Supercross: It’s Official – Dean Wilson Joins Red Bull KTM
Kit Palmer | October 2, 2014
After a long tenure with the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Team, Dean Wilson has made the switch to KTM.
KTM has officially announced the signing of Dean Wilson to its Red Bull KTM Factory Team. Wilson will compete in the 450 class full time alongside teammate Ryan Dungey. It’s a two-year deal that will see Wilson battling for the big-bike titles in both Supercross and outdoor National Motocross Championships.
“Dean is a very talented rider who has shown a lot of potential on a 450,” Red Bull KTM Factory Team Manager Roger DeCoster said. “In the past two years, he has been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to compete in the premiere class in both SX and MX competition and shown he is very capable on the 450. Dean has definitely had his share of bad luck when it comes to injuries and things not necessarily going to plan structurally over the past few seasons. My hope is that with our support Dean will be able to find parts of the puzzle that are missing in his program and go on to experience the same level of success in the 450 class as he did in the prime of his 250 career. I like that Dean is very upbeat and has a fun personality so I think he will have no problems adapting to our Red Bull KTM family.”
“I’m really looking forward to joining a great group of people,” said Wilson. “They have accomplished so much the past few years, not only in the U.S. but overseas as well. This is an amazing opportunity for me to learn from Roger and Ian [Harrison, technician] and the rest of the crew. They’ve put together a pretty amazing team and I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
The 22 year-old Scot comes from a notable amateur pedigree that includes 13 titles, two AMA Amateur National Championships and the AMA Horizon Award in 2009. In 2010, Wilson entered his rookie season capturing two podium finishes in the AMA Supercross 250SX East class. That same year Wilson went on to earn his first professional career motocross win at Budds Creek and was named AMA Motocross Rookie of the Year. By 2011, Wilson was becoming a household name securing his first-ever AMA Supercross 250SX win in Atlanta followed by 11 moto wins in outdoors and the 2011 AMA 250cc Motocross Championship. Sidelined with injuries over the next few seasons, Wilson was still able to attain 11 Supercross podiums between 2012 and 2014 including four AMA Supercross 250SX main event wins and most recently Anaheim III in early 2014.
Kit Palmer | Off-Road Editor
Kit Palmer started his career at Cycle News in 1984 and he’s been testing dirt and streetbikes ever since – plus covering any event that uses some form of a knobby tire. He’s also our resident motorcycle mileage man with a commute of 120 miles a day.
