Rapid ReaXtion: KTM Wins a Supercross
Monday, January 16, 2012 | 8:40 AM
For over 28 years, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC has been the trusted source for off-road and racing enthusiasts who demand high quality riding gear, low prices and unmatched customer service. Get fast, free shipping on orders over $99 and free apparel exchanges.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
PrintIt's a whole new world on this Monday morning, as KTM has delivered a win in the premiere class of AMA Supercross for the first time in their history. Here's what our edit staff thinks of the accomplishment, and you can tell us what you think below.
Davey Coombs
We all knew that KTM was finally going to win a premier-class SX as soon as they hired Ryan Dungey to ride for them in 2012, though I include myself in the many who thought it might take a little longer than two races to happen. The Austrians—both from KTM and their main sponsor Red Bull—are deeply committed to success in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, and somewhere over in Mattighofen they must have been celebrating the news early Sunday morning.
KTM's inability to win here at night seemed like an institutional challenge. Supercross is simply not very big in Europe, and while the company can point to many FIM World Motocross Championships going all the way back to Gennady Moiseev in the seventies, they could not even get a 125 SX win here until 2001, and their first major win until last night (and Marvin Musquin's runner-up finish in the Lites main makes this the best night ever for KTM in American Supercross).
Now it's obvious more wins are to come. Until they do, here's a tip of the visor to some of the men who tried in vain to make it to the winner's circle (or even the box) on KTMs: Mike Fisher, Mike Alessi, Grant Langston, Andrew Short, Nick Wey, Travis Preston, Josh Summey, Shayne King, Cliff Palmer, Mark Musselman, Boo Stichter, John Finkledey... Even Ken Roczen a couple times last year.
I would spell “congratulations” with a K here but that would be too gimmicky. Regardless, it's something we will likely say again to KTM many times in the future.
Jason Weigandt
Dungey's big win here isn't a testament to a new bike, it's a testament to KTM's entire philosophy of producing them. Always known as the lean, nimble company that can quickly produce whatever is needed at a moment's notice--125s, 150s, 200s, 250s, 300s, 350s, 450s, 505s, 525s and two and four strokes—this is the ultimate expression of KTM's unique ability to find a new goal and attack it immediately. This time, less than a year after it became clear their 350 experiment would not succeed at the top level of U.S. racing, they put together an all-new 450 and made it competitive. A task that could have taken years for others has taken months for them.
But it’s easy to praise KTM after they have won a race. Before they did, many (including myself) doubted a victory would come so quickly. But that’s because we judged Dungey's move to orange by comparing KTM to other brands. Lately, we’ve seen radical new bikes from other manufacturers result in nit-picking problems for their factory teams. Those brands ironed out their problems after a few seasons of racing, so it seemed liked Dungey would arrive with a bike that was good now, and great later.
But that's not how it works for this brand. You want a 150 two-stroke enduro bike? They’ve got hard core enduro people ingrained into that company, so if you want it, they’ll make it and make it work.
Now they have more experienced supercross hands running the show. And with direct and constant contact between the U.S. race team and the factory back in Austria, this U.S. arm had full control over the production base they would work for 2012. Where other brands roll out new production bikes and tell the race teams to adapt, KTM built a team, and then had the team tell them how to build the bike. This win is not about the machine, it's about the process that built it.
The first win of many?
Cudby photo
Aaron Hansel
That didn’t take long, did it? Just two rounds into the 2012 season, the Orange Brigade has notched the very first supercross win in the history of the company, thanks to Ryan Dungey’s impeccable performance in Phoenix.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little surprised. After all, Dungey was only able to take a single win last year, and that was on a well-developed bike, not to mention a team with a history of winning races. But when you look at Dungey’s professional history, is it really that surprising? The guy won both major titles in just his rookie year, and was a serious contender the year after. With that in mind, a winless year for Dungey almost seems like a bigger surprise than his victory in Phoenix.
It isn’t like KTM is approaching this season at quarter-throttle, either; supplying Dungey with sub-par machinery simply wasn’t an option. For one, what’s the point of shelling out the kind of money a superstar like Dungey commands if you aren’t serious about winning? Secondly, giving Dungey a bike that wasn’t competitive would have made the brand look awful, which is something you know KTM wasn’t willing to do, especially on the heels of the 350 debacle.
