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/126073
minute moto . I I~st a lot of races because of them , like until the Series reaches the West Coast. Without bikes at Mammoth, where I was forced to slow up and fini sh and parts from KTM Imports he probably would have second. Motocross Fox is helping us out now with their been unable to race -any of the Eastern events. It makes new dual rate air shocks and those are finally doing the you wonder how other privateers without any factory job. We 've had the same pair on our bike since the support, whatsoever, manage to stay on the circuit. ' . 500cc Nationals. with no failures. We traveled back "Motorcycle racing needs to be promoted a lot more East to some of the Nationals to get 'the bikes and than it is now . It 's so underpaid for most of the riders shocks dialed in for the Trans·AMA Series ." involved. At events like the Supercross Series where the Officially, Pat is sponsored by KTM Imports, but promoters can obviously afford it, bigger purses that support is limited mainly to the events in the Wes; should be paid out. Every rider on the starting line covered by KTM Imports' sales area. When they're on .should be able to expect to get a relative share of 'the the West Coast, Chuck receives a salary from KTM purse; not like it is now with the top factory riders in the top positions getting everything. .and Pat gets expenses, bikes and parts. It's a good deal My best finish to date? That had to be 'the 500cc considering KTM is such a small distributor and trying to do the best it ca n . but unfortunately most -of the Support class at the Superbowl. After I broke my AMA races during the year are back shoulderblade at Pontiac Stadium I laid off for a East . When they're in the sales area of Penton while. Then came the Superbowl at the L.A. Coliseum Imports; the only support KTM Imports gives Pat is where I won the '500cc class. Everyone said I was parts to keep the bikes running. . turning the same lap times as Ellis (winner of the 250cc Penton Imports would probably like to give Pat Feature class). I would have liked a little more support at Eastern events , but can't . do it without publicity from that win, because a 250cc bike can turn jeopardizing his KTM Imports support in the West.- faster times on a stadium track than a 500cc bike can. It's a shame that Penton andKTM can't get together : It was KTM's first major win in the United States and • and iron out any differences between them so both there was hardly any mention of it by the press. or by_ KTM in its advrtising. _ could benefit from the value of sponsoring the fastest KTM rider' in the United States . The solution is no Right now I want to do well in the Trans-AMA more complicated than putting a Penton/KTM decal Series so I'll be noticed for next year. East coast tracks on ' Pat' Richter's gas tank, but at present neither are a lot different than what I'm used to and I screwed up at Axton and Unadilla . but I'm learning all the distributor acknowledges the other's existence. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Pat time. Next year I plan to race the Florida Series to start things off. I like my KTMs and would like to stay campaigns the East Coast events on privateer status. He realizes though, that even a privateer can't do with them, but I'm going to have to have more support things half way and expect to be successful. Out of his if I'm ever go~ng to make a living at racing." . Pat Richter is presently the fastest privateer on the own pocket Pat pa ys Chuck's salary and expenses. They. eat in restaurants and sleep in motels. Each has AMA . motocross circuit, and with a little more his own job to do : Chuck maintaining the bikes during experience he plans to become a whol~ lot faster. Still , the week as Pat exercises daily and goes riding. Even as he realizes he needs full factory supPOrt to make it . well as Pat has been doing in this year's Trans·AMA The only question remaining is whether KTM and events, most of the time he's operating in the red, Penton can get together to offer him that support . • financially. and won't actually be making any money before someone else does . · Making it to the top the hard way r-----~--------------------____::__--....,......, .... Above: No rider except Pat Richter has proven himself capable of racing with the factory riders on a weekly basis. KTM provides Pat with partial support along with some help from Moto-X Fox. 13