Husqvarna Motorcycles Excited to Continue Relationship with BRISK

MATTIGHOFEN, AUSTRIA – January 10, 2023 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Following an extremely successful start to the relationship, Husqvarna Motorcycles is ecstatic to reveal that the Husqvarna Factory Racing teams in the FIM Motocross World Championship and FIM Enduro series will continue to rely on BRISK spark plugs in 2023.

Much like Husqvarna Motorcycles, the pioneers of motocross, BRISK spark plugs have been involved in top-flight competition for decades now. With their centenary on the horizon, Husqvarna Motorcycles is excited to take the spark plugs to more success in off-road competition. Aligning with partners who share the same dedication to evolution is critical for the manufacturer and, as the leaders in their division, BRISK are always striving to improve and reach the top of the podium.

The 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship is set to start in Argentina on March 12, whilst the 2023 FIM EnduroGP World Championship will roar into life in Italy on April 02. The Husqvarna Factory Racing athletes and teams will continue to progress, with the help of BRISK, in the months prior to those season openers.

Robert Jonas (Head of Motorsports, Off-Road): “The racing world’s rather competitive, hence why it is so important that we continue to align with the greatest brands in motorsports. 2022 marked the start of our relationship with BRISK and it was prosperous for all involved, so I am excited to build on that in 2023 and beyond.”

Hana Kajnarova (BRISK Commercial Director): “Continuing the partnership with Husqvarna Factory Racing again in 2023 proves the highest expectation from BRISK spark plugs for both partners. This respectful partnership brings us joy to present advanced technical skills and experiences to the Husqvarna Factory Racing team and it pushes BRISK to think of new solutions for high performance racing motorcycle engines. We are happy to be part of this success and we keep our fingers crossed for the entire team for 2023 season.”

Husqvarna Motorcycles.

Husqvarna Motorcycles is widely known for leading innovation and providing exceptional performance across its street and offroad products, as well as being present in all top-level racing disciplines. With the brand originally founded in Sweden in 1903, Husqvarna Motorcycles’ machines have been designed and manufactured in Mattighofen, Austria since 2013.

Source: Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH

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VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team Confirm EMX Riders and Talent Flow for 2023

2022 MXGP news

MATTIGHOFEN, AUSTRIA – November 27, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – KTM’s fresh factory racing talent scheme structure for MXGP solidified even further for 2023 as promising youngsters Marc-Antoine Rossi and Ferruccio Zanchi were confirmed as part of the VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team.

The French crew will enter a seventh year of collaboration with KTM, and the alliance will be closer and more productive than ever thanks to VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team’s new position as the talent ‘conduit’ for the company in the international motocross pyramid.

Based near Nantes and led by Mickaël Vrignon, with former motocross and Enduro star ‘Pela’ Renet at the head of management staff, the VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team will work in European Championship competition and specifically the EMX250 category with KTM 250 SX-F machinery; the division is seen as the ‘final step’ before MX2 Grand Prix.

Marc-Antoine Rossi finished 8th in both the 2021 and 2022 EMX125 championships, both times riding the KTM 125 SX. The French 16-year-old grabbed his first moto victory and podium finish at his home round, LaCapelle Marival, in the summer of 2021 and appeared on the box again in 2022.

Like Rossi, Ferruccio Zanchi will make his debut in 2023 in EMX250 and with the KTM 250 SX-F. The Italian, also 16 years of age, has won three motos in EMX125 and registered another four top-three moto results in 2022 on the way to 7th in the standings.

As well as 2023 EMX250, Rossi and and Zanchi will be looking to gain even more experience and mileage in various domestic meetings and series in Europe, beginning already this winter and in the run-up to the new season.

Pela Renet, Team Manager: “The goal was to find young riders for the European EMX250 Championship and we worked with KTM to sign two youngsters and we are really happy with Ferruccio, a young Italian and Marc Antoine, a young Frenchman. They showed a great potential in EMX125 this season and although the transition from the 125 to the 250 is a big one they are working hard and they have a huge possibilities. For sure, the goal is to fight in front and to have the best results possible.”

Mickael Vrignon, Team Owner: “Since the creation of the team in 2016, it has not stop growing and every year I try to find new solutions to keep improving. Last year, Pela started to work as trainer and this year we became the official factory junior team, and we were looking for riders with the ability to stand under our structure. Ferruccio and Marc-Antoine are two very promising riders and we can fight for good results with them. The objective has always been to form young riders to the highest level of competition and I am happy to try to reach this with KTM.”

Marc-Antoine Rossi: “I am very happy to start this new adventure with the VRT KTM Factory Juniors Team in EMX250. I can’t wait to start working with all the team to prepare the season and to make the move from 125 to 250 as smooth as possible.”

