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/764997
INTERVIEW 2016 CYCLE NEWS RIDERS OF THE YEAR P66 this initiative, countless hours of our staff time and discussions and meetings. It was literally five years to get it to where it is today and we're finally able to say that what we committed to Kurt to do, the guys made it happen." For most of the team who knew Kurt well, it was an emo- tional victory. "It meant a lot to me," Taylor said. "I kind of fol- lowed in Kurt's footsteps through the WORCS races and then going to Six Days. He took me under his wing and told me what to do and I listened as best I could and kept working on it. To do this in my lifetime and the fact that I was so close to Kurt and it was something that he wanted so bad, it felt really cool in so many ways." "It really hit right after we won," Kallonen said. "The first two minutes of quiet when I was walking from the awards cer- emony back to the container, it really hit that really this is what Kurt started. I wouldn't be here doing this if Kurt hadn't come that one day to KTM to have a meeting with myself and Jon-Erik to say, 'Hey, I have this dream with ISDE.' The brainstorming started from that meeting. I'm so grateful for what we've overcome since then." "It was heavy on everybody," Kudla agreed. "Before, he was pushing us to do it. Now, every- body's pushing to do it for him. And they did it. It was huge. It was awesome." II 2017 AND BEYOND The next step is defending it. The U.S. World Trophy team is already talking about their title defense in 2017. As tough as it was to earn the championship, the team is bracing for an even tougher battle defending it. "Now it's a new challenge," Kallonen said. "We have the bulls-eye on our back and now we have to back it up. They al- ways say it's easier to win the first one. Well it was pretty hard! But I know it's going to be harder now, especially next year in France." One thing really going for the American team after the historic win is a renewed interested in Six Days from fans and sponsors alike. "The off-road community, the way it reacted to the U.S. team winning, was bigger than expect- ed," Burleson said. "At first it was just a weight lifted off our shoul- ders, and then all of a sudden it became an energizing thing for the off-road community." "Winning is getting momentum across the whole United States," agreed Kudla. "People care now. We don't care if we don't win and now that we've won, everybody is interested in what's happening. I think this win is going to bring ISDE back to light and revitalize it for our riders." As for KTM North America, they are hungrier than ever for the ISDE and have extended their support for another three years. "I just informed the AMA that KTM is allowing me to do another three years," Kallonen said. "We're hoping to bring the championship back here again. There wouldn't be any greater way to show what we have than to back it up with another win. We're already getting prepared for next year and our eyes are on the prize." CN (Left to right) Michael, Russell, Robert and Duvall: Ready to get it done.