Kay Karssemakers and Mathéo Miot to KTM Diga Junior Racing
Amid great interest from sponsors and fans, KTM Diga Junior Racing presented its two new riders yesterday, the Dutchman Kay Karssemakers and the Frenchman Mathéo Miot, at the TT Circuit in Assen. For Karssemakers that was the icing on the cake because the 14-year-old driver from Boxtel made a solid EMX125 debut this weekend.
With the arrival of Miot and Karssemakers, the Belgian team is bringing in a strong EMX quartet. Emil Weckman and Mathéo Miot will compete in the EMX250, the waiting room of the MX2 GPs. The experienced Emil Jönrup will be joined by 'rookie' Karssemakers in the EMX2019 in 125.
Both Karssemakers and Miot are known as promising young riders. Although Kay achieved the most series victories in the European Championship preliminary rounds, he finished just off the final podium in the final in the Czech Republic. In 2015, the fast Boxtel native won the junior world title in the 65cc, and in the past two World Cup editions, the four-time Dutch champion added two more bronze medals in the 85cc World Championship to his list of achievements. Karssemakers is without a doubt one of the greatest emerging talents of his generation.
16-year-old Miot not only lives just across the border with Belgium, he has also been regularly active in Belgian competitions in recent years. Miot is a former French beach racing champion and Le Touquet youth winner. In 2015 he was crowned vice-champion of France in 85cc. This season Mathéo finished third in the fiercely contested French 125cc championship. He ended his EMX-125 career with a 19th place in the final standings but showed his speed with a second place in the second round of the French European Championship 125cc round.
Both Karssemakers and Miot signed a multi-year agreement with KTM Diga Junior Racing.
Kay Karssemakers: “This is certainly a great challenge, a new class and a new team for next year. Great to be able to take the next step on the way to a professional career in this way. Especially because it is actually a team from the region! I live barely half an hour from the workshop, on the other side of the border. The fact that I will complete a lot of motorcycle training together with the other riders is also nice, it keeps you sharp. In any case, I'm really looking forward to it!”
Matheo Miot: “The organization of the team, the infrastructure, experience and support... The whole picture is just right. I am very curious because it is an exciting, new development for me. After all, next year I will not only be switching to the EMX250, I will also be moving to Alken to train in Belgium and work better with the team. Because I live just across the French border, I expect few adjustment problems. My first year on the quarter liter will primarily be a learning year, but I know that I am in good hands at KTM Diga Junior Racing.”
Dirk Saelen, team manager KTM Diga Junior Racing: “For next year we are resolutely opting for young talents of a high caliber. Kay (Karssemakers) and Mathéo (Miot) have both already recorded great results. They have their age and there is certainly still growth potential. We are also happy to have a 'local' rider with Kay! Of course, KTM Diga Junior Racing is very internationally oriented, but it remains nice to speak the same language. We have actually been following Mathéo for a while, but it has not yet resulted in a collaboration. Due to the introduction of a joint sponsor, everything quickly accelerated this year. I am not only enthusiastic about the sporting possibilities of Miot and Karssemakers themselves, their presence will certainly benefit the group dynamics with Weckman and Jönrup!”
Photos: KTM Diga Junior Racing
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