KTM Australia press release:

KTM Motocross Racing Team riders Kirk Gibbs and Luke Styke will head a formidable KTM line up for this Sunday’s prestigious Manjimup 15,000 International Motocross which takes place at Cosy Creek circuit three hours south of Perth.

The famous event blends a picturesque location and an exciting atmosphere driven by passionate locals, with a unique track challenge that combines deep, energy-sapping sand whoops, famous WA pea-gravel over hard pack, and high-quality local riders.

The MX Nationals championship one and two ranked riders will face a quality local and international field which includes US rider Josh Hill and New Zealander Brad Groombridge.

KTM 450 SX-F mounted Gibbs has been the picture of championship winning material in the premier MX1 championship of this year’s Nationals, and holds a 52-point lead at the series halfway point.

His KTM teammate Luke Styke is the 2013 MX2 champion, who, in his first year on 450cc machinery has astounded observers with his speed and consistency and already has a national round win under his belt.

At Manjimup they’ll face numerous keen Western Australian challengers aboard KTM machinery, including multi time podium finisher Dean Porter, who will be joined by respected local regular and new dad Louis Calvin.

Super-fast Jayden Rykers is currently running fifth in this year’s MX development series, and the Perth teenager will be very keen to join in the action on his 290-kitted KTM 250 SX.

Kirk Gibbs – “Manjimup is something we try and do every year, because it’s such a cool race. I’ve got my name on the board in the clubhouse now after winning last year, so that’s a cool thing because there are some talented riders that have won that race over the years. It’s a tough track, it’s pretty hard pack in sections, and then it goes to a deep sand track, I think they even use a big roller to roll the track in. You wouldn’t think it would get that rough with rolling it in with such a big machine, but it seems to get plenty rough so it’s always a very fast and technical track. It’s an awesome track, good viewing and everyone there is just right into it, we sign heaps of posters every time we go there, probably more than anywhere. I don’t know whether it’s just the WA fans getting right into it or whether it’s just such a big event, but it’s just really good.”

Luke Styke – “We’ll have a practice today, so it should be fun – that’s what it’s all about. Rob’s a big fan, he’s told me it’s a really cool track, lots of hard pack spots, good sandy spots down the bottom, and a pretty fast kind of track.
We’re in the break now so we get to enjoy ourselves and enjoy the opportunity to get over here so it’s good of KTM to bring us over. We visited KTM yesterday and met a few people in the office that are kind of following what we do, which was pretty cool.”

Jayden Rykers – “I’m really looking forward to Manjimup, I’m actually riding on an open class bike. The guys that I’m sponsored by have put together a 290SX for me. My first Open Class event so I’m looking forward to it. It’s a cool bike. I went up to Newman at the start of the year and I rode it there – it was out-pulling the 450s down the straight and I ended up winning everything. In previous years I just struggled to get any kind of a start on the 250, so it will be good to actually get a good start and run up front. I’ve done Manjimup pretty much every year since I was on a 65, and it’s a good layout and great facility for fans to watch, even compared to tracks over east, the spectating’s way better for them.”

Dean Porter – “I’m feeling pretty good about Manjimup this weekend; the last couple of national rounds have gone better for me and I’m feeling more confident. I’m riding a KTM 450 SX-F so it’s a bit different to the 250 2-stroke I’m racing in the Nationals. I’ve done Manjimup five times, maybe more, and I think I’ve podiumed three times, so I want to try and get that win, I’ve been going for a long time now and never got the win at Manjimup. That’s the goal, it’ll be hard with guys like Gibbsy and that there, but we’ll give it a shot.”

Louis Calvin – “I’m looking forward to this, I’ve had a few weeks where I’ve been able to get on the bike a little bit more, which is better than what the start of the year has been like, I’ve been just so busy working and building a house and becoming a dad a couple weeks ago, I’ve been run off my feet and just don’t have enough light in the day. I’m just hoping I can get myself some good starts and get up front, I’m sure I’ll be able to run a good pace in the short races.”

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