The following is wrap of trip to MXGP: MX Euro Final Round with NZ’s Josiah Natzke, interviews with Stefan Everts at KTM Factory Workshop in Belgium and visit to KTM Headquarters in Mattighofen, Austria interviewing Pit Beirer and Dirk Gruebel.
MXGP: key points
– Inclusion of MX Euro at selected MXGP Rounds gives opportunity for up-coming talented Junior riders to compete at GP allowing Brands to utilise Team resources already set-up at MXGP track
– MXGP structure allows maximum promotion of event via incorporation of all Media within venue
– MXGP running of up to 6 classes at selected Rounds increases numbers on gate, broadens fan base and promotes transition for riders Junior turn Senior
Stefan Everts Interview KTM Factory Workshop
Behind the scene glimpse into the running of KTM Factory Junior Team and MX2 base in Belgium under direction of Stefan Everts key points:
– Stefan’s leadership and guidance for day to day schedule of Junior riders provides foundation for riders to progress. Noticeably, Stefan’s ability to work with each rider on individual basis assessing rider’s needs in training, preparation, racing, food, rest, analysis of racing enables riders to move forward.
– Impressive was Stefan’s judgement on NZ’s Josiah Natzke keeping everything in context:
‘I was impressed with Josiah’s determination to improve, especially in the sand. When he first arrived in April he was 12 seconds behind his Team-mates. Now going into the Final Round he is racing for the Championship. At times, Josiah has had many things happen and when he gets back home he will have time to reflect and sort things out in his head which will make him a stronger rider’.
–Stefan Everts transition from Professional MX racer (10 x World MX Champion) to directing development of up-coming talented Junior riders produced successful results: 1st, 2nd, 4th. Given the honour it was to interview Stefan, the magnitude of his career success remained in the background of his respectful persona.
KTM Headquarters Production Factory, Interviews KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer and MX2 Team Manager Dirk Gruebel.
Pit Beirer:
The initiative of KTM Factory Junior Team was to provide a platform for selected Junior riders to train at a professional level under the leadership of Stefan Everts competing at their respective MX Euro Rounds. Key points:
-Decision for Junior riders to race Stock bikes proved who is capable of producing results at Championship level
– Pit Beirer: ‘Results of 1st, 2nd and 4th proved these riders were good enough to win and stand on podium through hard work, effort, fighting to achieve results not based on how tricked a bike can be but on pure twisting the throttle’.
– Producing top results for KTM Junior rider’s was as much development in their MX career as development as a person with desire to win.
Dirk Gruebel: Key points
– The hard training regime not only develops the rider on the bike it develops the person, their character
– Sometimes it is not easy ‘Josiah developed great from when he arrived till where he is now is a huge step’.
– Some riders look back and say: ‘Now I know why you punished me all those hours in training to make me a stronger rider’.
Most importantly from my trip to Europe, I gained a sense of the mind-set of key people within KTM and Youthstream that steps put in place for rider, Team, Brand, event are the process for moving up the line of progress for literally years to come, which is quite something.
Words: Sharon Cox
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