Cairoli's New Gig
K
TM named nine-time mo-
tocross World Champion
Antonio Cairoli as its new race
manager for the Red Bull KTM
MXGP team, replacing long-time
boss Claudio De Carli.
KTM said Cairoli "...boasts ex-
ceptional knowledge of not only
the sport but also KTM's racing
culture and philosophy. He will
sync with fellow former multi-time
world champion Joel Smets who
will train and coach a selection
of Red Bull KTM Factory racing
riders and other athletes in the
group."
"2022 was a change for me
and now this is another chapter!"
Cairoli said. "It was great to race
again this year, but it was also
positive to take a small step back
from racing and see things in a
different way. I really hope I can
bring as much knowledge and
passion as possible to this new
role. I will have some learning to
do but I also worked with some
amazing people in my career, so
I expect to use this experience.
We are already thinking about
our goals for 2023."
De Carli, who guided Cairoli to
the six championships between
2010 and 2017, will now oversee
KTM racing efforts as the new
motocross race director.
"This is the next step in our
race department vision for
motocross and for the way we
want to keep the brands and
organize the best potential in
the paddock," said Pit Beirer,
KTM Motorsports Director. "It
was clear that Tony's experience
and never-ending passion for the
sport was something we could
count on, just like we did in
2009 when we first started talk-
ing. The De Carli connection has
been one of the big success sto-
ries for us, and I'm pleased that
it can progress and continue. It's
great to have Joel in his devel-
opment role still and Harry and
Dirk taking on different tasks.
We have some great riders and
some excellent staff for 2023 so
I'm sure we'll have plenty more
exciting times."
KTM's 2023 MXGP roster is
currently made up of Jeffrey Her-
lings along with MX2 riders Andrea
Adamo and Liam Everts.
CN
IN
THE
WIND
P28
Toni Cairoli is Red Bull KTM's
new MXGP team manager.
