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February 6, 2008

All new KTM ATV’s win Deep Well Desert race

In their first competitive event the all new 2008 KTM XC Sport ATV have outdone other manufacturers’ factory models to take first and second in the Deep Well Desert Race held in Alice Springs, NT.

Local rider Sean Donnelly on board the KTM 450 XC won the event, followed by his team mate, also from Alice Springs, Willy Orr on the KTM 525 XC.

Riding under the banner of KTM dealership Race Motorcycles, Donnelly and Orr were the most dominate riders in the competitive event, and according to Race Motorcycles, dealer principal Wayne Woodberry, nobody came close to catching them.

“The Deep Well Desert Race is a good test of man and machine, the temperatures are hot and the terrain is tough,” said Woodberry.

“This was the first time the KTM ATV’s had entered a competitive event and no other manufacturer came close to catching Sean Donnelly and Willy Orr, they made the circuit their own.”

The race was a shot gun start and Donnelly pulled the hole shot leading from start to finish.  The format was three 30 minute motos with the middle leg in reverse.  The course travelled through whooped out red sand and hills which Donnelly states was pretty demanding but the suspension on the KTM ATV’s made it a walk in the park for the experienced rider.

“I’ve been racing ATV’s for a long time and nothing I have ridden compares to the handling and suspension of the KTM,” said Donnelly. 

“The KTM ATV soaks up everything you throw at it and the other manufacturers ATV’s were getting thrown around on the track, giving me the advantage to fly past everyone.”

“The Deep Well Desert Race is like an entry point for the Finke Desert Race, which Willy Orr and I will enter with Race Motorcycles on the KTM ATV’s.   There are up to at least 60 ATV’s that will enter in Finke so we have our work cut out for us, but we both feel really confident with the support of Race Motorcycles.”

The 2008 Finke Desert Race will take place on June 8-9.