Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1022726
IN THE WIND P38 DECOSTER'S NEW ROLE, HARRISON NAMED KTM TEAM MANAGER K TM made some internal changes that affect its Red Bull KTM Supercross/Moto- cross Team. Former Team Man- ager Roger DeCoster has been named Motorsports Director KTM/Husqvarna North America, and Ian Harrison will take over as KTM's new MX and Supercross team manager. DeCoster's arrangement with KTM/Husqvarna is a multi-year deal that will see him retain a more strategic and senior position in all of KTM and Husqvarna's USA racing activities. Harrison has been Roger's "right hand man" and key collaborator for a number of years—certainly since 2011 when DeCoster first came to KTM—and has also renewed his position with the KTM Group to become de facto Team Manager of the Red Bull KTM MX/SX squad and Technical Director of the KTM/Husqvarna efforts in the United States. "I can still remember now when people said I was crazy to join KTM," DeCoster said. "It has almost been 10 years but it shows that when a company is as serious and dedicated about their racing as the KTM Group are then many things are possible. I'm happy to again sign with them and to continue working with them to extend my long story in this sport. We have achieved a lot together and I don't feel that the 'fire' is dimming or my motivation to keep this team and factory at the top of the sport is any less as the first day I wore the orange shirt. I'd like to thank Mr. Pierer, Pit and all the guys who work so hard to allow us to be where we want to be." Harrison said, "Time has passed so quickly and it feels like we have done so much since we start- ed to look at how and where we could be better back in 2011. I don't think we could have imagined all the trophies and red plates we've collected, even if the ambition to do so was very strong then and has not faded in all this time. We went through the Dungey era and have seen the development of Marvin to a bona fide supercross title contender. We're not stopping and it's exciting to think about where we can go next." Robert Jonas, Vice President KTM Offroad, said, "Having Roger and Ian as the solid backbone of our supercross and motocross division in the United States has paid back so much to the com- pany. Believing and backing those guys the best way we can has allowed for some superb success in some of the biggest and most competitive mo- torcycle racing series. Keeping them as part of the family and depending on their experience and wis- dom was very important to us, so I'm really pleased to be talking about this new contract. I want to congratulate Ian, he is now leading the Red Bull KTM team and this is the least he deserves after so much work and dedication over the years. We will continue to plan, and hopefully, continue to reach our goals on American soil." CN