KTM
Powered by a distinct READY TO RACE mentality, KTM is Europe’s leading high-performance street and offroad sport motorcycle manufacturer based in Mattighofen, Austria. Over the years KTM has built a reputation as a fierce competitor on racetracks around the world. Remarkable success on the world stage is reflected in every product it creates and every move it makes. With an established presence in the offroad segments, KTM has progressed to become one of the world’s most innovative manufacturers of street motorcycles, and now aims to be the world’s biggest manufacturer of sport motorcycles. The passion KTM has for building high-performance motorcycles extends to enhancing the overall experience for the rider. KTM has developed a range of exciting branded products, services, events, accessories, garments and protection items which complete the KTM riding experience. Success on the world stage with KTM’s factory racing teams is the ultimate proof of KTM’s READY TO RACE attitude. Incorporating race-proven technology into KTM’s products allows KTM riders to experience the thrilling performance that defines the KTM brand, for themselves. KTM AS A COMPANY
It was 1934 when Hans Trunkenpolz founded a repair workshop in Mattighofen, upper Austria. Three years later, he started selling DKW motorcycles and subsequently expanded his workshop, which became one of the largest car and motorcycle garages in upper Austria. In 1951, the company started designing a motorcycle of its own and two years later the KTM R 100 production series was launched. The company, which was now officially called Kronreif, Trunkenpolz, Mattighofen (KTM), immediately took up racing and the successes started piling up. Erwin Lechner was among the riders who enjoyed victory after victory in 1960, racing the KTM motorcycle designed by engineer Rudolf Apfelbeck. KTM entered the US market with a 125cc motocross motorcycle in 1968 and word of the overseas race wins soon began to circulate in Europe. The highlights of the 1970s included the powerful 50cc models and the first motocross World Championship title, won for KTM in 1974 by Russian rider Gennadij Moiseev in the 250cc class. Riders Heinz Kinigadner and Trampas Parker laid the foundations for the modern KTM legend with three World Championship titles in the next decade. In 1984, KTM started to develop a liquid-cooled four-stroke motorcycle, commencing mass production of the first LC4 engine in 1987. The economy hit hard times at the end of the 1980s and in 1991, the KTM Motor- fahrzeugbau AG had to file for bankruptcy. One year later, the newly formed KTM motorcycle division KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH re-opened under new management with a new hard enduro concept and sharp new design styling. Hungry for success, the company began to engage in rally sport, launched the first duke in 1994 and just one year later acquired both WP Suspension and the sports motorcycle manufacturer Husaberg. Shane King‘s Motocross World Championship title in the 500cc class and numerous other victories breathed now life into KTM’s sporting heritage. The Austrian company has been a dominating force in the legendary Dakar rally since 2001 and, after adopting the now well-known “ready to race” philosophy, has turned racing into the brand‘s main identifying feature. The 950 Adventure long-distance, dual-sport motorcycle made its first appearance in 2003 and in the same year, Harald Bartol led the factory racing team to success in the 125cc road racing world championship. Shortly afterwards, KTM launched its first thoroughbred street bikes, the 990 Super Duke and the 950 Supermoto. The first ‘Made in Austria’ superbike followed in 2008 - the attention grabbing 1190 RC8, which the Mattighofen team entered into the international German Superbike Championship (IDM) one year later, finishing runner-up in their first season.
2009 proved to be a particularly successful year for KTM's off-road factory riders when they won four out of a possible six world championship titles. Then at the EICMA trade fair in autumn, KTM then set the stage for a massive attack on top-level Motocross with the launch of the brand new 350 SX-F, the brainchild of racing team manager Stefan Everts. In 2010, Antonio Cairoli started the season in style taking the 350 SX-f to victory in its first appearance on the track, a race that heralded the start of a season of unprecedented success, not just for the KTM factory racers but also for privateers onboard the new 350 and other sports bikes in the KTM range. The season wound up is style; Cairoli won the MX1 title on the 350 SX-F, Marvin Musquin retained his MX2 title on the 250 SX-F while Steffi Laier, KTM's woman factory rider, won the WMX title boosting KTM's world championship tally to 188. The season was further crowned when a string of excellent results from RC8 Superbike riders Martin Bauer and Stefan Nebel secured the IDM Manufacturer’s title for KTM. The orange MX revolution continued in style in 2011, beginning in January when Marc Coma won KTM’s tenth consecutive Dakar title. Shortly after Taddy Blazusiak was declared the indoor enduro World champion. Then Cairoli went on to seal his second MX1 title on the 350 SX-F while talented teenagers Ken Roczen and Jeffrey Herlings proved to be the only game in town on the 250 SX-F finishing 1-2 in the MX2 World Championship. Young KTM riders also won the 65 cc and 85 cc MX world titles. Up to the time of printing, KTM had won seven rider world championship titles and five manufacturer’s titles, bringing the company’s total to 203. Meanwhile, Martin Bauer’s title victory in the 2011 IDM Superbike Championship was another huge bonus.
