HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK line-up confirmed for 2010

One of Britain’s leading off-road motorcycle racing teams, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK, have now confirmed their line-up and infrastructure in anticipation of the 2010 campaign in which they will again target top level results within the FIM Motocross World Championship and Maxxis British series, not to mention other national commitments.

Image by Ray Chuss

The British MX2 Champions will again count on the services of Jake Nicholls, who will turn 20 years of age by the start of the next season, after the youngster enjoyed his best ever term on the Grand Prix stage and finished runner-up to Stephen Sword on the domestic scene. Partnering him on the KTM SX-F 250cc four-stroke machines will be Graeme Irwin, a soon-to-be eighteen year old from Northern Ireland who is fresh from representing his country at the mammoth Motocross of Nations that took place last week in Italy. In addition they welcome the valuable presence of British firm HM plant to the fold.

The team will field the Watson brothers, Ben and Nathan (both high-flying in Youth circles), in the competitive British Under-21 division and for the first time will enter a participant in the rapidly growing series that is the FIM Women’s World Championship; the third edition of which occurs in 2010. HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK further cement their Irish links with the signature of Natalie Kane, the fastest female racer from the UK who took the country’s sole podium appearance with third place at the Grand Prix of Sweden in 2009. Kane ended the year third in the overall championship standings and is considered a title threat for 2010.

HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK depends on key support from a number of valued partners and sponsors, chief among those are the world-renowned Austrian energy drink and HM Plant.

“We had a good season in 2009 with a successful defence of the MX2 British Championship and also the pleasure of watching Jake mature at the GPs with a number of top ten results, setting personal best finishes and ending the year as top Brit in the world championship with 17th place,” said Team Principal Roger Magee. “Jake will be moving to Belgium to train and prepare for 2010 and we are confident he can step up a level which means we will again be looking for podium results. Graeme has been doing well in the UK and had a few international appearances in 2009. He will face a big challenge as a full-time Grand Prix rider next year but we hope he can learn and progress. I would also like to welcome Natalie to the team. This is quite a big signing for us as she is the fastest lady from the UK and Ireland and could be a real threat for the championship in ’10. Lastly I would like to thank all our sponsors and technical partners for another stellar campaign and I believe will we satisfy more goals together once the racing campaign begins again.”

2009 achievements

* 2009 MX2 British Champions (Stephen Sword)
* 2009 MX2 British Championship runner-up (Jake Nicholls)
* Half of eight British Motocross Championship events won
* Top British rider FIM MX2 World Championship (17th Jake Nicholls)
* 3rd place Under-21 British Championship (Graeme Irwin)
* 2009 Motocross of Nations representation – Graeme Irwin (Northern Ireland)

Tags: belgium, british, competition, fim, gp, irwin, italy, kane, ktm, maxxis, motocross, nichol, nicholls, sweden, sword, training, watson, youth