Yesterday’s news that the JDR/J-Star/KTM team may close its US operations once the 2013 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series wraps up came as a bigger surprise than a wet willy from a stranger in a movie theatre.

We caught up with five riders and industry big-wigs to get their thoughts on the demise of the J-Star/JDR/KTM team.

Ryan Marmont has ridden for JDR in both Australia and the US.

Ryan Marmont – former JDR KTM racer
I haven’t spoken to the Rynenbergs since the news broke, but I think they’ve given a lot of people a lot of opportunities. I can’t thank them enough for what they’ve done for me and the opportunities they gave me. There will be those who will be critical, but I think they did an amazing job of boosting the profiles of the riders and really raised the bar in the Australian scene. Since they entered the race scene the pits have more semis and the teams appear a lot more professional, and I hope that legacy remains.

I think racing in general is going through a tough time at the moment – a lot of people are struggling more than I’ve ever seen and I think and we could see other teams face similar problems in the future. Running a motocross team is expensive and when you’re spending a lot of money you have to pull the reins in and I think that’s what they’ve done.

I’m grateful for everything they’ve done and for their continued personal support as I get close to signing a deal with Raceline Suzuki, and if anyone shakes their heads and criticises the Rynenbergs for what’s happened, I’ve got a few words for them.

Matt Moss – former JDR KTM racer
To be honest I’m not surprised by the news of the JDR team folding. I think the alarm bells for me started when they gave up on Australia so quickly to focus on their American efforts. I honestly believe it’s not a money thing, even though they’re going to say it is. I think they’re just over it and were probably disheartened by not getting the results they wanted for the amount of money they were investing into the team. Maybe if they’d spent their film-producing money on things that would help their riders more it could’ve ended differently.

Ultimately JDR did a lot of great things for the sport by investing a lot of money and making everyone else up the ante, but the reality is now the rest of the teams won’t have to compete with JDR’s huge spending budgets and will probably tighten their belts even more.
It’s hard when teams come and go; it’s great while they’re there and it means there are five or six extra seats available for riders, but when they pull out it means there are that amount of seats less and a lot of riders who won’t get a ride next year. I feel for Josh Cachia and Joey Savagty – they’ll be hurting right now and I hope they can pick up rides once the supercross season finishes.

Matt Moss is the lone JDR Motorsports rider to land on an American podium in 250SX.

Kevin Williams – Monster Energy MX Nationals promoter
It’s disappointing to see any team disappear. I think the JDR KTM team set a high standard and it made other teams set their targets higher as a result. I was surprised when such a young team decided to go to the US and wind up their Australian team. They probably tried to enter the US scene when the market and economy was going the opposite way, and when times are as tough as they are at the moment, it was always going to be a battle.

At the end of the day sponsors expect to see results for their investments. Sure, they achieved good results in the Lites here, but overall – and in the premier MX1 class – their on-track achievements were mixed.

I hope this news doesn’t affect the careers of their US riders Joey Savagty and Malcom Stewart. As for Josh [Cachia], he has unfinished business back in Australia and will be back. Having JDR KTM in the pits has been great for the championship and I wish them all the best for the future.