ROGER DECOSTER RE-UPS & MOVES UP IN THE KTM HIERARCHY; IAN HARRISON NAMED TEAM MANAGER

Roger DeCoster.

Press release: KTM is delighted to announce that motocross icon and overseer of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing AMA Supercross and Motocross team in the United States, Roger DeCoster, will continue to be a part of the massively successful operation in Murrieta, California. The Belgian has put pen to paper on a multi-year agreement and a new role for the KTM Group. De Coster will be “Motorsports Director KTM/Husqvarna North America” and retain a more strategic and senior position in all of KTM and Husqvarna’s USA racing activities.

MEC 2017-Ian HarrisonIan Harrison has always been Roger’s hand-picked successor for Team Manager at KTM.

Ian Harrison has been Roger’s “right hand man” and key collaborator for a number of years – certainly since 2011 when DeCoster first came to KTM – and has also renewed his position with the KTM Group to become de facto Team Manager of the Red Bull KTM MX/SX squad and Technical Director of the KTM/Husqvarna efforts in the United States.

Ryan Dungey, Roger DeCoster and Marvin Musquin.

The DeCoster/Harrison link was largely fundamental in the reorganization of KTM’s sporting arm in high-profile Supercross and Motocross circles at the start of the decade. The pair were instrumental in forging a close link with R&D in Mattighofen, Austria and elevating the race team to the position of champions. Ryan Dungey’s signature was key as was development of outstanding talent such as Ken Roczen and Marvin Musquin; KTM went on to toast titles and milestones in every AMA division. Recently, the alliance with Aldon Baker’s training regime only strengthened the KTM Group’s status and ensured the finest resources towards the current and next generations.

Roger Decoster Ian HarrisonRoger and Ian Harrison have worked together since Ian was Greg Albertyn’s mechanic at Team Suzuki. When Roger left Suzuki, he took Ian with him to KTM as part of the deal.

Roger DeCoster said: “I can still remember now when people said I was crazy to join KTM. It has almost been ten years, but it shows that when a company is as serious and dedicated about their racing as the KTM Group are then many things are possible. I’m happy to again sign with them and to continue working with them to extend my long story in this sport. We have achieved a lot together and I don’t feel that the ‘fire’ is dimming or my motivation to keep this team and factory at the top of the sport is any less as the first day I wore the orange shirt. I’d like to thank Mr. Pierer, Pit and all the guys who work so hard to allow us to be where we want to be.”

Roger was a five-time 500 World Champion before becoming the team manager at Honda, Suzuki and KTM. He raced for CZ, Suzuzki and Honda during his racing career.

Ian Harrison said: “Time has passed so quickly and it feels like we have done so much since we started to look at how and where we could be better back in 2011. I don’t think we could have imagined all the trophies and red plates we’ve collected, even if the ambition to do so was very strong then and has not faded in all this time. We went through the Dungey era and have seen the development of Marvin to a bona fide Supercross title contender. We’re not stopping and it’s exciting to think about where we can go next.”

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