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/1435611
IN THE WIND P40 Kallonen Promoted To Director of Off-Road Racing For KTM NA K TM North America an- nounced that Antti Kallonen, longtime team manager of the FMF KTM Factory Racing pro- gram, has been appointed Direc- tor of Off-Road Racing for KTM Group in North America. Kallonen's new role will allow him to retain a more strategic and senior position in all of KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles and Gas- Gas North America's off-road, flat track and trials racing activities. Furthermore, FMF KTM Factory Off-Road Racing is pleased to welcome Tim Weigand as Team Manager, as he makes the transi- tion from overseeing Husqvarna Motorcycles' factory off-road team for the last seven years. Since taking over KTM's factory off-road racing program in 2006, Kallonen has led KTM to 94 Na- tional and World Championships, as well as 11 X-Games gold med- als with KTM-supported athletes. Additionally, since stepping into the role of U.S. ISDE World Trophy Team Manager in 2012, Kallonen and the American squad have amassed five ISDE gold medals in all three trophy divisions. Kallonen will continue to work closely with Weigand and the group's other managers. "I'm looking forward expand- ing my support and time across all three brands, five teams and all the 10 different disciplines," Kallonen said. "With our many racing activities across North America, I see it as important for the company to be able to support each team manager and their teams with an overall strategy and direction to further strengthen each of the teams in the right areas. We've been for- tunate to enjoy a great amount of success and I'm looking forward to continuing the same path with even stronger teams." "The transition from Husqvarna to KTM is a bittersweet one," Weigand said. "As one chapter closes, a new one begins, and I can't help but be excited to tack- le new challenges. I will undoubt- edly miss the many individuals within the Husqvarna family, and I am thankful to still be able to see them within the racing com- munity. The team has become a second family to me, and I will always be proud of the work we accomplished together. Looking forward, I'm excited to continue the legacy of winning with KTM. I want to thank the KTM Group as a whole for entrusting me with this great honor." CN Antti Kallonen (pictured) has been promoted to Director of Off-Road Racing for KTM NA. Tim Weigand will step in as KTM's Off-Road Manager.