VMXKTM :: Vintage KTM

KTM History

1978 Works 125

Tuesday, 15 April 2008

Reese kindly sent in an interesting scan of the 1978 works 125 taken at the USGP of that year. Check out the rear fender/numberplate combo!

1972 British 250cc GP Start

Friday, 07 December 2007

From Alexey in the Ukraine comes two photos. The first is the start of the 1972 British 250cc GP with a fantastic KTM holeshot!.

Pavel Rulev (USSR KTM) № 27 gets a flying start, with Sylvain Geboers (Suzuki) № 2, Torleif Hansen (Husqvarna) № 23, Jiry Charavy (CZ) № 5 and winner Jaroslav Falta (CZ) № 7 leading in the pursuing pack.

The second is of Alexy with the man himself, Guennady Moiseev.

Вы Alexey!

The Soviet Motocross Team 1973 - 1979

Sunday, 24 June 2007

It was no accident that the first World Motocross Championship for KTM came through the efforts of the Soviet Motocross Team. Although controversial, it was team tactics that helped secure Moiseev's 1974 250cc Championship. Despite two more 250cc Championships in 1977 and 1978, the Soviet team of the 1970's remains mysterious.

A Red Star Special

Monday, 07 May 2007

Coming soon, thanks to the generosity of Alexey sending in heaps of material, will be a feature on the 70’s and 80’s Soviet motocross team. Stay tuned!

1983 Brochure

Thursday, 15 March 2007

Remember when the dealers would hand these out for free!

Moiseev Postcards

Sunday, 18 February 2007
Continuing with the Red Stars theme, here's a couple of postcards of Moiseev from 1973 and 1977. Thanks to Alexey for the 1977 image.

More Red Stars

Tuesday, 13 February 2007

Alexey has kindly sent in two more fantastic photos of the Red Stars, Kavinov and Moiseev. These are great images of the KTM riders during the time when the Soviets fielded a strong GP motocross team.

Red Star Kavinov

Saturday, 10 February 2007

From the Ukraine comes this very nice postcard of Vladimir Kavinov. Thanks Alexey!

Moiseev's CZ-KTM

Sunday, 28 January 2007

Here's a really interesting photo that MarkG spotted. Although it's not a big image, click on the photo to open it full size and take a good look at the bike... then look at the tank sticker.

Pretty interesting arrangement the Russian MX team had with their Warsaw Pact allies and Austrian sponsors!

Farleigh Castle KTM495's

Monday, 15 January 2007
Courtesy of The Motorbike Archives, here is a video of 495 heaven! Beautiful, lush, green English countryside being plowed by KTM495's during the 1982 British 500cc GP held at Farleigh Castle. See big Jaak Van Velthoven and other KTM pilots in action from one of the greatest years in 500cc GP history.
Read more...

Red Star Racing

Saturday, 25 November 2006

Members of the Russian Motocross Team were considered the 'bad guys' of the GP circuit in the 70's and early 80's - mostly due to the tactics employed at the final round of the 1974 250 campaign which gave Moiseev and KTM their first World Championship. The Russian website, www.motorland.ru, has an interesting take on the politics surrounding the Soviet switch from CZ, to KTM, and finally back to CZ.

KTM - The Early Years

Saturday, 25 November 2006

The KTM factory began in 1934 with Hans Trunkenpolz establishing a fitter workshop in the Austrian town of Mattighofen. Hans’ company, “Trunkenpolz”, developed into one of the largest repair workshops of upper Austria between 1937 and 1950. From 1950, the official name of the company was “Trunkenpolz Mattighofen”, and it employed some 20 people.

Thanks to Paolo for some of the photos in this article - grazie!

Guennady Moiseev

Monday, 01 May 2006

The Red Star

For anyone who followed GP motocross in the 1970's and 80's, Guennady Moiseev is KTM. When the gritty Russian was interviewed by Motocross Action Magazine in 1985 it was a rare insight into The Red Star.

Motocross has become business, and I am sorry about that. It was all different in the old days.

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