KTM’S SAVVY AMA MX PLANS

In America, the AMA Pro Motocross Championship has always lived in the shadow of its high-profile indoor counterpart, the AMA Supercross Championship. But with 2022 being the 50^th anniversary of the Outdoors, there’s been a renewed attention on the 12-round series, which gets out of the gates in California on the last weekend of May. And adding to its intrigue is the fact that a couple of very big-name riders have announced that they’ll be stepping out of retirement to line up for at least the first couple of rounds.

Shortly after nine-time world champ, Italy’s Tony Cairoli, confirmed he would fulfill a ‘bucket list’ wish by making his AMA Pro MX debut at the ripe old age of 36, 32-year-old Ryan Dungey followed suit. It’ll be the nine-time AMA champ’s first race back after stepping away from professional racing in 2017 as one of the most decorated riders in the sport.

In more good news for KTM fans, the series will see the much-anticipated return of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team riders Aaron Plessinger and Max Vohland. All four riders will be aboard KTM’s all-new Factory Edition machinery, the precursors to the recently announced, new-generation 2023 250SX-F and 450SX-F models.

All of which has conveniently served as a timely, good-news distraction from the team’s subsequent announcement that Cooper Webb would not be lining up for Outdoors this year after what was a lacklustre SX season. According to the team’s PR, “The two-time 450SX Champion will shift focus toward welcoming a new addition to his family this summer, before getting back to work in preparation for a third career title fight in the 2023 AMA Supercross Championship.”