SEPANG, MALAYSIA, OCT 17: American Cameron Beaubier will team with Spaniard Marc Marquez to spearhead KTM’s 2009 factory effort in the 125cc World Championship where the company will concentrate its efforts after withdrawing from the 250cc World Championship.
Beaubier, the 15-year-old former Red Bull Rookie who’s now in the KTM MotoGP Academy, will partner with current Repsol KTM 125cc rider Marquez, also 15, on the newly formed Red Bull KTM factory squad.
The teen-agers will be riding upgraded versions of the KTM 125FRR and the team will be run by longtime KTM technical boss Harald Bartol.
The withdrawal from the 250cc class isn’t a total surprise following the recent decision by the FIM and Dorna to move to a 600cc prototype class in 2011.
“We have decided for GP 125 cc class because contrary to the 250cc class, its existence is secured in the medium to long term,” KTM racing boss Winfried Kerschhlaggl said in a statement.