Dungey proved to the world he can win on his KTM, and he did it with fifteen races remaining in the season. Suddenly, the distant possibility of an orange championship just became a very real reality.
Steve Matthes
Working for Kelly Smith, I was a mechanic on factory KTM for its first two seasons fielding a full-factory effort in the U.S. It wasn’t always the smoothest sailing but while I was there, Smith managed to win a muddy Mt Morris AMA national for KTM’s first ever win in America, and the next year, we had Grant Langston come up a busted wheel short of winning the AMA 125 National Motocross Championship. Aside from Langston, there was a motley group of riders and I remember one time, our team manager insisted we put these silver covers on our bikes while they were under the tent. On them were the words “KTM. Shhhhh, the beast is sleeping.” Truthfully, it was sort of embarrassing.
Our bikes weren’t that good, our riders weren’t that good and we were hardly a “beast” of a team. It was a little laughable actually. After two years, I was gone and the Langston won the ’03 national title, but then came many more years of so-so results.
Until Saturday night. In only his second race on a new KTM, Ryan Dungey captured the win in Phoenix with a wire-to-wire win and as you’ve read, the first ever for KTM in the premier class. It’s come way sooner than most thought it would and it came when, for the first time in his career, he came under some doubt as to whether he picked the right team. Sure he believed in Roger DeCoster and Ian Harrison, but was KTM capable of delivering a machine that would really be able to win?
The brand had promised that much to Jeremy McGrath and failed. But this time they had new people, new technology and a new commitment to winning, led at the very top by Worldwide head of KTM Racing Pit Beirer, who then put Stefan Everts in place over in Europe. It was Pit that first reached out to Roger DeCoster. Beirer, who once was a top level GP racer, knew that in order for the bike to sell, they had to race and win in the U.S. After so many stops and starts by the Austrian brand when it came to racing in America, they finally appear to have it right. And having it right starts with having the right man at the top and that is DeCoster. With no DeCoster, there is no Dungey and with no Dungey, there are no historic wins.
On top of big salaries paid to Dungey, DeCoster, Ken Roczen and Marvin Musquin, there are the enormous costs that come with scrapping what was still a pretty new bike and starting all over again with a new frame, motor and everything else. KTM is banking on the “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” philosophy and so far, they’ve got the first part down.
And much sooner than many of us thought. Congrats to KTM, the beast is no longer sleeping.
Share this article:
Did you like this article?
Check out LAST NIGHT
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Ryan Villopoto may have locked up his 450SX title a week early, but the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross Championship finale still had drama and excitement to spare. Page 124.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
A win is a win and Congrats to the KTM folks and Dungey, mission acomplished.....To be there in person and see "history in the making" if you will was pretty cool...Its all about the starts this year and RD proved that saturday night. Sure you can play devils advocate and point out the "what if's"....but it is what it is...the best man doesnt always win.....Sitting next to the KTM folks during practice and after watching RD struggle in the Heat race, I dont think any of them thought PHX would be the night, but this is supercross, you never know!!
Wins just seem to follow Roger D. It was just a matter of time til Dungey made it to the top of the box, Just did not think it would happen so quickly. Regardless, a monumental day for KTM. Congrats to Roger, Ryan and Marvin. Can't wait til Ken Roczen starts up on the East. This has to be killin that kid to see his team doing so well while he is watching on the sidelines!!!
Dungey should ride the 350 in vegas if he is 25 points up and show people the 350 can win...
Im Glad to See KTM break the mold.. Yes.. "Finally" We are at our Best,when we innovate,create,think and Believe, things dont have to remain the same ole same.
Much praise the the KTM company for hanging in there. I was a proud owner of a 01 520SX..and, while tame,and smooth,as so easy to ride,It would rip your leg off,or nail any holeshot,on Any given Sunday...So.. I think that where the "Beast is sleeping" KTM bike Covers originated from..
I wasent "embarrased" at all,It was different,it was FUN ,and it was good..enough..Now look at them..Holla !!!
What I like most is that team KTM remained calm after the huge win. It was like they knew they had to win at least 10 more, not time to party yet. Very impressive.
I want to know if RC was standing on a box during that opening segment Saturday night. Or were Emig and Sheehan kneeling?
