Premier Racing & Driving School Expands Motorsports Training to the American Motorcycle Market
Skip Barber Racing School LLC and KTM North America, Inc., today jointly announced the creation of a new instructional program that pairs the world’s premier racing and driving school with a leading worldwide manufacturer of power sports vehicles.
The Skip Barber Superbike School Powered by KTM will debut in 2009 at Mazda RacewayLaguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., the home of MotoGP in the United States and one of fivenational locations for Skip Barber’s automotive program offerings. The two-day school willfeature the new KTM 1190 RC8 supersport motorcycle, which embodies high performance, newtechnology and unique design. It will be the only Superbike school in the United States to featuresuch large displacement machines.
''A number of factors make this new school unique,'' said Skip Barber President and ChiefOperating Officer George Ayres. ''First, the KTM line of motorcycles that will be provided willinclude the new 1190 RC8, 990 Super Duke and the 690 Duke motorcycles, meaning we havethe right equipment for virtually any student. Second are the Skip Barber instructors who willbring to this program more than 30 years of experience teaching enthusiasts about dynamics,control and speed. Finally, there is the track itself. Skip Barber conducts more than 100 programsa year at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. We know this track very well and feel it is the idealfacility for students to develop the skills and confidence to not only lower their lap times butimprove their everyday street riding skills. And with more riders returning to motorcycling orjust beginning, we feel we can help riders of all experience levels.''
''The core of KTM is 'Ready to Race,''' said Jon-Erik Burleson, president of KTM NorthAmerica, Inc. ''Our partnership with Skip Barber is a great place to combine our values with theirrich racing heritage in a unique way. The instructional Superbike programs held at MazdaRaceway Laguna Seca will allow the best promotion of the new KTM 1190 RC8 while providinga prospect for future product releases and announcements.''
John Pinio, director of parks for the County of Monterey, commented that ''Monterey CountyParks is excited about the opportunity for the Skip Barber Racing School to partner with KTM tobring a first class motorcycle school to the Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca. This is anotherexample of the collaboration of Monterey County Parks, SCRAMP, Skip Barber and Mazda ofnot only providing top quality motor sports at our facility, but another way to generate a positiveeconomic impact for our local community.''
Ayres noted that school attendees will be able to use their own safety equipment or rent allnecessary items at the track through Skip Barber. Damage liability insurance will also be offered,minimizing the costs to any rider for a mishap. Top-level safety will be ensured, with MazdaRaceway’s excellent safety team at the ready.
About KTMKTM, founded in 1953, is the second largest European motorcycle manufacturer specializing in''Ready to Race'' on and off road motorcycles and ATVs.
Proven successes in worldwide competition are embodied into the design and function of eachKTM race machine. KTM has built a reputation for high-quality premium race ready machinessuitable for on and off road race competition and recreation. With more than 140 WorldChampionships and counting, the technology, design and performance of KTM continues to racepast the competition time and again.
About Skip BarberFor more than 30 years, Skip Barber Racing School LLC has operated a fully integrated systemof racing schools, driving schools, racing championships, corporate events and OEM eventsacross North America.
The Skip Barber Racing School is held at more than 20 of the most prestigious race tracks inNorth America, while the Skip Barber Driving School, utilizing Mazda's performance sedans andsports cars, operates at five world-famous destination locations. The Skip Barber Race Series iscollectively five separate open-wheel, equal-car racing championships – four regional amateurseries and an entry level pro series: the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Presented by Mazda,which awards a $350,000 title bonus. New in 2008 is the Skip Barber MAZDASPEEDChallenge, multiple championships using identically prepared MX-5 Miata race cars. All theseries are part of Mazda's unique MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder system. TheCorporate Events unit creates custom racing and driving programs for companies of any size thatdesire special, exciting events to train, entertain, educate and reward. OEM Events providesunique, specialized automotive-related training, analysis, evaluation, logistics and consultation.
