The KTM Motocross Racing Team is pleased to announce that multiple national motocross champion Jay Marmont has been appointed the outfit’s new team manager heading into the 2017 season.

The 33-year-old Marmont has wasted no time getting into the new role and he was at last weekend’s New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville, acting there in support of KTM team rider Luke Styke (pictured here)

Former Australian champion Jay Marmont, back in 2009. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

Marmont began his professional career with KTM and went on to win numerous Australian motocross and supercross championships, before coming out of retirement for last year’s Australian Supercross Championship.

There he directed his vast experience and a good deal of raw speed to earn a top-five finish in the series, finishing with a memorable podium at the Aus-X Open in Sydney.

Marmont’s industry currency, as well as his impeccable racing pedigree were key factors in the appointment, which sees him in charge of KTM’s two-man premier class assault for 2017, incorporating MX Nationals winner Kirk Gibbs, and former MX2 Champion Styke.

Current Australian motocross championship runner-up Gibbs has recovered from the femur break he suffered in a training incident prior to the Australian Supercross Championship, and has begun on-bike training.

Styke is Ready to Race again after spending a year off the bike as he recovered from a snapped Achilles Tendon, and is working hard to return his speed, conditioning and mojo to the levels which made him a premier level podium contender.

“It’s a new job role for me, having been around bikes for almost my whole life, and Leisky (KTM Australia general manager Jeff Leisk) approached me about it just after supercross. I was over the moon – it’s going to be a lot of learning for me, but I’ve had a lot of different team managers myself and I know what to bring to the table. It’s totally different from the other side of the fence of course, but I’m looking forward to the season kicking off. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Luke can achieve this year, and working with Gibbsy after his recovery, too.”

© Photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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