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/220782
P20 IN THE WIND MORE ON THE RETURN OF HUSKY H usqvarna will return to Grand Prix road racing in 2014 for the first time since 1975. One year after its purchase by KTM from BMW Motorrad, the Swedish brand that is best known for its serial success off-road and its enduro, motocross and Supermoto products, will compete in the 2014 Moto3 World Championship with a tworider team sponsored by Red Bull and headed by British two-time GPwinner Danny Kent as factory rider, and Finland's Niklas Ajo as the socalled 'official support rider.' Ajo's father Aki Ajo will manage the Red Bull Husqvarna Factory Racing Team - in addition to the factory KTM Moto3 squad he's also responsible for. That team features Australian Jack Miller – the top Honda rider in the 2013 Moto3 season - and Czech Karel Hanika, winner of the 2013 Red Bull Rookies series for customer KTMs. That makes this essentially an exercise in re-branding, since both teams will use identical motorcycles, an evolved form of the KTM 250cc single that won every single race in the 2013 Moto3 series. It's a marketing strategy that was previously adopted by the Piaggio Group for its Aprilia, Gilera and Derbi brands in the former twostroke 125cc GP and 250cc GP (Aprilia and Gilera only) categories – and with an ultimate degree of success, since all three brands each won World Championships. "Running Husqvarna in the Moto3 World Championship will bring considerable interest to both the category and the brand," said Stefan Pierer, KTM's President/ CEO. "The Moto3 stage will give a further boost to grow Husqvarna stronger than ever. We're looking forward to seeing great competition next year." However, Pierer's motives for making this move are interesting, because it must inevitably presuppose that Husqvarna will return to the streetbike market it exited earlier this year with the cancellation of the Nuda model (powered by the 900cc version of BMW's F800 parallel-twin motor). There would be no justification in taking Husqvarna road racing – even with a badge engineered version of KTM's own racebike – unless it would be to promote a future Bo Granath gives Barry Sheene a ride back to the pits at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium in 1973. Granath finished fifth in the 1972 500cc World Championship on a Husqvarna. range of Husqvarna streetbikes. "For sure I think Husqvarna will do streetbikes, but not with the Nuda, because it has a BMW engine," said Pierer in an interview earlier this year after acquiring the company – which, be it noted, belongs to his private holding company Pierer Industrie. "Husqvarna will remain a separate company, and the brand will stay alive – that's the most important thing. Now we have to look into where the synergies lie with the whole KTM group… I'm not too worried, because it's an alternative. Look to Triumph - what's the reason for its success? It's an affordable non-Japanese bike with