KTM & Skip Barber.... Exciting Stuff....

[derby]

Another point I haven't heard from any report yet is that, well maybe KTM pulling out may have had something to do with that kid from Bermuda dying last season while qualifying. I can't imagine it would have been good for KTM to continue sponsoring the series perhaps for it to happen again?

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Jan/090116a-rb2.htm

btw, toriano was killed on the first lap of the race at vir, not qualifying.

[Speeddog]

It's tragic that Toriano died.
It may seem cold, but that's part of racing, just like it's part of motorcycle riding in general.

From a sponsorship/brand image standpoint, it's not a good thing.
KTM's already got that negative image in the general public, being a motorcycle manufacturer.
Red Bull kinda flirts with that image by sponsoring edgy stuff, weren't they the ones organizing that guy who jumped up onto and then off of a 10-story building ( really F'n nuts, I forget who... derby? ).

People get all bent out of shape when it's kids.
It sucks when it happens in racing.
Just like it sucks when it happens in baseball, of football, or whatever.
Or when they get run over in crosswalks.
If we want to protect our kids, let's just have 'em play video games... oh wait, that's not a good idea  .
< above not intended as a rant  >

-------------snip----------------

Since we're talking about the Rookies Cup, I'm interested to see what, if any, long-term crap KTM takes for that move.  I doubt people will have very long memories, especially since KTM doesn't race superbikes in the US.

I suspect they've done themselves out of the future opportunity of sponsorships like that.
I would think there would be a collective boo if they tried to sponsor kid's activities again.
( Maybe there's other kid's programs (Motocross?) that they're continuing with? I've done zero research.  )

[derby]

Red Bull kinda flirts with that image by sponsoring edgy stuff, weren't they the ones organizing that guy who jumped up onto and then off of a 10-story building ( really F'n nuts, I forget who... derby? ).

the new years thing? that was robbie maddison...

[Speeddog]

Yeah, wasn't it put on by red Bull?
Or am I just totally confused?

KTM is keeping the MotoGP Rookie's thing going, right?

[derby]

Yeah, wasn't it put on by red Bull?
Or am I just totally confused?

yup, sponsored by red bull.

KTM is keeping the MotoGP Rookie's thing going, right?

yup.

[Speeddog]

OK, so they're not total dirtbags. 

It does suck that they bailed on the US deal.

Did anyone see any $ numbers for the cost of the US deal?

[gm2]

Did anyone see any $ numbers for the cost of the US deal?

whatever the numbers are, they were already budgeted.  that money was already 'spent'. you would think that the program that helps kids go racing and would endear them to the entire racing community would be the one they found the cash to keep.

this isn't the first time KTM have made an agreement to go racing and then torpedoed it.  in 2005 they were supplying engines to team roberts; mid-season they pulled out, killing the season for KR.

[KTMCHEESE]

Just because it was budgeted doesn't mean squat when global sales are down for everyone. KTM is fighting for a bigger piece of the pie and they simply do not have a strong following here in America (even though they sell more bikes than any other Euro manufacturer but BMW) so it makes sense that they pulled out here. I guess they don't do enough fashion shows to be popular enough in the U.S.

Kenny Roberts is a pompous douche anyway. I'd make special detuned engines for Mr. Personality...

[gm2]

KTM is fighting for a bigger piece of the pie and they simply do not have a strong following here in America (even though they sell more bikes than any other Euro manufacturer but BMW) so it makes sense that they pulled out here.

no it doesn't.

[Kroe]

Jeff Haney named as Chief Instructor...

http://www.skipbarber.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=1851

[derby]

Jeff Haney named as Chief Instructor...

http://www.skipbarber.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=1851

ya don't say....

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=16611.0

[TAftonomos]

I LOVE my ktm from a mechanical standpoint.  Ducati should hire some of the engineering staff from KTM 

[gm2]

a-holes:  http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Feb/090213b.htm

[gm2]

i really don't have some kind of tourette on this ktm/rookie's topic, it just keeps coming up:

so the new RRX arrives in my mailbox and right away i notice it has one of those pamphlet-advertiser things in it, the really expensive multi-page tear-out kind that make page flipping impossible.  so i look to see what it is...



obviously this is not in reference to the red bull rookie's cup.  apparently that dept doesn't speak to the marketing dept however.

wow.

[tufty]

i really don't have some kind of tourette on this ktm/rookie's topic, it just keeps coming up:

so the new RRX arrives in my mailbox and right away i notice it has one of those pamphlet-advertiser things in it, the really expensive multi-page tear-out kind that make page flipping impossible.  so i look to see what it is...



obviously this is not in reference to the red bull rookie's cup.  apparently that dept doesn't speak to the marketing dept however.

wow.

Honestly, you're surprising me. KTM is primairily known over here as a a supplier of off-road and Motard bikes but NOT sport bikes. If you were them and had a limited budget what would you push now?