Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee is thrilled to confirm that a young hotshot, Kay Karssemakers, has joined the squad ahead of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship. Karssemakers will pilot a KTM 250 SX-F in the MX2 division in Grand Prix competition, as well as the ACU British Motocross Championship.
Karssemakers leaps into the competitive MX2 division after narrowly missing out on a medal in the EMX125 class in the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship. Karssemakers landed in the top ten in all but one of the motos, showing maturing beyond his years. A two-year deal with the Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee team will give him an opportunity to learn and flourish in a professional environment.
The Grand Prix of Great Britain will host the opening race of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship. Kay Karssemakers will join Isak Gifting underneath the awning at Matterley Basin, as well as EMX125 signing Cole McCullough. The EMX125 series kicks off on that same weekend.
Kay Karssemakers: “I am so happy to join the Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee team. It is a great opportunity for me and I’m so happy with it. There are great people in the team and the bikes are so good. I am happy that I got this opportunity and that they believe in me. We have not got long until the season but we are going to make the best of the time that we have before the first race!”
Bryan Connolly (Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee Team Manager): “We are always looking to the future as a team, so signing one of the brightest stars in the MXGP paddock is exciting for all of us at Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee. Kay Karssemakers has shown a lot of promise at a young age and we are excited to provide him with all of the tools that he needs to fulfil that potential.”
Roger Magee (Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee Team Owner): “I was approached a few weeks ago regarding the possibility of Kay joining the team for 2022. After some intense research on Kay’s previous results and lap times, as well as taking opinions of people within the sport that I trust, I decided that he would be a very good fit in MX2 for Hitachi KTM fuelled by Milwaukee. Over recent days, it is already obvious he has a very good work ethic for a 17-year-old and I genuinely believe we can take him to the next level in motocross. Our team ethos has always been to give young, talented riders the best of opportunities to make it to the highest level. The riders who ‘make it’ take the opportunity that they are given and work hard relentlessly, and make the sacrifices required to be a winner. With Kay and Isak, we know that they will do that.”
