GIBBS & CRAWFORD SIGN WITH KTM

Yep, it’s that time of year in racing circles. And with a flurry of new contracts signed before the year’s out, there comes a corresponding barrage of PR about who’s riding what and where for next season, and what they reckon of their prospects.

Here is KTM’s PR form last week about their new and enhanced KTM Racing Team for season 2022, made up of 2015 MX1-class champ, Kirk Gibbs, along with Nathan Crawford, who spearheads KTM’s reintroduced inhouse 250-class program…

Making a welcome return to KTM, Kirk Gibbs will compete aboard the race-proven KTM 450SX-F next year, ready to race and motivated to challenge for another championship after the 32-year-old displayed race-winning form in 2021 on his way to fourth in the ProMX standings.

Previously experiencing significant success together, KTM and Gibbs captured the Australian MX1 championship in 2015 and the Queensland-based fan favourite is also a two-time New Zealand motocross champion in the premier class.

Crawford is a seasoned MX2 contender with grand prix experience and will join the orange ranks onboard a KTM 250SX-F from the 2022 season. At 24 years of age, he is looking to return to winning ways when the gates drop after an encouraging end to this year’s shortened campaign, where he earned P5 overall.

Kirk Gibbs: “I’m really, really excited to rejoin KTM for the 2022 season. We had a lot of great success for the six years that I was there between 2013 and 2018, I really enjoyed all of the people there and working with everyone in what was a really good atmosphere. Rejoining the KTM Racing Team is perfect for me. I feel right at home and I know the 450SX-F really well, so we have big goals as we head into next season. I feel like I was ticking some boxes this year and we were making progress, but I think with the right support and a few little pieces that being with KTM brings, I’m confident that we can have a really successful season together.”

Nathan Crawford: “For me, it’s a massive change and it has been super-refreshing. I spent a lot of time with KTM Group support earlier in my career and I’m excited to now be joining the KTM Racing Team for 2022 – I’ve always wanted to be on a KTM! Everyone I’ve dealt with so far has been unreal and I’ve completed my first laps on the bike now, which was a really positive experience already. It wasn’t something that took time to get used to; the 250SX-F is unreal and I was comfortable straight away. I can’t wait for the new year to come to start getting into testing and spending some more time with the team as we get everything rolling.”

Kyle Blunden (KTM Group Australia Motorsport Manager): “We are delighted to announce the KTM Racing Team motocross line-up for 2022 and have a duo of exceptionally talented riders with a wealth of experience under their belts. We are excited to welcome Kirk Gibbs back onboard the KTM 450SX-F, on which he previously achieved so much success. He’s as driven and focused as ever and has gelled really well with the bike in early tests. Kirk brings a vast amount of knowledge which works hand in hand with our direction as a team in 2022. We are re-introducing an in-house 250 program and welcome Nathan Crawford on board the KTM 250SX-F. Nathan is a very exciting young rider with a tremendous amount of talent, raw speed and ability. We look forward to the 2022 season and are thrilled to have an amazing group of people onboard heading back to the races.”