Can we please have a playboy, sx themed pictorial featuring Dianna Dahlgren and erin normoyle together! Thats the real question here folks. Get it done Hef!
350 debacle?are you really a journalist?That is one of the all time best bikes ever made.I am a fan of both short,and alessi but they are not podium riders on any bike.Short,and alessi are both holeshot artist,but have a history of fading to about 6th place.Both of those riders needed to be on 450s.In the hands of carioli ,or heirlings the 350 looks great! ask rv.
Is there any coincidence that wherever roger d goes and what he does, it is money. The guy is a pure, chuck norris badass. Ktm is primed for a good run as long as they keep roger. Ditto for mitch payton. Big time winners.
Nothing wrong with the 350..... everything wrong with Alessi. Short was dealing with some personal issues that kept his mind from focusing on the task athand.
Dungey could win on a 350... podium? definatlly
I'm kinda surprised Matthes said that the riders he had wasnt that good. Frant Langston was there wasnt he?? He won a 125 class National Championship and won a 250/450 National Championship in his career.. But the riders wernt that good?? Sounds like Matthes had a bad experience and blames it on everyone but himself. Langston was a helluva rider.. And a great guy too.
BD, true on GL, he was a helluva rider, but back then in SX he was a helluva mess! Ittokk years to get up there as Lites SX title contender, and with another team. grant never did figure out SX on a big bike, at least nowhere near what Ryan Dungey has done...
DC
MX Sports
The 350 is a great bike for 90 percent of the population. Unfortunately, it didn't work out well here in the United States pro racing scene. Check out Short's outdoor results from 2010...
Jason Weigandt missed the KTM Lineup.
Forgot 50cc, 65cc, 85cc, 105cc, 400cc
Who thinks other manufacturers will step it up? It might be hard to justify because all of the other 4 Japan made bikes make all of the money on road bikes and 4 wheelers. Off road motorcycles are red haired step children with very little profit for the dealerships.
@pizzacorner LMAO I find it weird to make fun of Mathes while your name is pizzacorner. Dont tell someone they are fat with a name that has pizza on it.
Hopefully roczen & Malcolm make the podium east coast.
Why does everyone think that this has happen in the last few months? Roger has been at KTM for a year, Andrew Short Tried to make the 350 a winner and(not to say anybad about Short) proved that it would not work. I will give Dungey and KTM credit that they turned around and came out with a new bike in a very short time. But I think that if Dungey would have hired on when Roger D. joined up with KTM the results would have been a year late. I will admit Short has trouble getting on the top most of the time, but I think he has gotten the short(ha ha) end of the stick on this one. I do hope KTM can come out on top this season (sorry RV) so we can see that someone other that Japan can build a bike.
@racer221 I don't know this for sure but I have a good hunch that a big reason the KTM 350 has done so well at the GPs is the FIM rules on bore and stroke in the MX1 class allow KTM to get much more hp than the AMA rules allow. If anyone knows the FIM rules on that I would like to hear them?
SWEET! KTM makes the highest quality bikes, they're dedicated to the sport more than any other manufacturer and will continue to move forward as a dominant force. Look at all the european championships and former champions like Everts helping develope bikes. The 350 was fine and I say that base on the fact that Tomac on a 250 was on pace with the 450's.
Hey Aaron...isn't KTM most likely more concerned with the "90 percent " of the population regarding their 350?? It amazes me that you guys call it a "debacle".....KTM sold MORE 350's last year than they did any other bike in their line-up, enduros included, and apparently the bike is dramatically better this year than last. Apparently the slightly mediocre "pro" results of the 350 last year had little negative effect on all the people in the "90 percent" who went out and bought them.....that is where the sales numbers count, not so much in the top tier of pro racing.....I'll bet KTM calls their 350 campaign a success!!
@Whatever I was referring to the bike's performance in the American racing scene, not the bike itself. In fact, I'd love to have one myself!
Big KTM deal, 4th place heat race rider gets hole shot in main with the fast guys crashed out by others so he had no competition. He was almost run down from behind by a guy in last place also. Crow when you win a race out right which will be never if RV is anywhere close to you.
