KTM’S FACTORY ENDURO TEAM IS READY AND WAITING FOR THE 2006 SEASON
07 March 2006 - KTM-Sportmotorcycles AG

There’s an old saying in the world of enduro racing - if something isn’t broken there is no need to fix it.

And having won the 2005 Enduro 1, Enduro 2 and Enduro 3 world titles thanks to Spaniard Ivan Cervantes, Finn Samuli Aro and Manxman David Knight that is exactly the approach KTM has taken for the 2006 season. Retaining the services of their three world champions KTM has one clear goal for 2006 — to dominate the World Enduro Championship just like they did last season.

But there has been one very definite change made to KTM’s WEC team set-up for 2006. After splitting their officially backed riders into two teams during 2005, this season all riders will compete for one team — the KTM Enduro Factory Team Farioli squad managed by former enduro world champion Fabio Farioli.

In the Enduro 1 class reigning champion Spaniard Ivan Cervantes is ready to defend his title and, along with team-mate Italian Alessandro Belometti, will compete aboard KTM’s 250cc four-stroke EXC machine. With Ivan dominating the E1 class in 2005 the flamboyant former motocross racer starts as favourite to lift the 2006 E1 title. Claiming his first ever WEC victory at the final round of the 2005 series, Belometti is hoping that during 2006 he will continue to make it onto the top step of the podium.

Samuli Aro starts 2006 as the rider to beat in the Enduro 2 class. As reigning E2 world champion the Finn knows exactly what it takes to win and after a busy winter training in preparation for the start of the new season Samuli will prove to be a difficult rider to beat. Making his debut as an official factory backed KTM rider in 2006 is Frenchman Fabien Planet. After his sensational 2005 season was cut short due to injury, Fabien is determined to show that he has exactly what it takes to beat the world’s best as he focuses on trying to win his first ever world title.

As the most dominant rider in the World Enduro Championship in 2005 David knight starts 2006 as the rider to beat in the Enduro 3 class. Winning all but one day of last year’s WEC series in the E3 class, Knight is ready to defend his title and lead KTM’s factory enduro team. Riding as Knight’s team-mate will be Finland’s Marko Tarkkala. An aggressive and exciting rider Marko is hoping to push his team-mate every step of the way and in doing so once again place KTM at the top of the Enduro 3 class.

2006 will be an exciting season for all involved in the World Enduro Championship, not just KTM’s factory riders. With the eight-round series starting in the snow covered north of Sweden the first ever ‘winter enduro’ is sure to be an exciting race. After that Portugal and Spain welcome rounds two and three of the series where warmer temperatures and drier terrain will result in equally exciting racing. From there Italy is the next stop on the WEC tour and the home round of the KTM Enduro Factory Team Farioli squad. Making the 2006 World Enduro Championship a truly international series, rounds five and six will be held in North American — the first in Canada, the second in the US. With the World Enduro Championship having remained within Europe since its start in 1990 the two overseas races will mark a new chapter in the history of the WEC series. It will also see KTM’s factory enduro riders compete head-to-head with some of the States top off-road racers. Returning to Europe the series will then visit Slovakia before coming to a close in France. Visiting eight exciting countries the 2006 World Enduro Championship is going to be every bit as challenging as it is exciting.

Photo courtesy of D Agrati

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