Salon talk 2010: KTM
In Salonpraat we take the pulse of Belgian off-road every day with an importer. Today the kick-off will be kicked off by KTM Sportmotorcycle Belgium. A state of affairs with marketing manager Bart Vermeulen as spokesperson.
Is off-road an important segment for you as an importer or is it rather a necessary evil because off-road motorcycles are simply part of the range?
Bart Vermeulen: “Off-road is and remains the core business for KTM. KTM has become big with and thanks to off-road. Off-road will always remain a priority for us.”
Which was your best-selling off-road motorcycle in 2009?
Bart Vermeulen: “If you look purely at motocross alone, it was the SX-F 25O. In the Enduro these were the EXC 400 and 450, both of which sold equally.”
What is your most important off-road novelty for 2010?
Bart Vermeulen: “The real novelty is of course the SX-F 350, a motorcycle that combines the handling of an SX-F 250 with the power of an SX-F 450. Stefan Everts was involved in the development of the SX-F 350 and made a number of radical changes. For example, the PDS system is replaced by a link. Furthermore, both the enduro and motocross ranges continued to evolve.”
What do you expect from the off-road market in 2010?
Bart Vermeulen: “We are the market leader in Belgium when it comes to the sale of Enduro motorcycles. We naturally want to maintain and strengthen that position. We expect to be able to increase our market share in the motocross segment.”
How do you see the off-road market evolving over the next decade? Will electric motorcycles become the norm?
Bart Vermeulen: “KTM is already focusing on electric motorcycles. The development of the “Zero Emission line” is in full swing. For the time being, the biggest stumbling block remains the battery. An hour of autonomy requires approximately an hour of charging time. Perhaps we should look into replaceable batteries.”
How important are sporting successes for sales in the off-road segment?
Bart Vermeulen: “It is difficult to measure whether sporting successes actually encourage people to buy a particular model. But competition obviously plays an important role at KTM. All our enduro and cross models are “Ready to race”, which means that they have been tested and developed in high-level competitions and can therefore be used immediately by the customer. The customer realizes this and knows that this year's engines are very similar to last year's factory machines.”
Are you, as an importer, involved in off-road sports in Belgium?
Bart Vermeulen: “In the BK Enduro we directly support Cédric Cremer. Cédric became champion at the Inters E1 last year. In 2010, however, he competed in the heavily occupied Inters E450 class on an EXC 2. We also support a number of crossers, but this is done through the dealers.”
Credit photos: O. Evrard, KTM images & KTM Belgium
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