News 2 Aug 2012

Exclusive - Choice Motorsports in line for factory KTM MX2 effort

Choice Motorsports KTM team owner Anthony Giles has revealed that his Melbourne-based team is poised to take over KTM's factory MX2 team for 2013.

Dylan Long has been a standout in MXD for Choice Motorsports KTM during 2012. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Choice Motorsports KTM team owner Anthony Giles has revealed that his Melbourne-based team is poised to take over KTM’s factory MX2 team for 2013.

With speculation flooding the industry in recent rounds of the Monster Energy MX Nationals, Giles told MotoOnline.com.au in an exclusive interview this week that Choice Motorsports and KTM are in the final stages of clinching the deal.

Giles’ revelation matches rumours that KTM will field its MX1 team in-house for next season following three seasons with JDR Motorsports at the helm, and details were outlined during KTM Australia’s annual dealer conference in Bali last weekend.

It’s expected that KTM will field two full factory 450 SX-Fs in MX1, while Choice Motorsports will field the Austrian manufacturer’s MX2 program with factory support.

“We’re currently in talks with Jeff Leisk and KTM to run their MX2 team for 2013,” Giles told MotoOnline. “It’s not locked in concrete yet, but it was briefly announced at a KTM dealership meeting in Bali over the weekend.

“KTM is looking to bring its race team back in-house, where [veteran KTM mechanic] Rob Tywerold will run the MX1 team and we’ll run the MX2 team next to them, similar to Suzuki’s and Yamaha’s set-ups right now.”

In Choice Motorsports’ first season fielding a national team this year, Victorian rising star Dylan Long has won multiple rounds and currently sits second in the series behind fellow KTM contender Kayne Lamont.

“It’s likely we’ll run the same truck we have this year, and the KTM team may also run a rigid vehicle,” Giles continued. “We’ll possibly pit next to each other and share awning space. KTM wants to keep it fairly in-house so there won’t be a lot of outside sponsors.

“We’re pretty excited about it. We want to step up our level of support and the MX2 class delivers some of the best racing in my opinion. Our goal is to develop a MX2-specific team that and I’m really looking forward to the challenge it’ll bring. Now we’ve just got to look for some riders!”

Further linking the team to KTM is the fact that Motorex KTM Off Road Racing factory standout Toby Price will complete the Australian Motocross season with Choice Motorsports following a promising debut at Appin.

“Toby Price came up to me after Appin and said he’s fallen in love with motocross racing again and wants to compete in the rest of the series to build his intensity levels,” Giles added.

“We’ve agreed, so we’ll have three riders under our tent for the final two rounds – Jake Wright and Toby Price in MX1 and Dylan Long in MXD.”

The future of JDR Motorsports in Australia remains unlocked at this point, however it is expected that the team will compete in a reduced form next season while still focusing on its American effort.

To check out the complete interview with Giles right here on MotoOnline.com.au, click here.

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