REPORT Photos: H.
REPORT Photos: H. Mitterbauer/KTM KTM Sportmotorcycle AG corporate head office and production site in Mattighofen, Austria. The company is the global market leader in the off-road competition segment and also plays a dominant role in motor racing. The many-layered collaboration between KTM and MOTOREX over the past ten years has been a major factor guiding both companies’ development. SUCCESS UNITES KTM is unwavering in pursuing its corporate philosophy “Ready to Race” around the world, continually adding innovative products to its portfolio. The company’s strategy has been a clear winner. Whether in racing or vehicle manufacturing, being among the best demands top performance every time. And that was the perfect starting point for a technology partnership with the lubrication pros at MOTOREX. The two companies have collaborated closely for over ten years, leaving an orange and green trail of successes behind them. Based in Mattighofen, Austria, KTM Sportmotorcycle AG produces and develops race-ready off-road and street motorcycles. KTM products are currently distributed worldwide via 25 distributors and two joint ventures in Dubai and New Zealand to some 1,200 independent dealers. Since 1995 the HUSABERG motorcycle brand has also been part of KTM. A DYNAMIC START When the relationship was first formed in 2002, no one yet suspected how far it would reach. The first step was to analyse the KTM factory team’s lubrication needs and compile lubrication plans. Soon thereafter, following some testing, the first riders were taking MOTOREX to the starting line of the world champion- 10
Superstar Tony Cairoli of Italy claims his third title in a row in the MX1 motocross premier class world championship. The direct collaboration between the two companies’ research and development departments is especially fruitful. There’s no halfway in racing: MOTOREX products are tested relentlessly. ships! Over time, the relationship proved so fruitful that more and more areas of mutually beneficial collaboration between the companies emerged. Today the companies work together in the following four areas: • Development • Racing • OEM/factory filling • Export markets LUBRICANTS MADE TO ORDER When KTM’s engine development know-how was combined with MOTOREX’s expertise in lubrication, a whole new range of possibilities opened up. Opportunities emerged to quickly create precisely focused new products. Among the first of these was CROSS POWER 4T SAE 10W/60 high-performance motor oil, with which KTM soon began filling stock motorbikes at the factory. KTM’s high-RPM, high-torque four-stroke engines and wet clutches demanded top engine oil performance at several levels at once. Various formulas were put through their paces on the engine test bench at full power for 100 hours each. In some cases oil temperatures measured 160 °C or higher. The oil has become an important engineering factor in modern engine design. Motor oil is an integral part of the overall concept and “The collaboration with MOTOREX lets our engine development team work even more efficiently.” Wolfgang Felber, Head of Customer Racing KTM must meet precise specifications for top engine performance, protection against wear and, not least, low fuel consumption. MOTOREX’s complete motorcycle product range has also been a major benefit of the collaboration, which has made it possible to continually review and make any necessary improvements to every product, from motor oil to chain spray to MOTOREX MOTOLINE helmet care products. MOTOREX MAGAZINE I APRIL 2013 11
