Shooting Gallery: 2018 KTM Team Riders 1

Here are a few of our favorites from yesterday's KTM intro.

You know the countdown's on for the upcoming Supercross season when we start getting invitations to check out the new team rosters, and riders on their new bikes. It's also a first peek at the new livery, and a chance to check in with the riders after some time away. Here are a few of our favorites.

KTM's new RD (Roger DeCoster, and Ryan Dungey) Field above their headquarters in Murietta, CA. This spot will be home to two Supercross tracks, and an Endurocross training zone. The whoops? They were big, slippery, and giving riders some fits. But they'll be a good real-world test before they hit the track this season.

Ryan Dungey was on hand to help KTM North American President, John Hinz, with the unveiling of the new bike.

First Look: 2018 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
Tech Brief on the 2018 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition" data-credit="" class="img_fullscreen">

We heard the new pipe (with its unusual bulge) jokingly referred to as a three-stroke pipe more than once. Mechanics will like where the split in the pipe is, as it helps make access to the shock easier. The new head makes the powerplant 15mm shorter.

Roger DeCoster's Red Bull KTM squad will have Marvin Musquin and Broc Tickle going for the title.

The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-KTM-WPS crew will move Michael Byrne into the full-time team manager role, and Blake Baggett and Benny Bloss on 450s. Dakota Alix will return on a 250, and will be joined by Anthony Rodriguez. Anthony Rodriguez had only had a few days of outdoor riding under his belt on the new bike, so he didn't participate, and Dakota took a hard digger in the whoops before we got a chance to get any riding shots of him.

Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM's Team Manager, Tyler Keefe, will have Jordon Smith, Shane McElrath, Alex Martin, and Sean Cantrell back in '18.

Broc Tickle's Red Bull KTM. This is the same bike he rode at the Monster Energy Cup, but with the proper plastic on it. At the Monster Energy Cup, and Paris and Geneva Supercross races, riders raced it...but with last year's plastic on it to keep things as undercover as possible.

Blake Baggett's Rocky Mountain ATV/MC-KTM-WPS version.

The 250s for Anthony Rodriguez and Dakota Alix.

Broc Tickle and Marvin Musquin ready to head out onto the track.

Marvin Musquin.

Broc Tickle.

Blake Baggett.

Shane McElrath.


1 comments

View replies to: Shooting Gallery: 2018 KTM Team Riders

Comments

The Latest