KTM Announces 2008 KTM Factory US Junior Team

KTM Motorsports, in its desire to support its amateur racers nationally, has developed the KTM Factory Junior Team. The newly formed KTM Factory Junior Team contains an impressive line-up: Max Anstie, Aaron Siminoe, Jason Anderson, Michael Hall, Derek Rogers and Tommy Weeck.

Anstie, Anderson and Siminoe are each 14 years old. Anstie, the newly crowned Prince of Bercy hails from Newbury, England. He will be competing in the 85 (14-15), Open and Supermini classes. Anderson, who won five titles in his first week aboard the KTM machine at the Amateur Open, will be competing with Anstie in the 85 (14-15) and Supermini classes. In addition, Anderson will also compete in the Schoolboy and Intermediate Lites (B) classes aboard his KTM 125 SX and 250 SX-F. Siminoe, who has been riding KTM's since 1999 won four championships in 2007, he will compete in the intermediate Lites (B) and Schoolboy classes for 2008.
Hall, Rogers and Weeck are each 16 years old. Hall resides in Murrieta, CA. Hall won five titles in 2007 including a Loretta Lynn's Championship in the Motocross Lites B Stock class. Hall will ride the KTM 250SX-F and the 450SX-F in the A class for 2008. Rogers and Weeck are both returning members to the team. Georgia native, Rogers, won two titles for KTM last season in the Intermediate (B) class and will move up to amateur-pro for the 2008 season. Weeck resides in Canyon Lake, CA. He finished consistently within the top three at all nationals in 2007 picking up a title along the way. He will compete in the Intermediate (B) class aboard his KTM 250 SX-F and 450 SX-F.

This cream of the crop team has been selected by KTM North America for their accomplishments and potential in the sport of motocross and supercross. This elite group is designed to cultivate riders into the Factory MDK KTM Supercross/Motocross Racing Team.

KTM hosted an SX/MX Training Camp (SMTC) November 12-13, 2007 to welcome the team riders. "I feel this two-day event gives the riders a proper introduction into the KTM family and allows the riders to meet each other (often for the first time) on a one-on-one level without the interruptions of a race interfering in the background," stated Team Manager Sel Narayana.

The training camp includes a photo shoot and ride day at Perris Raceway as well as group fitness testing on day one. During day two riders were introduced to top level management of KTM including International Motorsports Director Winfried Kerschhaggl, KTM North America Racing Director Kurt Nicoll and KTM Motocross Manager Casey Lytle. On day two riders were given a background on KTM and the company's goals as well as a briefing on the team sponsors. Supercross Announcer Erv Braun and Dan Walsh from Upfront Communications spoke to the riders about proper interview conduct, general guidelines on how to deal with the media and how to best promote your sponsors.

"This is a talented group of riders that are all eager to win championships this year. They each have the desire and potential to win. The team was designed in the best way to make their amateur career as successful as possible. The support is there for them all they need to do is show up in KTM style "Ready-to-Race," stated Nicoll.