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Interview: KTM maestro Harry Norton – Part One

Exclusive chat with the Aussie.

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Engaging, thoughtful and hugely driven to succeed, our exclusive interview with two-time MX2 World Champion mechanic for Tom Vialle and new KTM technical coordinator, Harry Norton, is bursting with insight on a range of topics.

Part one of our chat focuses on areas such as his incredible success and relationship with Vialle, his new role working alongside Antonio Cairoli, his captivating journey from Australia to get where he is today and how the new season is shaping up for Liam Everts, Andrea Adamo and Sacha Coenen.

We also hear about Jeffrey Herlings, the incredible environment for success at KTM and how they manage the weight of expectation and pressure on the riders.

Edward Stratmann: Firstly, congratulations on winning your second MX2 World title with Tom. How did the season pan out from your perspective and how did you handle that epic finale with the Jago Geerts crash? That would’ve been a crazy moment.

Harry Norton: It was tough from the start, as Tom was really injured in the offseason so we didn’t get a proper chance to put in that base work that you really need. Obviously we had the new bike so we didn’t get a chance to test so much, so for sure we started the season a little bit on the back foot. But as the season went on, we improved the bike a lot and Tom also got fitter and stronger again.

It was a crazy year man. And that final. So in Sweden we were quite a few points down, so then Tom won that first moto and then I think the second moto Geerts won – so they left with having taken the same points. In Finland, he had a really good weekend. In France, he had a really good weekend and then we went to Turkey and it was practically even. So it was like winner takes all.

For me, this is where Tom is just really strong. Mentally, he’s a really strong young kid. When they crashed into each other, my bloody heart stopped mate. Honestly, all weekend Tom was calm, like in 2020 when we won the championship and he got docked cause he stopped on his qualification lap so had to start with the last gate pick. But these things don’t faze him.

He’s so mentally strong and even on race day on that championship day, you wouldn’t have known that it was. There was more tension in everyone around, but Tom was normal. He’s a good kid.

ES: On top of Tom being such a gifted rider and having such amazing mental fortitude, what also made you two such a good combination working together?

HN: I think you know, between myself and the group, the team we have around. We really don’t get too (stressed), we keep it light. We’ve been in that situation a few times luckily so you know we always keep it fun and keep it as light as possible.

Everybody on the team knows their job, they know what to do. You don’t need to talk about the fact that it’s championship day or there’s all this pressure. Everyone knows it’s there. It’s just everyone doing their jobs – business as usual.

ES: Obviously with this environment and how you deal with the pressure, this should hold Tom in good stead to be successful in America and you for your new job as technical coordinator. How do you see the future for Tom and yourself?

HN: I was there with Tom for his first week in the US, for the first days of riding supercross and for the first little bit of testing. I think he’ll do really well. I think it’ll take him a while to really race supercross, but he’s got such natural talent. He’s got a good head on him. I think with time, he’s going to be really successful.

ES: What about your new role?

HN: So next year, Tony Cairoli is the team manager and I will be the technical coordinator. So I look after all the technical aspects of Red Bull KTM. It’s a really cool step for me mate. It’s a hell of an opportunity, very thankful that KTM gave me the trust to pursue something like that. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be a hell of a challenge but one I’m really looking forward to.

ES: They were obviously really impressed with your work ethic and dedication, which is essentially what earned you that initial job as a mechanic in Europe after working your way through in KTM Australia. Can you explain how the journey has been for you so far as you’ve gone from strength to strength?

HN: It’s all been pretty natural, but there’s been a couple of key people that have really helped me otherwise it wouldn’t have been possible – like Rob Twyerould from KTM. I worked in a KTM dealer as an apprentice and then he helped me get a job with KTM on the factory team in Australia. Then I did three years with the Enduro team. From there, you build your contacts and I got to do some really cool events with KTM around the world and throughout Australia. And then I was ready to go. I was ready to travel the world to see what else was next.

I approached Rob and said “do you know anyone who has any jobs going?” Luckily he’s good friends with Dirk Gruebel, who’s the ex-team manager but a guy who’s still heavily involved in our team. He said “yeah we’ll take a shot on an Aussie kid.” That was that – four years ago now.

My first GP in Europe was also Tom’s first GP so it was really cool to start Tom’s life with Red Bull KTM and mine at the same time. We were together for the next four years, so that was a really cool time.

ES: That’s great to see all the hard work both Tom and you put in has certainly paid off.

HN: Yeah, his family man, they’re the best. The last four years have been really tough for our team. Last year we lost Rene (Hofer) in an avalanche. So that was a huge blow. And then Jeffrey’s (Herlings) had some pretty serious injuries the last couple of years although he obviously won the championship in 2021.

