he partnership between Michelin and the KTM Off-Road Racing Team over the past several years has yielded multiple national championships in GNCC, Enduro and Hare Scrambles racing. But those previous successes pale in comparison to the team’s 2007 accomplishments: an unprecedented six national championships in a single season for Michelin and KTM.
     With a bulging trophy case full of world and national championships, Michelin has long been at the forefront of off-road tire technology. But what’s most amazing about the tires that the KTM factory team uses is that they’re the same Michelin off-road tires that you can buy–not exotic, factory-only “development” tires. “We like to say, ‘off the shelf, onto the podium,’” quipped Lisa Guest, marketing communications manager for Michelin motorcycle tires. “Our tires are engineered to deliver world-class performance, and the KTM team has helped us prove that many times over this year.”
     Leading the Michelin juggernaut is Isle of Man native David Knight, a multi-time world enduro champion whom KTM imported this year specifically to defend the brand’s GNCC championship, won the previous two years by Juha Salminen (on Michelin tires, of course). Knight had to overcome bad luck in the form of injuries and mechanical DNFs, but ultimately claimed seven of the 13 GNCC races and the title.
     Later in the year, Knight took on the inaugural Endurocross series. Finding Michelin Trial Competition tires ideal for the tricky, challenging indoor courses, Knight was victorious in the first two events, and finished second in the Las Vegas finale to wrap up the title.
     KTM-Michelin rider Mike Lafferty returned to the top of the National Enduro Championship, edging out teammate Russell Bobbitt to claim a remarkable eighth national title, tying him with the legendary Dick Burleson. Between them, Lafferty and Bobbitt claimed victories in seven of the series’ eight events.
     One of the newest members of the KTM team is 20-year-old Justin Williamson, who won the inaugural championship in the GNCC’s new XC2 Pro Lites class for smaller-displacement bikes. Williamson rode his Michelin-equipped KTM 250 XC-F to three class victories on his way to the title.
     With consistent podium finishes and two wins, Kurt Caselli narrowly won the 12-race WORCS championship for KTM and Michelin, wrapping up the crown in the series’ final race of the year. Finally, David Pearson took his Michelin-shod KTM 525 XC to the National Hare & Hound Championship, with five wins in seven races.
     This kind of dominance isn’t just luck. Michelin off-road tires have won championships and major races everywhere from Glen Helen to Dakar. And Michelin has a tire for just about any type of track or trail, from the aggressive Starcross MS3 and MH3 tires to the amazing traction of Trial Competition tires.      Parts Unlimited has the full range of Michelin off-road and motocross tires in stock, including Starcross Mini tires for junior riders. Ask your Parts Unlimited representative or visit michelin-us.com for more information.