Harry Norton becomes new team manager at Red Bull KTM
Preparations for the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship are in full swing and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing wants to defend the MX2 title and collect more MXGP points with the same rider line-up, but under new management. 29-year-old Australian Harry Norton will accompany the efforts of the crew and Jeffrey Herlings, Andrea Adamo, Liam Everts and Sacha Coenen on KTM 450 SX-F and KTM 250 SX-F machines in the 20-round championship.
Norton came to Austria in 2019 after a long association with KTM and KTM Australia in his native country, where he worked at a local dealer and then also in the national racing scene. His passion for dirt bikes and competition made him eager to break into the hub of the factory's motorsports activities in Europe. His easy-going manner and technical skills allowed him to immediately build a good relationship with newcomer Tom Vialle; the Frenchman won a Grand Prix in his first season and the pair took two MX2 world championships in the following three years.
Norton quickly took on an important role within the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing organization and was seen as the natural successor to Dirk Gruebel in 2023 as Technical Team Coordinator. The team underwent a major overhaul with three new riders and a major reset of the technical staff, as KTM looked to the future. Norton managed to guide the team to a fifteenth MX2 crown with the KTM 250SX-F thanks to the positive first step with Adamo, and also helped Herlings to a new all-time win record with 103 Grand Prix victories in the MXGP category and with the KTM 450 SX-F.
Harry's positive growth and growing influence mean he will take charge of the MXGP operation in 2024, supported by Dirk Gruebel, Team Coordinator Valentina Ragni, Team Trainer Joel Smets and other figures such as new Technical Coordinator Stefan Simpson. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will compete in MXGP events in Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Great Britain before the season starts in Argentina on March 10.
Harry Norton: "People have asked me how I feel and the answer is simply: excited. It's been a dream to work for this team, and to become one of the key people and have so much input into how we race is next level for me. I've had the best possible influences around me, like Dirk, Peter [Tillerkvist], Robert [Jonas] and Pit [Beirer], and I want to thank them for their help and for sharing their experience. We have another big season ahead of us and with the same goals we always have. We have a strong team and we will work with the same passion and dedication to achieve what we can."
Photos: Red Bull KTM
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