I watched him in person and I was very impressed! Really nice riding style with not a ton of extra movement. He looked like he was doing that speed easily and his corner speed is good. Just the whoops need a bit of work but he has a lot of potential!
The KTM Group has factory efforts in Dakar, Moto GP as well as Moto 2 and 3. World Enduro , Hard enduro in both the US and Europe, Endurocross in the US and Europe, World and US trails, GNCC, National enduro, Hare and Hound, WORCS, Motocross in the US, Europe, Australia and Canada in addition to the US Supercross team. The smallest company has the biggest motorcycle race efforts world wide bar none. Its not even close. They will also produce champions in most of those disciplines with Moto GP being the only one where they have not produced a championship.....yet.
Regardless, out of all three of those teams; how many riders have they brought up from a rookie in the 250 class to 450s? Currently Husky has Swoll, and GasGas brought in Pierce Brown from TLD KTM. They've lost Robertson and Ferry. All three teams are full of transplanted riders aside from Marv. Rockstar Husky has been around since 2015, plenty of time to push a rider through the ranks and into the 450s.
Star is committed to its riders. Geico Honda and HRC have been committed to at least a 1 year 450 ride, and PC/Monster Kawi has been committed.
So you basically saying all these riders with multiple SX races are going to make a huge progress and a guy that rode his 1st ever SX want make any progress…. The gap between Vialle and the rest will get bigger, not smaller…. He will make a lot more progress than the season vets.
Acosta will be the one to change that. Mark my words
I'm really curious to see what Vialle does at Daytona and Atlanta when he gets to run at speeds he's a little more accustomed to.
Post a reply to: Red Bull KTM's 250 program