Cedric Soubeyras will race the MX1 GPs on a 250 two-stroke KTM !
The plan was exclusively revealed by mx-pure.com last month and, now out of hospital after an operation before Xmas, Burkhardt Sarholz confirmed today that it will happen.
“We haven’t finalized all of the details of how to finance it, but we will go ahead. Cedric is keen to do it, and so am I. There is no specific support for the two-stroke from the KTM factory, but I get a budget from them and can decide myself how to use it.”
Explaining his enthusiasm, the Westerwald dealer added: “We saw a 20% increase in two-stroke sales last year without any promotion at all. There is a market out there, particularly as cash is tight, and the savings on service because the rider or his father can make many repairs themselves is for sure an important factor.”
But simply giving two-stroke fans a hero to cheer is not the only incentive: “I’m sure Cedric can deliver results. He has the right attitude, he has proved that all winter, his return from hospital to race in Stuttgart, his victory in Geneva, I believe he can push for the top ten sometimes, and we will all benefit.”
Author: Alex Hodgkinson
http://www.mx-pure.com/archive/news-20090318095911-20100108191324.htm
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Comments
By Chris2T on January 20th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
The KTM250SX motor rips! He’s got to be pretty close to the horsepower of the handicappers. Maybe less torque, and squeezed into a narrower range, but i think he’ll have the ponies to compete
By MMS on January 21st, 2010 at 4:51 am
Is this a crafty “toe in the water” from KTM?, if it works out they get plenty of benefit, if not well sure they’re not “really” involved are they!
Whatever way, something like this is in my opinion an immense coup for those of us who firmly believe that 2-strokes should still be a major player in the off-road market world wide as it will do good on so many levels.
Firstly, we’re now 7 or 8 years down the road from the forced introduction of those wretched 4-strokes and guess what, it might just be one bike but the fact is that there’ll still be a 2-stroke out there, indicating that despite the scandalous manipulation of rules, alteration of track layout, disregard for noise levels, everything weighed against the strokers, they haven’t got rid of them. Now surely that in itself sends out a very, very, powerful message.
Then add in all the other stuff, the support which this bike will surely get during the season which the people who matter will see, the increased 2-stroke sales which will result purely by it’s presence, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it results in bigger crowds at some rounds even and what message would that send out to the race organisers!
It’s terrific news, just lets hope that the forces who will be displeased by this don’t manage to derail it before it happens.
By bleake637 on January 21st, 2010 at 10:05 am
AWESOME! this is one giant step for two-stroke kind. It will be great to see Cedric out there on the two stroke. Hopefully we can get a top pro to do the same thing here in the States. I agree with you MMS though, this sure does seem like a crafty move by KTM. It’s a win-win for them, no risk and all reward.
By sdcaro on January 27th, 2010 at 12:34 am
Cedric, I wish you the best of luck. It would be nice if a top level rider here in the U.S would take the chance and campaign a two-stroke. I can barely watch a modern bike race because of that gawd-awful four-stroke din!