Press Release

Much more KTM Orange in MX Paddock for World Championship 2008

KTM, the company that is always "Ready to Race" plans a massive increase in their characteristic orange racing activity for the 2008 MX World Championship season.

As well as a full fledged factory team, the Austrian manufacturer will fully support five other teams in the MX1 and MX 2 class and one active in MX3 and at MX2 European Championship level.

First and foremost, the Red Bull KTM Factory Team for 2008 will be made up of Germany's Max Nagl in the MX1 class, while MX2 stalwarts, Vice World Champion Tommy Searle and South Africa's Tyla Rattray will be joined by Portuguese talent Rui Goncalves. Rattray, who was denied a shot at the title due to a knee injury in the latter part of the season, will be back in full force for 2008 and the team will be further strengthened by Goncalves who put in a string of impressive finishes in the final races of 2007. The KTM Red Bull Factory Team continues in 2008 to be under the expert guidance of 10-times world champion and Motocross legend Stefan Everts.

With the new strategy of supporting five other teams in addition to their own talented factory team, KTM signals a huge commitment to world championship standard MX racing. The move also reinforces the company policy of increasing opportunities for talented young riders to be able to compete at the highest level of competition, according to Pit Beirer, KTM Offroad Racing Director.

"This is an entirely new structure for our MX activities and signals a massive increase in our commitment to the sports of Motocross and our intention to open as many opportunities as possible to promote young talent," Beirer said. The move features a "bottom up" development program that is both forward looking and in keeping with the philosophy of the company, he added.

"Effective immediately KTM will not only be putting all of its energy and resources into its own factory team, but will also be fully supporting five teams in the MX1 and MX2 paddocks, as well as the same level of support for a team engaged in MX3 and MX2 at European championship level," he said. "This is a win-win situation. Young riders will have the benefit of support as they strive to achieve their ambitions at the top of the world championship and KTM will benefit from having much more presence in the paddock and of course from energetic new and very values partnerships with the supported teams." For the selection of the teams, Beirer has worked in close cooperation with KTM's motor sports representatives in individual European countries.

Jonathan Barragan lends weight to new supported team

Jonathan Barragan, the outstanding Spanish MX1 rider from the 2007 KTM Red Bull MX1 Factory Team retains his full status and all the benefit and support of being a full factory rider but now joins the Italian-based Team Silver Action. Barragan will not only add valuable experience to the team; but he will also be able to play a mentor role for the other two riders: Angelo Pellegrini and Jeremy Tarroux, both competing in MX2.  Germany's Team Sarholz Racing also benefits from the talent of Marcus Schiffer who finished ninth overall in the 2007 MX2 season. Schiffer, who also has factory rider status, moves up to MX1 and is joined in that category by the second rider for Team Sarholz, Kornel Nemeth. Team KTM UK is a brand new entry into the world championship and an example of KTM's desire to create new opportunities for talented young riders. James Noble will ride in MX1 and Shaun Simpson and Martin Barr will contest the MX2 class. Team HDI France will field two riders for the 2008 season both in MX2. They are Anthony Boissiere and Julien Vanni. Meanwhile the GP Juniors Tea m Champ is a real signal of KTM's intention to keep close tabs in the next generation with juniors Jeremy van Horebeek and Joel Roelants both testing themselves against the world's best in the MX2 category.

Meanwhile the established Belgian team of JM Racing is fully KTM supported for the 2008 season with two talented and experienced MX3 riders. Sven Breugelmans goes into the season as Vice World champion in MX3 while Spanish rider Alvaro Lozano was fifth in the season's standings. Valentin Teillet will ride for Team JM Racing in the European Championship MX2 with a second rider, yet to be named.

This massive commitment by KTM to the sport of Motocross is a signal of the company's ongoing commitment to top-level motor sports, its dedication to producing "Ready to Race" sports machines of the highest calibre and in the development of riding talent far beyond its own national borders.

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