Roger DeCoster to KTM Factory Team

[Gravel911]

This is big news!!!!


The final day of the FIM Motocross Grand Prix of Benelux unveiled one of the year's biggest news as KTM announced that Roger DeCoster will become the manager of the company's new factory team in the USA.

After reaching success in the FIM Motocross World Championship with Stefan Everts as their Offroad Race Director, KTM aims at succeeding also in the USA courtesy of Roger De Coster's contribution.

In the Sunday morning of the Benelux Grand Prix, KTM CEO Stefan Pierer, Head of KTM Offroad Sports Department Pit Beirer, KTM Offroad Race Director Stefan Everts and former World Champion Heinz Kinigadner gathered in a press conference to announce the signing of Roger DeCoster.

The latter was then phone-called in America and added his comments on this new exciting challenge he is about to take part in.

The signing of DeCoster represents a major step forward in vaulting the Austrian company into the global motocross arena. KTM has already reached the top level of the mx sport in Europe and the World Championship GP series and will now also be a dominant force in US competition.

After thanking Tony Cairoli and Claudio De Carli for the MX1 World Title victory of two weeks ago in Brazil...

Stefan Pierer says: "The acquisition of Roger De Coster to take over our factory team in the USA heralds a new era for KTM. We now enjoy a worldwide network and we are a real global player. Roger DeCoster is one of the great figures in the sport of Motocross and we are delighted that he has agreed to manage our new team. KTM is now "Ready to Race" in the biggest and most competitive Motocross competitions in the world."

Pit Beirer says: "We are honored that we can welcome a man of Roger DeCoster's credentials and stature into the KTM family. With him as the head of our new KTM USA factory team we will be a major force in the USA and Europe and we want to attract the very best American riders into our team. Roger has had a superb racing career and a distinguished and successful career in team management."

From his USA phone, Roger DeCoster says: "It was a difficult decision for me to leave Suzuki but I was looking for a long term agreement and commitment, which I both found in KTM. This is a new challenge for me and I am looking forward to it."

Roger De Coster, also known as "The Man", is a Belgian rider who is currently living in the United States. After a successful World Championship career recording five World Titles and 36 Grand Prix wins (all in the 500cc class), De Coster moved to America to become a four time Trans AMA Champion and then Team Manager.

His career as Suzuki Team Manager -which will be his official position until the end of the AMA Motocross series- in Motocross and Supercross lasted 15 years and produced numerous titles and championships. DeCoster is also the Team Manager of USA at the FIM Motocross of Nations and has led the squad to success in all 20 occasions USA was on top of the rostrum.

[RJM]

Great news, I think it will make the AMA much more exciting to watch with an additional manufacturer. Obviously a lot of Orange fans out there already, will just bring more of them along to the AMA events / coverage and I guess they expect that to turn into increased sales.

Will be interesting to see who ends up riding Orange.

[LVN_CR250]

Ryan Dungy sould go with him

[denill]

Ryan Dungy sould go with him

Dungey has another year to run on his contract.

But WTF are Suzuki's reasons for dumping R DeC ?




Rockstars results are pretty damned good.........

[scott411]

Dungey has another year to run on his contract.

But WTF are Suzuki's reasons for dumping R DeC ?




Rockstars results are pretty damned good.........

in his interview it says that Suzuki would not give him a 3 year deal, only a 1 year contract, the rumour on the US websites is the fact that suzuki outside sponsor deals are only for 1 more year, and that Suzuki does not want to committ to anything after that,

[denill]

in his interview it says that Suzuki would not give him a 3 year deal, only a 1 year contract, the rumour on the US websites is the fact that suzuki outside sponsor deals are only for 1 more year, and that Suzuki does not want to committ to anything after that,

So that has to be KTM's gain, do you agree?

[scott411]

So that has to be KTM's gain, do you agree?

yes i think if anyone can build a big programme in the states it is Roger,

but he is not a magic bullet solution either, it took alot of time for Roger to build the team he did at suzuki, over 10 years infact, and until he got RC riding for him he had one 1 major title, since then with Reed and Dungey he has won alot more, but the guys that are ment to be riding for him next year imo will not win championships next year (Alessi and Reed)

[vr4king]

yes i think if anyone can build a big programme in the states it is Roger,

but he is not a magic bullet solution either, it took alot of time for Roger to build the team he did at suzuki, over 10 years infact, and until he got RC riding for him he had one 1 major title, since then with Reed and Dungey he has won alot more, but the guys that are ment to be riding for him next year imo will not win championships next year (Alessi and Reed)

Has Reed signed with KTM?.............

[Gravel911]

It is my understanding KTM will run two full-factory 250s and two 450s in the U.S. Supercross and National championships next season.

Marvin Musquin is already confirmed as one of the 250F riders, and Mike Alessi for the 450 ride.

Don’t think they have announced the other two riders but one of them could be Searle for the 250’s

[Shorty_925]

Anyone listened to the interview on Vurb moto? Sounded like he didnt want to leave...interesting listening to whats happened/happening over there and how the economic problems are still around.

[Gravel911]

The shift of Reed to KTM??? Scott might be on the money!!

Kawasaki announced that it is cutting ties with Chad Reed after the two parties mutually agreed to go their separate ways.

"Monster Energy Kawasaki would like to thank Chad Reed for being a part of our team for the 2010 AMA Monster Energy Supercross, an FIM Championship and the Lucas Oil AMA Motocross Series. Reed was a valuable member of our program scoring one win and multiple podium finishes aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki KX450F. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors".

This raises the question of where Reed will end up as the 2011 AMA Supercross and Motocross seasons are coming up quick. With former Suzuki boss Roger Decoster set to head up the KTM Racing endeavors the rumor is that Reed is set to join his former boss as part of a powerhouse team capable of bringing a Supercross championship title to the Austrian based company.

The new KTM 350SX seems perfectly designed to take the Supercross world by storm and with two-time SX champion Chad Reed at the controls it would be a formidable combination.

[Teava]

If KTM could get "goose" from Suzuki, that there would really help them out, he is the best spanner spinner around, i think alot of Suzuki's success is thanks to him.