According to a published interview with KTM's Stefan Pierer (from our sister publication Motorcyclist), KTM has an eye on producing quads and bringing them to market here in the United States! Pierer is KTM's managing director and its largest shareholder, so we take it that when he speaks, it is on good authority. Here is an excerpt from the interview:
Stefan Pierer: KTM has a strong enough identity in its own right to develop as a manufacturer concentrating on sportbikes. But there's one product sector we are thinking of entering soon, and that's the ATV market. Look at what the Japanese are doing very successfully-they take an existing motocross or off-road 450cc engine and put it in a suitable chassis. We have already been approached by Polaris and Arctic Cat-both want us to supply them with our 525cc engine. But I think the best thing is that we do it ourselves, and we will!
ATVS In The New York TimesWe're all too familiar with the typical perception of ATV and off-road enthusiasts as life-risking thrill-seekers with no regard for their own personal safety or the environment. While perusing the online edition of The New York Times, we came upon an article titled "Harlan County A.T.V." Initially skeptical of the story, we clicked on the link and found a refreshingly balanced and positive article about how a local government, local riding clubs and a local community in Kentucky had come together to bring good times and prosperity back to a former mining town in the form of a well-planned and challenging network of ATV and jeep trails, which were drawing enthusiasts from all over the region.
Our congratulations to the gang involved in the Harlan County ATV area for, first and foremost, developing a kick-ass riding area and, second, letting the outside world know the positive aspects of ATVing! We can't wait to get out there and try the trails ourselves.
Polaris Racing into 2005Polaris announced the signing of top GNCC pro Matt Smiley to spearhead its assault on the 2005 GNCC Championship. Smiley is a 13-year veteran of the series and will provide a crucial link between the team's racing and R&D efforts to help steer the creation of more race-ready products in the future. Smiley will contest the season on a race-prepared 2005 Troy Lee Edition Predator.
"The Predator is a killer machine with a ton of potential," Smiley said. "I'm looking forward to influencing future product modifications and components to make it an even stronger trail threat."
In other Polaris racing news, the company announced a comprehensive contingency program to reward GNCC racers of all levels and classes, including the newly formed youth series. Polaris' program is the largest contingency program offered to date and provides more than $250,000 in potential payouts, including benefits for class champions. Currently the only manufacturer offering payouts for youth racers, Polaris will award little riders up to $150 per race! More information is available atwww.polarisindustries.com.
Maxxis WORCS 'EmMaxxis announced that it will once again be the official motorcycle and ATV tire of the World Off-Road Championship Series. 2005 will mark the fifth year of Maxxis' partnership with WORCS racing, and the company looks forward to the excitement the next two years will bring.
"Maxxis has been pleased with the amount of ridership WORCS has generated throughout our partnership," Maxxis Marketing Manager Michael McGunagle stated. "We embrace the separation of the series into motorcycle and ATV series as this will allow us to provide each discipline more focused attention throughout the race weekends."
Round 3 of the 2005 WORCS ATV series will take place at the Clay Peaks Motocross Park in Payette, Idaho, April 22 to 24. For the entire WORCS racing schedule, go to www.worcsracing.com. For more information on Maxxis' sponsorship of the WORCS series, including photos and contingency details, visit www.maxxis.com.