@Claxton......so you are saying that a 4th place heat race means that a main event win is a fluke?? "almost run down from behind"....but he wasn't was he?? Guys like RV and JS and RD typically end up in second or third when they have a mishap early in a race that puts them way behind, thats about the best they can expect in those instances. Maybe RD rode as hard as he knew he needed to in order to stay in control and not throw it away. Winning by 6 seconds is just as good as winning by 30 or 40 isn't it?? They do have pit boards telling them where the competition is right?? And they can adjust as needed, right?? Dungey DID win that race "out right" dude....you aren't pulling that "he only won because so and so crashed " crap are ya?? Give it up man, in Phoenix on saturday night, Ryan Dungey was the best rider out there, his win is all the evidence needed!! Whole new race next week though, for sure!! It was a "BIG KTM DEAL"!!! @Aaron, i get that, b ut it would be nice if you guys would add the fact that it was a sales success for KTM to your statements about how it was a "debacle" in the stadiums!! IMO, the right rider on that bike over here just might improve that status!!
.....and don't forget Claxton, last week in Anaheim RV finished 3rd in his heat, holeshot the main and led all 20 laps on the way to a win........is that only because Reed, Dungey, and Stewart crashed?? Nope, RV was the best that night, that is why!!
I would love to have a 350 myself, But I wouldnt be trying to race a 350 against the best riders in the world when they are on 450's.. A few guys tried that and it didnt work.
@Claxton, Dungey won that race outright period. I dont remember you saying RV didnt win his race outright.. Dungey did something nobody else has ever done before--Again. He won a supercross main on a brand nobody has won on, and a Tool like you try and play it down. NO WAT, it was a great race by Dungey.
KTM is looking really, really smart. Roger re-activated the Dungey aggresion circuits that he had de-activated in Dungey's race programming before leaving Suzuki. gotta love it
People still getting all upset if anyone calls the 350 experiment in the Pro AMA SX/MX class a fail? Bike sales aren't what we're talking about here. Most manufacturers don't race their best seller, usually a foofoo bike. I gotta say, any negativity towards KTM has orange fans in complete upheaval. Dungey won, great ride, well deserved. Now we have to make it more impressive than it actually is? If Weimer had the holeshot and Dungey went down as well, is everyone comparing Weimer's hypothetical win to RV at A1? Completely doubtful. Hope Dungey can back it up again at some point this year in SX.
You guys are all worried about a 350 vs 450; didn't Tomac or Wilson have the fastest racing lap on the night with a 51.4? Alessi holeshot the 350 a few times in soft terrain up hill start during the outdoors ( I mention the outdoors because that is the biggest power drain, also many holeshots in Europe)? Rider, technique?
the 350 was a debacle, look how much short's results have improved!!
I just checked the results again, nevermind.
Not totally sure what your point is BKR?!?! Why does a manufacturer make a product?? That's right, to SELL it....hopefully a LOT of it. KTM apparently did that with the 350 and sold a lot of them....think they arte happy?? I'll bet so!! Granted here in the states it didn't have the best results, BUT, was the "best" rider on it?? Nope!! ANd, when people say the Euro guys don't stack up to the riders in the states, well, ok...but the guy who did win the title over there on it won it against a full field of 450 riders!!!! I don't think KTM fans are in "upheaval" either, i personally was just making a point that with most of the press about the 350 being negative, there actually is a VERY positive side of the production of that bike also....SALES!!
Guys i have friends that have 350's. They say it is great, but they also say when they get on the 450 there like, "OKay this a 450". Its how it works, 350= lighter different power and controllable power. 450= a little heavy and just raw power, it depends on a rider. I think if you ride like windham you need a 450. Barcia i think a 350 would be good. Its just technique and how you control it.
It all started with Lance Smail on the big KTM four stroke back in the day.
Wonder if anything from Dungeys bike such as the geometry will eventually filter down to the next gen 2 strokes. I have a 2012 150sx and it is hard to see how it could be any better. Me, yes, the bike, not so much! So fun to ride.
CONGRADS KTM, ryan , roger, the team. Am I the only one that wonders what in the h*** the big shots at Suzuki are doing? Lesee, nope dont give roger a 3 yr deal, after all he has done for suzuki,......nope get rid of Ryan, he wants too much, and cant fuel his own bike...... I think Suzuki can only be fazing out of MX, as in the early 80's....just gotta wonder whos steering the damn ship over there...