Friday 29th January 2010

One-Make Series For KTM X-Bows

Austrian lightweight track special gets its own race series

---

KTM X-Bow owners now have the chance to compete in their own one-make series, with the launch of the 'Battle' race series.

Competitors will be able to use any X-Bow models, and the racing will be split into three classes: one for entirely unmodified 'street-legal' KTMs, one for cars with engine ECU tweaks up to 300hp, and one for more extensively modified X-Bows, including top-end GT4-spec versions.

"This was a prerequisite for us when we started to plan the series," Georg Silbermayr, the man in charge of motorsport at KTM, explains. "Most of our customers are keen on racing - but just because of this not everyone wants to buy an X-Bow GT4 in order to start in the highly professional series such as the GT4 European Cup. And so we have created the perfect field of activity for all X-BOW owners."

You don't even have to own a X-Bow to join in the fun - KTM says that it will be hiring out cars for X-Bow-less racers.

All you need to participate, says KTM (apart from, we presume, a racing licence) are a helmet, Hans system, obligatory FIA-homologated clothing and a fire extinguisher in the car.

There's only one problem for British KTM owners - all the rounds in the Battle series are in Germany, Austria, Slovakia or the Czech Republic.

The first round of the KTM Battle series is at the Salzburgring on 23-24 April.

[Sagacitas]

So why don't Ariel do something similar with the Atom - and right here in the UK?

[bikemonster]

Sagacitas said:

So why don't Ariel do something similar with the Atom - and right here in the UK?

Because they don't need to?

[Dakkon]

I thought the X-Bows had stopped production and KTM had overstretched themselves a bit and they were not selling so well?

[bruh_la]

They only "paused" production as demenad tailed off towards the winter...as many car companies did last year.

[leon9191]

Sounds like a good idea for them I think, might shift a few more units and with the repair bills for the carbon tubs after a few race incidents they will be quids in!

Would be fun though, they still are one of the coolest looking cars about at the moment, good luck to them.

[soad]

Sounds good to me, will be able to hire a race car too. Not very hard to travel over to the European tracks anyway.

[jp-speed-triple]

load of parts and tubs sat in the factory getting dusty.

[Olaf]

...........Or, alternatively you could build a Sylva Riot then join the 750 Motor Club and have 10 times as much fun for one tenth the price!

[nastywej]

Olaf said:

...........Or, alternatively you could build a Sylva Riot then join the 750 Motor Club and have 10 times as much fun for one tenth the price!

Or take your KTM to the 750 Motor club 14th (Speak to Robin, what a nice bloke ) for last minute necessary signatory requirements & do both!

Bloody signatures! .......

How much to borrow your Riot for the Sunday all comer race!?...Will it finish?

Edited by nastywej on Friday 29th January 18:12

[whizz_14]

Ariel support racing but running a series is a different matter