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Category: Motorcycles
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KTM is excited to announce that Dakar’s hottest future prospect Sam Sunderland has signed to race for the Red Bull KTM Factory Rally Team for the next three and a half years.
Sunderland, a 24-year-old former motocrosser turned rally racer, is pleased to be joining the factory squad in a bid to unlock his Dakar potential with the ultra-competitive crew that has won the last 13 editions of the notorious rally.
British-ace Sunderland has enjoyed both success and disaster following his Dakar debut in 2012 at just 22 years of age, with competitive results on the days he’s completed during the rally. Sunderland has also achieved success in the British youth championships, UAE MX2 & MX1 Championship titles, UAE National Baja Championship titles in 2010/2011, an Abu Dhabi Desert challenge podium in 2012, a Merzouga Rally win in 2013 plus a stage win in this year’s Dakar event before retiring from the race.
With KTM’s Dakar know-how and Sunderland’s motivation it is hoped that he will develop into one of the future greats of the sport as he gains experience with the factory squad amongst more established riders. His main goal for year one will be to complete the rally in the top five with consistent results throughout the stages, and he’s particularly excited about working with Marc Coma, who enjoyed his fourth Dakar victory last month.
Dubai-based Sunderland, who is the first British rider for 15-years to win a Dakar stage, will race the all-new 450 Factory rally machine that made its debut in 2014. The youngster will contest some rounds of the Cross-Country Rallies World Championship throughout this year as he builds his confidence and speed ahead of the 2015 Dakar race.
Sam Sunderland: “I’m really excited for this new chapter in my career and very grateful for the opportunity from KTM. It’s going to be great to work with the huge experience of the team and I hope I can prove myself with good results to return the confidence they’ve put into me. The team has won for 13 years in a row and it’s a huge opportunity for me to race with a team with that much experience. When I met the team I had a great feeling, like friends straight away, which is a huge part of the whole deal, because in the Dakar it’s stressful and tiring, so the relationships are important to be able to work together in the toughest times. The bike is proven; I’ve not ridden it yet, but I’m really excited and looking forward to that. It looks great and with first and second this year it’s obviously great for the job. I am working really hard with my training right now and I can’t wait to get started.”
Pit Beirer: KTM’s Head of Motorsports “It’s definitely a big pleasure that we are able to bring Sam over to KTM, thanks to the friendly relationship we have had with him through Kini and myself. We’ve been following his riding over the last few years and he’s a young, talented rider with great skills. I’m sure if we combine this with the strength of our team and the training opportunities with Marc, he will make our package stronger for the future. As Sam is still very young it’s now our job to keep him calm; it’s not that we expect results straight away, but we will give him time to learn the secrets of the desert. He’s a proven stage winner, he has the skill and speed, but I don’t want to put him under pressure. The key is to put him with our experienced riders and he will learn and help them. In my opinion he is already maybe podium contender, but for us it’s not about the results today or tomorrow, it’s about building a good, competitive long-term Dakar future.” Sunderland will begin racing a KTM motocross machine today at a local event and is expected to make his rally race debut with KTM at round one of the Cross Country Rallies World Championship at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in April.
www.ktm.com
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It’s been just over a month since KTM took an outstanding 1-2 finish in the notorious Dakar rally and the Austrian manufacturer is excited to announce that the all-new KTM 450 Rally Replica machine will be available very soon for customers to purchase.
The new model of the KTM 450 Rally machine in factory livery made its debut in October at the Morocco rally as a first and final test in race conditions. The machine was then subject to taking on the ultimate test at the Dakar, and the bike went on to work flawlessly throughout the 9,000km race with Marc Coma on-board to take KTM’s 13th consecutive win.
As the previous model of the rally machine was constructed for the 690cc era, this new machine was designed from the ground up to be suited to today’s Dakar terrain and the smaller capacity 450cc engine. With its vast amount of experience, KTM’s Motorsport department built the new bike with KISKA’s expertise in design from clay model to completed design, along with KTM’s R&D department and KTM Technologies.
The bike features an all-new frame incorporating an ergonomic design, a slim body shape with a better seating position, completely re-worked rear suspension and a new overhead single cam 450cc fuel-injection engine. The bike also boasts a front and rear fuel-pump system with multiple tanks, which allows the rider to pick a fuel source to utilise the weight depending on the terrain, a carbon tower at the front of the bike that gives the rider better visibility of the front wheel and thus instilling extra confidence with improved vision along with many other refinements throughout the machine’s design to create the ultimate rally race bike.
It was expected that the competition would be stronger in the 2014 rally, and this has only deepened KTM’s motivation to continue its 13-year winning streak. The years of experience and knowledge in KTM’s rally department along with the R&D team was only magnified with a 1-2 victory again this year, perhaps only more spectacular as second-placed Jordi Viladoms didn’t even ride the bike before reaching Argentina at the start of the race.
Coma and Viladoms recently visited the factory in Mattighofen and KISKA to thank everyone involved with the rally project for their hard work, which has been pivotal in the success of the factory riders.
