MX2 World Champion Marvin Musquin not only opened the defense of his world championship title with a double victory in Bulgaria this weekend, he also signed a contract with KTM to compete for them in the USA in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

In announcing the contract, director of KTM Offroad Racing Pit Beirer said the company was extremely happy to have secured Musquin’s services for another two years.

“We have confidence in him and he has confidence in us,” Beirer said at the Bulgarian GP. “We had the great news this weekend that Marvin is to stay with us for the next two years and ride in the USA so this will be his last season in Europe for the moment – but maybe the beginning of a big future for us in America.

“America is watching what we are doing in Europe and it was be great to follow the same success story in America,” Beirer said. “By signing Marvin to ride in the USA KTM is announcing its intention to build up a new structure in the USA. This is our first milestone in a program that is designed to steer us into being real contenders in the US competition. We consider it as a very strong and positive move.

“Marvin shows a lot of mental strength as well as his obvious skills on his KTM. He had some difficult moments last season due to changing teams half way through the season, but he treated all this with maturity and he went on to win the title. He’s in love with his KTM bike this year and I believe he can do very well for us in the US competition.”

Musquin put his name to the contract last weekend, excited for the move at the end of this season.

“This is great for me and for KTM,” Musquin said. I hope to be on top in the USA. It’s a dream for me to ride in the USA and also a dream to stay with KTM.”