Ferruccio Zanchi: “I am very happy to finally have this great opportunity to ride for KTM VRT Team in the EMX250 for the 2023 season. It was not an easy choice but I strongly believe this is the right one for my personal and professional growth. I feel really good on the KTM 250 SX-F and I really look forward to start collaborating with KTM and the VRT Team for the upcoming year. So now let’s enjoy!”

Robert Jonas, KTM Head of Motorsports Offroad: “We’re really pleased with how the junior program is looking now and thanks to our work with Mickael, Pela and the whole VRT team. Marc-Antoine and Ferruccio are two riders that are on the way to professional level and have stood out for their technique and their speed in the last couple of seasons in EMX125. We believe in their capabilities, and we want to give them a chance to attempt EMX250 for 2023 and continue their progression. We think there is some real potential there and we wish the guys the best of luck through the year.”

Source: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

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Cairoli Takes the Reins as Red Bull KTM Team Manager in 2023 MXGP Reshuffle

For 2023 KTM are pleased to announce that nine-times world champion Tony Cairoli will become Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager.

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MATTIGHOFEN, AUSTRIA – October 19, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have made several strategic changes to their FIM MXGP World Championship structure that will funnel into their bids for success in 2023 Grand Prix. Chief among those is a fresh role for MXGP and KTM legend Tony Cairoli, who will front the squad as Team Manager.

For 2023 KTM are pleased to announce that nine-times world champion Tony Cairoli will become Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager. The 37-year-old, who was still competing at the highest level with AMA Pro National appearances this summer, won six of his championships with KTM SX-F technology and has been a Red Bull KTM factory rider since 2010. Tony boasts exceptional knowledge of not only the sport but also KTM’s racing culture and philosophy. He will sync with fellow former multi world champion Joel Smets who will train and coach a selection of Red Bull KTM Factory racing riders and other athletes in the group.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing recently celebrated their fourteenth title in the MX2 division since 2004 and with the KTM 250 SX-F thanks to Tom Vialle’s thrilling last round victory of the 2022 campaign in Turkey. Except for the 2015 season, the crew have claimed at least one MXGP or MX2 crown each year since 2010. Smets has been instrumental in Vialle’s development and two crowns since 2020.

On the technical side Vialle’s well respected and experienced mechanic Harry Norton – who helped refine two versions of the title-winning KTM 250SX-F, the 2020 edition and the brand new 2023 model – will take over the role of Team Technical Co-ordinator while long-standing leader Dirk Gruebel will assume the position of Project Manager for Motocross Development.

Claudio De Carli, the man who guided Cairoli to the six championships between 2010 and 2017, will now oversee KTM racing efforts as the new Motocross Race Director. The Italian forged an incredibly strong bond with KTM at the start of the last decade when he helped deliver the factory’s first premier class distinction in MXGP.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will launch into 2023 with Jeffrey Herlings (MXGP, KTM 450SX-F) and Andrea Adamo and Liam Everts (MX2, KTM 250SX-F).

Tony Cairoli, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “2022 was a change for me and now this is another chapter! It was great to race again this year but it was also positive to take a small step back from racing and see things in a different way. I really hope I can bring as much knowledge and passion as possible to this new role. I will have some learning to do but I also worked with some amazing people in my career, so I expect to use this experience. We are already thinking about our goals for 2023.”

Robert Jonas, Head of Motorsports Offroad: “It is very satisfying to see how we were able to reorganise and clarify the positions of important people for Red Bull KTM and other projects. I think there is some exciting potential because there is so much priceless experience; both on the ground at the track and back in the workshops. If Tony can bring the same enthusiasm for motocross and learning as he did when he was a rider then this next challenge should go very well for him and be of a big benefit for the team. I want to thank all of the staff involved for getting behind the plan and how we will head into the world championship in the coming years.”

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “This is the next step in our race department vision for motocross and for the way we want to keep the brands and organise the best potential in the paddock. It was clear that Tony’s experience and never-ending passion for the sport was something we could count on, just like we did in 2009 when we first started talking. The De Carli connection has been one of the big success stories for us and I’m pleased that it can progress and continue. It’s great to have Joel in his development role still and Harry and Dirk taking on different tasks. We have some great riders and some excellent staff for 2023 so I’m sure we’ll have plenty more exciting times.”

Claudio De Carli, KTM Motocross Race Director: “It feels very special to have this new position and to continue my story with Pit, Robert and the whole KTM group. As many people know we started our partnership well over ten years ago now and it was strong mutual trust that allowed us all to succeed right away and then to carry on winning in MXGP. We are now in transition to the next generation but we have the best possible foundations. I hope we can keep the motocross division as one of the most prolific for KTM and the race department. We’ll push to the maximum to make it happen across the categories.”

Source: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

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