KTM’s CEO Stefan Pierer about the all-new 450 Rally Replica: “The success this year in the Dakar rally has highlighted the experience and hard work of our KTM people, who worked closely with KISKA’s team on the new rally bike project, combined with feedback from all of our factory riders and heavy input from Marc Coma. We now want to pass on the experience of such a successful time in this year’s Dakar to any rider who wishes to own this fantastic bike, and especially to those who are committed to making their rally dreams come true or realise their Dakar ambition. The racing service we offer for privateers is as fundamentally strong as the service we give to our factory riders and we are very proud of helping many riders achieve their goals in the rally.”
For those seeking the next level in rally competition the 2015 KTM Rally Replica bike is available to purchase for EUR24,000 (Plus VAT) and can be ordered through your local KTM dealer. A service and support package is available at the Dakar Rally at an additional cost for all models of KTM rally bike. Please ask your local dealer for more information. Please note the machine and service packages are both limited.
www.ktm.com
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I am now the organiser of the Classic motorcycles display and working directly with the showground.
The Lincolnshire Show takes place on Wednesday & Thursday June 18th & 19th 2014. Classic Motorcycles are welcomed for display in the classic vehicle section which is located near the main entrance.
Bikes must be rideable, roadworthy, taxed, insured, mot’d and have to be on site by 8am latest and no exit till 6pm.
Each Exhibitor gets 2 free entrance tickets per day - These are worth £22 per person. (entrance tickets include free parking in car park)
I shall be erecting a 20ft x 10ft marquee on site for display, seating, rest area and a covered trailer will be adjacent for helmets/kit etc...
A potted history of your machine will be required for the Show Brochure.
Please contact me by 25th February, to enter your bike for the show
Alan Caine [email protected]
01472 851674 - 07778 019611
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British Winter Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller takes to two wheels
•22-year old Aimee Fuller - Team GB medal hope for Olympics
•Completes CBT on 125 Duke before Games
•‘Slopestyle’ Snowboarder used to race motocross
•Planning on a 390 Duke and completing full test after Games
•Watch the video of Aimee’s CBT here
Winter Olympic snowboarder, Aimee Fuller, has taken the first steps in getting her motorcycle licence by completing the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) on a KTM 125 Duke.
One of the country’s most promising freestyle snowboarders, Fuller, 22, will represent Team GB in the ‘Slopestyle’ event in Sochi, Russia, on February 6. Originally from Kent but based in Holywood, County Down, Aimee needed two top 12 finishes in the last two World Cup events to represent her country at the games and did so with 11th and fifth, sitting eight overall in the world standings.
No stranger to bikes or KTM, Aimee began riding on a 50SX and even competed in motocross for a number of seasons from the age of X. Earlier this winter she found time to head to Shires Motorcycle Training (Derby) and complete her CBT as the first stage to obtaining her full licence.
Aimee Fuller said: “I’ve always wanted to get a road bike, but I’ve been so busy travelling and competing all over the world to find the time to do it. Fortunately, I was able to do my CBT with Shires on a 125 Duke. I’ve sold my car now, so once the games in Sochi are finished I’m going to complete my full test and get a 390 Duke.
“Bikes will be a buzz for me when I’m away from the slopes and I’m planning a big tour through Norway in the summer taking in snowboarding, surfing and bikes – as long as I pass my test!”
In 2013, the 125 Duke became the first bike in its class to be equipped standard with a two-channel (front and rear) ABS system and for 2014 it continues to be offered with free insurance* and 0% finance options.**
Incredibly easy to handle, lightweight, torquey, comfortable and perfectly suited to everyday use alone or two-up, the Duke has also been tested and ergonomically designed for extreme manoeuvres and thrillingly fast cornering. The bike is supremely well equipped, robust, extremely economical, inexpensive to maintain and only £3,995 on the road in a choice of orange or white.
Visit www.ktm.com for more information.
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Sales, revenue and the number of employees increased strongly again.
•Sales: 123,859 units (+ 15.6%)
•Revenue: 716.3 mio. EUR ( +17.0%)
•Employees: 1,849 (+150 employees compared to prior year)
Mattighofen, January 17 , 2014
2013 was a record year in KTM’s history. Sales, revenue and the number of employees increased again strongly.
Sales and revenue on record level
By consequently implementing the global product strategy and the expansion in the growth markets Asia and South America, KTM increased both sales and revenue and achieved a record year in 2013.
Therefore, KTM is the fastest growing motorcycle brand in the world for already three years.
In the business year 2013, KTM sold 123,859 bikes worldwide and could therefore increase sales by 15.6% compared to previous year. Revenue could be increased in the same period by 17.0% to 716.3 mio. EUR. Therefore, KTM expects a record result for the business year 2013.
Record employment at the headquarter in Mattighofen
As of December 31 , 1,849 people were employed at the KTM group
worldwide, which is a record employment. To further realize the global growth, KTM’s headcount was increased by 150 people in the business year 2013.
Outlook 2014
KTM will continue to follow the global product strategy and expects further increases in revenue and sales for the business year 2014.
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