With five rounds of the MX World Championships already under their tyres, the KTM Red Bull Motocross Team travels to Japan for this weekend's event at Sugoland, one of the country's largest motor sports facilities some 300km north of Tokyo. David Philippaerts hit top form in the last event at Germany's Teutschenthal, shaking off a string of bad luck to seal victory in the MX1 class. The Italian rider therefore goes to Asia with the right amount to confidence to match his skills on his KTM machine. Philippaerts win in Germany vaulted him up the standings from eleventh to seventh position and another victory this weekend could put him in sparring distance of the leaders. The New Zealander Josh Coppins has been the dominating force in the first third of the season.
Philippaerts teammate Jonathan Barragan of Spain is currently sixth and needs a confidence boosting good result this weekend. An injured shoulder that was slow in healing set Barragan back in Portugal but team boss Stefan Everts is confident that his luck will change.
Meanwhile the strength of KTM's MX1 factory riders has been reinforced with the addition of the talented German Max Nagl. Nagl was very impressive in the pre-season and early races but missed Portugal and Italy after breaking his collarbone. He was back on his bike at home in Germany for the last race, where Pit Beirer, KTM's Offroad Sports Director announced that Nagl had been promoted to fully fledged factory rider. He will remain a rider for the Sarholz team.
Tyla Rattray and young Tommy Searle continue to rake up points in the MX2 class and presently lie third and fifth respectively on the championship table. Rattray, a pre-season favorite for the title, now needs to be on the podium for every race if he is to challenge Antonio Cairoli, whose second place in the first race in Spain has been the single exception to his streak of victories. There's no question the gritty South African Rattray has the talent and the determination. In training he has been concentrating on improving his starting technique in close cooperation with team boss Everts.
Meanwhile, Searle who was a little off form in Germany should be ready to bounce back in Japan. The teenager from Britain has clearly enjoyed playing the role of the cheeky young upstart so far this season and has regularly shown little respect for the talent of the recognized stars.
All the KTM riders will be able to revel in the temperate climate of the Japanese facility set in the beautiful Ohu Mountains.
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