Interview:
Tim Farr - Factory KTM ATV Racer / FRE Race
Team - Continued
ATVrders.com:
So how has it been working with KTM?
Tim Farr:
Overall it’s been really good
working with KTM. They are a race inspired
company. They aren’t a really big company,
but they devote a lot of attention to detail
more so than other companies I have been involved
with and that’s way more interesting
for me. I love working with the riders and
new products. For me coming from a racing
background and now doing R&D, I want to
be able to R&D on what I like and KTM
has given me that opportunity.
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|
Tim
Farr spends most of the winter at his
home in Florida training with GNCC Pro
Racers Adam McGill & Taylor Kiser |
ATVrders.com:
KTM just recently released the 450 and 505
SX models. How much input did you have in
the development of those quads?
Tim Farr:
I had a lot of input. Actually, in
the beginning, I was doing more with the SX
models. In the original plan, the motocross
version was supposed to be released first,
but then we kind of shifted gears and went
with the XC version. I’m not even sure
why, but originally we were working on the
motocross version, but I have had a lot of
input with both models.
ATVrders.com:
I’m sure you’ve had plenty seat
time on the new SX and even raced it at the
Industry race at Nationals. How do you think
it compares to other manufacturers 450 racers?
Tim Farr:
It’s so superior to any of
the others, and I’m not just saying
that because I work for KTM. It’s a
great company, but the bottom line is if you’re
looking at it as a stock-to-stock comparison,
there isn’t anything even close to it.
Both the 450 and the 505 are pretty close,
but the 505 has a little bit more torque.
I have a 505 and all I’ve done to it
is put a slip on pipe on it for a little added
performance. I put on some fast bars and Hiper
wheels, but that’s it. The quad is really
amazing!
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| Tim
Farr raced the new KTM 450SX at Red
Bud in the Industry Class & Vet
Class, and Tim would claim moto wins
in both classes on Sunday |
ATVrders.com:
Rumor has it that there will not be a KTM
motocross team for the 2009 season. Is that
true? If so, why?
Tim Farr:
We still aren’t 100% sure at
this point. We don’t really want to
say for sure right now. I know KTM would really
like to support both motocross and cross country
next year, but with the problems with the
economy right now and how weak the dollar
is compared to the Euro, it’s really
cut into our budget, and we’ve really
had to tighten things up a lot. The timing
is just bad. We came out with an awesome product,
and we kind of have our hands tied.
ATVrders.com: Are there plans for
an MX team in 2010?
Tim Farr:
I don’t want to say it’s
for sure, but it definitely is a really good
possibility.
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ATVrders.com:
Adam McGill & Taylor Kiser have been doing
extremely well this season. You must be pretty
proud of that.
Tim Farr:
Yes, very proud! They are really good
guys and really good to work with. We were able
to take a first year production quad basically
right out of the box and do a little testing
and come out strong. We couldn’t have
asked for more. We did incredible at the beginning
of the season and then we ran into some problems,
but I knew it couldn’t be that good all
year. The level that those guys ride at and
the abuse those ATV’s are put through,
I knew for sure we would have a few problems.
Plus we were short on time going into the GNCC.
Everyone was a little worried, but I really
wasn’t too worried because I knew what
we had to work with and I knew how close it
was and the potential the bike has, but to be
ready in such a short time was a challenge.
