We had the privilige of getting a tour of the extrememly impressive KTM Headquarters in America on a road named after them – KTM way!
From the moment you drive in it is hard not to be impressied, two huge state of the art buildings housing everything KTM need for racing and with two Supercross tracks on site it is a one stop (giant) shop for success and underlines just why KTM are always at the sharp end in America and beyond.
Everything was designed to perfection, the engine bays right across from the engine workshop, a bay for each rider’s bike and team and a different room for each team from Supercross Husky and KTM to Enduro and absolutely everything is spotless.
The attention to detail from the design to every staff member and their roll is incredible and it all flows together perfectly from the offices to the workshops, dyno rooms, suspension department and the rest.
The best word to describe the place is meticulous, you can feel the high standards and winning mentality permeate throughout the building. If you are a rider, it would only motivate you to succeed when you see the amount of people working on your behalf and the complete commitments everyone has to winning.
Part of that commitment is Roger De Coster, who we were told is still the hardest working man in the building setting the standards that no-one can argue with. When you have that commitment from the man at the top, and who has had so much success as a rider and a manager, it flows throughout the rest of the organization.
And Red Bull KTM team manager, Ian Harrison, told us when you are in charge of the a team that has all this investment behind them: ” Yeah, I do. Yeah, there’s always pressure when, when, you know, when you have high caliber riders, the pressure comes from the results, it comes from the salaries you’re paying.
“I mean, there’s all these, these, all these pressures and then also the building we have, I mean, I never in my wildest dreams believed I’d ever work in something like that. It shows KTM’s mindset behind off-road racing. They believe in it, they invest in, that’s their bread and butter. And it’s really cool to see actually. But yeah, every day I walk in there, I just feel blessed.”
Watch our interview with Motorsports Engine department manager Leighton Rice about working at KTM and with champions like Ryan Dungey!
