2014 AMA Outdoor Nationals Discussion

[Tom cortvriendt]

What are your pics for the season opener?

250:
1. Pourcel
2. Bagget
3. Anderson

450:
1. Reed
2. Dungey
3. Stewart

[BSM70]

My pics!...

250
1. Wilson
2. Anderson
3. Seely

450
1. Stewart
2. Barcia (i think he might surprise everyone)
3. Roczen

[scheeve3]

[quote="Ddavis]same with Wilson to KTM. Someone get this guy out of the time machine, it isn't 2008 anymore.

It pains me to say this, as I am a KTM fan, but recent events prove KTM does infact ruin careers xD.

[/quote][/quote]
Cairoli, Rattray, Musquin, Roczen, Herlings, Anderson, Savatgy, Townley, Barragan, Ken de Dycker, Joël Roelants, Max Nagl, Rui Concalves, Marc de Reuver, Tommy Searle (2008 vice world champion) ...
That are only a few names that had their best results on a KTM...

It's not KTM's fault that when a rider switch to another team they fall into a black hole of amateurism and their results will drop. Don't get me wrong, I don't like KTM, I don't prefer any brand anyway. None of those bikes at the starting line are stock anyways. But the way KTM runs their teams and their business is something where all other brands are still 10 years behind ...
Over here in Europe, after years of orange domination they start to get it. So has Jeremy Van Horebeek got a carte blanche from Yamaha and can he ask for anything he want's, and that already saved him points. Because in Italy he stalled it and the electric started prevent him from losing any positions.
Also Honda got things going again with an army of Japanese engineers...

And it won't take long till the US turn orange aswell, give it 2 more years (after this one) and they will barerly loose a title. The only advantage that the US mx/sx scene has is that they have an example of the history in Europe and they know how KTM work and how to stop them. And the teams that doesn't take any special actions this winter or the next are total morons.

[mikez#411]

250
1. Anderson
2. Baggett
3. Seely

450
1. Stewart
2. Roczen
3. Canard

[Phathry25]

Coincidence that KTMs are only "good" in Europe? I think not. They buy all the talent, and put more money into their bikes/staff than the others. In America they are on a level footing at best, and we can see how that's working out. They will never enjoy the same success over here.

[frederick]

[tyskorn]

[frederick]

On a serious note. I dont see any dominance coming until they get their sales up to the level it is in europe. But it might be coming since they increased their sales by 49% in america last year. They seem to struggle on some sx tracks. Or it could be fitness/skill(aka Roczen Dungey) based since Anderson hasnt had any struggles. Cant wait for outdoors.

[scheeve3]

That's what they said in Europe aswell after they hired Everts for 2007... Even a 10 time champ can't turn the tables. In 2008 they were still sceptic about the project because Rattray was "highly talented" they said. In 2009 ktm made themselfs very unpopular taking Musquin away from NGS Honda (shows how unprofessional other brands are), but from 2010 on it's all orange.

Now put that on the US timeline:
They hired Decoster in 2011, everybody said "Even the man can't make those bikes fast". In 2012 Dungey got the outdoor title "because of the injuries". In 2013 Roczen got the West title because he is super talented. And in 2014 they claimed a title with a rider nobody even wanted in his team anymore ... making a statement I guess... And don't tell me it's not an KTM victory because it wasn't on a factory bike. KTM has an inner Hierarchy with satelite teams they $upport well enough.
So slowley but steady they're making their way up. And from the moment Villopoto hang up his boots it will be all orange.

Btw doesn't matter how the money flows, it are the amount of points at the end of the season that counts.

@Fred
Their steel frame + low bonusses kills it supercross wise. If you're not ktm supported it's bassicly a useless bike on a supercross track on this level, compared to the other bikes. MX wise the bike doesn't need a lot of tuning anymore to be quick plus easy to ride.
It suprises me that not even 1 brand yet has decided to make two seperate bikes for these disciplines. After all SX is a whole different game compared with MX, but still they ride adjusted mx bikes :s.

[Hi Im Skyqe]

That's what they said in Europe aswell after they hired Everts for 2007... Even a 10 time champ can't turn the tables. In 2008 they were still sceptic about the project because Rattray was "highly talented" they said. In 2009 ktm made themselfs very unpopular taking Musquin away from NGS Honda (shows how unprofessional other brands are), but from 2010 on it's all orange.

Now put that on the US timeline:
They hired Decoster in 2011, everybody said "Even the man can't make those bikes fast". In 2012 Dungey got the outdoor title "because of the injuries". In 2013 Roczen got the West title because he is super talented. And in 2014 they claimed a title with a rider nobody even wanted in his team anymore ... making a statement I guess... And don't tell me it's not an KTM victory because it wasn't on a factory bike. KTM has an inner Hierarchy with satelite teams they $upport well enough.
So slowley but steady they're making their way up. And from the moment Villopoto hang up his boots it will be all orange.

Btw doesn't matter how the money flows, it are the amount of points at the end of the season that counts.

@Fred
Their steel frame + low bonusses kills it supercross wise. If you're not ktm supported it's bassicly a useless bike on a supercross track on this level, compared to the other bikes. MX wise the bike doesn't need a lot of tuning anymore to be quick plus easy to ride.
It suprises me that not even 1 brand yet has decided to make two seperate bikes for these disciplines. After all SX is a whole different game compared with MX, but still they ride adjusted mx bikes :s.

Do you actually believe that it would be feasible to have a bike designed specifically for SX even though there is no market for it at a retail level?

[James_122]

Shut up Peter

[Hi Im Skyqe]

Shut up Peter

NO

[motokid499]

c
It pains me to say this, as I am a KTM fan, but recent events prove KTM does infact ruin careers xD.

It seems ive stirred some tension. My apologies, I was just trying to say that most people that come from a different brand tend to dislike KTM alot, because of the chromoly steel frame I assume. Its love or hate, with the flex. Someone like Stewart would hate it, always complaining about too much flex in his wheels and such xD. Someone like Roczen has been on KTM for a long time, and still said he likes the Suzuki better. Also, who can argue with the fact that Dungey was faster on Suzuki. And as far as Europeans go, I think a frame with more flex would be of advantage on the GP tracks, with how rough they get with sand whoops etc. On the other hand, many more people in Europe ride KTM, so maybe its because they are used to it. I love steel frames, and thats why I like KTM.

Sorry, im at the end of my rant, im not sure where I was going...

[MiNi]

I love how there was tension in this topic over KTMs and then T Crain just comes in with DD. Day made.

[motokid499]

I love how there was tension in this topic over KTMs and then T Crain just comes in with DD. Day made.

Frederick was showing a picture of Kenny and Ryan on the podium for KTM, T.Crain cropped the image of DD right out of his picture proof rant haha