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No Factory KTM450 for 2011?
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I love how the KTM reps say it's up to the riders but then guys like Short mysteriously pick the 350 without even riding the 450 first.
This is pure speculation by me but I wouldn't doubt that Short makes more $$$ from KTM if he chose the 350.
I believe Everts was talking about the GPs not AMA.
Everts: I haven’t spoken to Tony, but I will go to Bercy and see him and Marvin there. I know that Antonio is doing a lot of the European Supercross races. As for Max he is doing a lot of testing with the 350 and he has decided to race the 350 next year. He is happy and pumped to race the 350. He is back from holidays now and he will work on his physical condition around the middle of November and as far as Jeffrey he is doing really well with his shoulder. He has been going with Jan Sporer in Lommel three times a week for more than a month now and hopefully he will start riding at the end of November again. Jeremy had this operation on his thumb and that is going well. He will be ready to start riding at the end of November.
MXlarge: So nobody will be racing the 450cc for KTM? Is that good for the promotion of the 450?
Everts: Not from us, not from the factory team. At the moment the 350 is everything but the 450 won’t die for sure not. The production line continues for the 450 for Enduro and Paris Dakar, but the 350 is such a big success now and we will continue with two riders on the 350. Maybe in 2012 we will look at the 450 again.
Sounds like he is talking about the GP team... The 350 won the world title it is no surpirse Max wants the ride the bike.
I would love to know if the 350 in the GPs is 350cc. Is there a tear down in the GPs? Since they are works bikes, does it matter to anyone if it is 350cc or 420cc? The AMA has to retain the stock stroke, but can change bore. In the GPs there are no restrictions on bore or stroke. Hmmm?
KTM's 450 is finally up to par with the Japanese, and instead of trying to market that they continue with this 350 experiment. The 350 is a good bike but you will never convince me that an AMA National track (and rider) is not a better fit for a 450.
I doubt KTM is expecting a "Revolution". In fact it may play better to them if there isn't one. They've become a success by being a niche manfacturer. They have more offroad models than any of the Big 4, having something for everyone has really helped them. There is a real market for the 350 & they have 100% of the sales. What percent of the market would they have if the Big four also made 350's? Yamaha slaughtered the competition with the modern 4 stroke, that 100% marketshare they had is now gone since all manufaturers are making them.
Personally I think 450's will go the way of 500 2 strokes & the market will move to 350's. But for KTM, it probably doesn't matter much either way.
I didn't think any other top rider would attempt to ride it in AMA competition after watching Alessi fall off the map in 2010. If the class moves to 350's that would be the revolution KTM was seeking. But that is never going to happen. What would be the impetus for the Big 4 to move to 350's? Feeling bad for KTM off the starts? Until the 350 stomps them all out, they will stick with their 450's. This bike was supposed to stomp them all out, that was the buzz coming in. Alessi was supposed to dominate the 450 class on this thing in 2010. I remember arguing with people before the gate dropped at Hangtown. I was told Alessi could holeshot on anything, and the 350 would not put a dent in his holeshot abilities. Observations? Anyone see him unable to clear Larocco's Leap lap after lap?
I'm sure the 350 is great for anyone that buys one and they'll have a blast on it. But no one is buying a 350 based on its results racing in the AMA Pro class. Try to separate the 350 bike as a choice for weekend warriors and focus just on professional racing. My whole point is why bang your head against the wall trying to race in a professional form of motorsports purposely with the slowest machine on the track? As for the guys that purchase them? They'll be boring them out, putting on exhaust systems and silencers and whatever other hot-rod mods to get more power out of them. Now anyone on either side of this has to admit that would be a hoot, right? You also know it will absolutely happen.
As Adam43 says, what a retarded strategy.
Pit Row
The fact is, the 350 has been great for KTM. It helps to show their continued commitment to the sport, when allot of other manufacturers are getting a bad wrap for not being committed. Whether is succeeds @ the top level or not, it has a niche, KTM will sell a ton of them & they have no competition in the 350 market. If the 350 proves to be competitive @ the top level, that’s just icing on the cake. It’s the journalists who like to say “revolution”, trying to garner headlines, I can’t recall (1) KTM manager saying it will revolutionize the sport.
For the 350 @ the pro level, I think it’s already proven to be competitive. Allessi had come back from injury, was riding first year on an all new bike & was getting top 5’s & 10’s right out of the gate. You would have to be way out there to expect him to dominate. The fact that Allessi performed better @ the beginning of the season & got tailed off tells me Allessi had some issues – it should have been the other way around for a first year bike.
3.3 Engines
a. Engines are restricted to a single cylinder.
b. Engine displacement shall be recorded in cubic centimeters.
c. Supercharging or turbo charging is not permitted.
d. Cylinder bore may be increased to achieve the displacement limit on
motorcycles homologated for competition, provided that any kits or
parts used to increase engine displacement (to the approved class
limit) must use items that have been approved by AMA Pro Racing.
e. Stroke must remain the same as the homologated model
Q: IS THE 350SXF A BIG-BORE 250 OR A SLEEVED-DOWN 450?
A: Neither. The 60-pound, five-speed, DOHC, finger follower, four-valve, 349.7cc engine shares the design concept of the 250SXF in terms of weight, compactness and design, but none of the parts.
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