KTM Australia press release:

KTM Australia’s factory and factory support riders have one thing in common when it comes to this weekend’s fourth round of the monster energy MX nationals at South Australia’s Murray Bridge – an affection for the softer, loamier track surfaces.

Though he lives in another state, MX1 championship leader Kirk Gibbs will consider the round a ‘home’ track, in that he’ll enjoy the support of an army of family and friends as he attempts to build his 19 point championship lead into a bigger platform.

Last year’s runner-up is looking more and more champion material and he will carry the coveted red plate into the round with no small degree of pride.

KTM Motocross Racing Team mate and round three winner Luke Styke is a self-confessed sand track aficionado who has been looking forward to the SA and WA rounds of the championship for more than a month.

Though he may be the premier class rookie, Styke is rapidly firming as a genuine championship contender and it’s no surprise that the KTM motocross racing team duo are currently 1-2 in Australia’s most important motocross championship.

Rob Twyerould, KTM Motocross Racing Team Manager – “I think it’ll be a good weekend. The boys have been down there and competed at the recent state title, so it was great for them to get a feel for the track, and it’s Gibbsy’s home track so I think he will feel good with all his family and friends around. For us it’s business as usual, taking one round at a time – we’re only one-third of the way through the championship.”

Kirk Gibbs – “I’m excited to race in South Australia this weekend. I was down there a few weeks ago and the track was really well prepared. Getting a little bit of a bum-kicking the other weekend was good for me – it sort of kick-started me a little bit. Murray Bridge is pretty similar soil to what I grew up on, so that helps a lot, and obviously I rode there maybe a couple of times a year as a junior, and then once every year since I’ve been doing the Nationals. But I like that place, and if you can do well there you always seem to carry that little bit extra confidence with you into the next few rounds.”

Luke Styke – “I’ve been looking forward to this and, it’s going to be good to get in and have a bit of a loamy round – I can’t wait. To me the plan is like it’s been all year, just trying to get myself into a good position, and then try to put it up on the box again. That’s my plan every weekend – take the win if it’s there, but just ride smart until the break and put in some good rides after that. The sandy tracks seem to suit my riding style. I set my bike up a bit more that way and I’ve always ridden better in it.”

In MX2 Racing, KTM Factory Support rider Caleb Ward will return to the fray after his Appin knee injury precluded him from competing at Round Three.

Newcastle KTM’s Dylan Wills is the highest placed of the orange men in sixth overall, one ahead of KTM Factory Support rider Hamish Harwood.

Caleb Ward – “I’ve been riding again and am feeling pretty good. I’m doing a fair bit of cycling just trying to get everything feeling good and strong again. I rode Coolum the other day and felt pretty good on the bike which is good, so that all adds a bit more confidence. I’m pretty keen. There is less chance of twisting my knee at Murray Bridge because of the softer soil, and it’s what I prefer anyway. It’s a bit faster and should flow a bit better than some of the other tracks too, and it was where I turned my year around last year so hopefully that’ll happen again.”

In MXD racing, on the back of a last-start second place, KTM support rider Wayde Carter joined team mate Kaleb Barham in a share of fourth place in the MXD championship. Fellow support rider Jayden Rykers’ fifth in the last round sees him currently ninth overall.

For more information on KTM Motorcycles, visit www.ktm.com.au or www.facebook.com/KTMAustralia.