VOLUME 56 ISSUE 41 OCTOBER 15, 2019 P33
KTM Teases
All-New
Duke Model
K
TM dropped its first teaser
video of an all-new Duke
model. It's likely to be the new
890, which will replace the two-
year-old 790 for 2020.
The #GetDuked video is basi-
cally a bunch of engineers creat-
ing the new model from scratch,
with KTM's signature orange
trellis frame easily seen. What is
a little more telling is for a brief
second you can see the new
bike has an aluminum subframe,
which is a hallmark of the 790
compared to the steel unit found
on the bigger 1290.
November 5, 2019, is marked
down as the date of release,
which will be held at the 2019
EICMA Show in Milan. KTM will
also have on show the long-
awaited 390 Adventure, which
will compete head-to-head with
the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 and
BMW G 310 GS.
This year's EICMA Show will
be drawn out a little further with
Ducati opting not to
launch its products on
the Sunday of EICMA, as
is traditionally the case,
instead opting for a stand-
alone show in Milan on
October 23. CN
Zarco In For Nakagami
F
ormer Red Bull KTM rider Johann Zarco looks set to make a
return to the MotoGP paddock as a replacement for Takaaki
Nakagami for the final three rounds of 2019, as the Japanese
rider elects to have shoulder surgery following this weekend's
home race in Motegi. Nakagami's shoulder injury is similar to that
of Marc Marquez, who required surgery after the 2018 season
finished.
Zarco is thus expected to see out the season with the LCR
Honda squad. The Frenchman is still contracted to KTM until the
2019 season's conclusion, although KTM motorsport boss' Pit
Beirer has said KTM would allow Zarco to ride for a rival before
the contract officially ends. A confirmation of Zarco's appointment
is expected at Motegi this weekend, October 20. CN
Johann Zarco
will be out to
impress on the
Honda for the
last two rounds
of the year.
