Cycle News Staff | November 19, 2024
A lot has been going on regarding KTM and its effort in MXGP. Recently, it was announced that five-time FIM Motocross World Champion Joel Smets would be taking over for Harry Norton as the new Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager. The 55-year-old, Smets, claimed his fourth and fifth World titles riding for the KTM brand.
Former Motocross GP World Champion Joel Smets is the new Red Bull KTM Factory Motocross Racing Team Manager.
“I have a long history with KTM,” said Smets. “As a rider and in a management position, it is now over 20 years. I will throw all my experience and my knowledge into the job to try and keep our riders in the winners’ circle.”
KTM said, “[We] would like to convey [our] heartfelt thanks to Harry Norton for the managerial responsibility he assumed for 2024. Harry has a long history with the company back to his first professional years as a mechanic in Australia and then immigrated to Austria, going on to win two MX2 World titles with Tom Vialle in 2020 and 2022. He coordinated fresh staff incorporation, oversaw three of the four riders seizing Grand Prix wins this year and helped solidify the structure through some important internal changes. Norton will retain a key position inside the KTM Motorsport Department.”
In other KTM moves, a longtime member of the KTM family, Liam Everts, the son of multi-time FIM MX World Champion Stefan Everts, has left KTM. However, he didn’t stray too far, as he is still in the KTM fold with Husqvarna. After being with KTM for most of his racing career and suffering a scary crash at the final 2024 GP round in China, where he temporarily lost feeling below his neck, the young Everts has decided it’s time for a change, a change he hopes will kickstart his racing results. Everts even swapped his racing number to 26 from 72, the same number his famous father used to wear for much of his career.
Liam Everts says it’s time for a change and has moved from KTM to Husqvarna for MX2. He’ll also sport a new racing number.
Liam Everts is now a Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing squad member and will continue his goal of winning the MX2 Championship and, hopefully, he says someday, the MXGP Championship.
“I’m super happy to join Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing,” the 20-year-old Everts said. “They’re a great group of people, and it’s an exciting new challenge. I’ve spent a lot of time with them in the past, so I feel good about this move. My motivation to take on a fresh challenge is high; I definitely needed a change. We both want to win—that’s the ultimate goal. We want to become world champions. We’ll see how everything goes with me coming back from injury, but we’ll take it step by step and see what the speed is like once I’m back on the bike. This opportunity also felt like the perfect time to change my race number—new team, new colors, new number. After the accident, a lot changed, and now it felt like the right time to start something of my own. My family has been super supportive. It feels like an exciting, fresh chapter in my career!”
As far as changing his number, he said, via social media, “From the legendary 72 to the fresh start of 26. This change signifies a new beginning to strive for a legacy of my own. Leaving behind a powerful legacy to embrace new possibilities and challenges ahead. The 72 will always remain in my heart!”
Following Everts’ departure, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team has signed promising French youngster Marc-Antoine Rossi. The 18-year-old comes into the works outfit for his second attempt at the MX2 series. He has spent much of his fledgling racing career on KTM SX machinery as he ascended through EMX European Championship competition. He will wear the number 28.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team has signed 18-year-old Marc-Antoine Rossi to its MX2 team for 2025.
“I’m happy to be back in orange and to join this crew,” Rossi said. “I’m already excited for 2025 and will be back on a bike soon and working with Joel. I’ll give everything I have for what will be a long year. I hope I can make the podium at some point next season.”
“He’s only 18 but has already shown great potential in EMX125 and EMX250,” said Smets. “He then displayed bright flashes of speed and strength this year. Marc-Antoine is still so young and reminds me a lot of Tom Vialle [a former KTM MX2 World Champion].”
The full Red Bull KTM Factory Racing lineup for 2025 in both MXGP and MX2 classes will consist of Jeffrey Herlings and Lucas Coenen riding the KTM 450 SX-F and then Andrea Adamo, Sacha Coenen, Simon Laengenfelder and Rossi with the KTM 250 SX-F. CN
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