We have a really cool team man, a really strong group. We have a lot of new for 2023, but I think we can still have that core as our strength, so 2023 should still be a good year.

ES: Having learnt so much and with the team being so outgoing and happy imparting their knowledge onto you, this clearly makes for a winning environment and recipe for success. This new role sounds like a great step in your personal development, is this how you feel about it?

HN: For sure, and that’s the great part about KTM. Yeah, I’m the technical coordinator of our team, but the people that I have around me in Tony and the company and Dirk, the manager from before, are all helping me. Our team coordinator, Valentina, she’s been there for 20 years, so she knows everything. Within the company, there’s ex-mechanics and people that have been going to the races for our team in different roles – whether that’s mapping guys, our suspension guys or engine guys – for many years. So I have all this support network around me so it’s a pretty cool position to be in.

ES: Sounds like this is pretty much the dream job for you working at KTM.

HN: I always had the dream to work for KTM. I had a photo of this team on my wall when I was like eight years old. It was like one of those dreams that you think are like (impossible). I come from a really small town in South Australia and it’s crazy to think about travelling overseas. And then to live overseas, to work for a team of this calibre then to get to be involved in the real day to day workings and the decision making of the team is still mind blowing to me. I want to continue this, this style of work I really enjoy.

ES: You would be pretty excited having Liam Everts, Andrea Adama and Sacha Coenen in the team this year alongside Herlings. What are your expectations for them in 2023 from your perspective?

HN: I think it’s always best for these younger kids to keep it really simple. Focus on developing themselves and keeping a real close focus on themselves and not so much worrying about everything else around. Really working on building their strengths and addressing any weaknesses. Definitely going towards that goal of always top five but being realistic about where they’re at.

For all the guys, it’s just a matter of managing expectations and trying to handle the pressure. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with the name Red Bull KTM as soon as you step into our team. So managing that expectation and managing that pressure and making sure they can focus on giving their best every time. The team will provide everything they need, it’s just a matter of them being able to put that stuff on the side and focus on riding the bikes, which is what they’re good at.

The people we have involved you know, Joel Smets is the trainer of Andrea and Sacha, and Stefan is working with his son Liam. Then we have Tony Cairoli as our team manager so it’s pretty amazing the amount of experience we have in our group. We’ve got Tony with nine world championships, Stefan with 10 and Joel with five. That’s an insane group of people to go out and lead these young kids.

Everyone leans on each other, everyone helps each other. It’s pretty cool man and for myself as a fan of the sport, it’s pretty cool mate.

ES: How’s working with Sacha, and his brother Lucas, who’s on Husqvarna but who you’d obviously still have a great insight on how he’s going? How impressed have you been and how bright do you see their futures as they’re definitely incredible talents?

HN: They definitely have bright futures that’s for sure. They’re very young, they’re very fast. They’re going to be impressive for sure. Like I said before, the biggest thing is going to be managing expectations and making sure that they are calm.

Any of these young kids you know, when they get up to MX2 and they ride for Red Bull KTM etc, it’s just keeping everyone calm. You know, if they get injured, it’s not good for anybody. I think that’s the biggest goal. Ride how we know you guys can ride and stay off the ground and then let the results be what they will be for the first little bit and then as we go through the year, chase some more goals and look at where we’re at.

ES: This patient, measured approach that minimises the pressure, is a smart, proven way to work, especially with the young riders. So you appear to have them sorted for 2023?

HN: Every rider is at a different point so everything is very personal and you need to really look at where they’re at and be honest about it. So we have Jeffrey Herlings in the team, so the expectations of Herlings to Sacha Coenen can’t be compared. They’re two completely different things. You always keep that in mind and be open about it. We have such a strong group of experience like Joel Smets, Stefan and everyone around so there’s a lot of understanding about the process of what works and what doesn’t.

Stay tuned for part two with the Aussie that will be released shortly, which contains plenty of Herlings chat, stories on Vialle and much more.

Features

Stat Attack: Indianapolis Supercross Review

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With the tenth round of AMA Supercross in the books, statistics maestro Paul Pearcy has provided MX Vice with some brilliant numbers to tuck into from what was a great night of action. Enjoy

250 Class

Qualifying

  • Top 3
  1. Max Anstie: 49.492
  2. Tom Vialle: 49.492; (Max got top spot because his time came in the first session, while Tom’s time came in the second session)
  3. Pierce Brown: 49.719

LCQ

  • Top 3
  1. Jeremy Martin
  2. Ryder Floyd
  3. Hardy Munoz
  • Laps Led
  1. Jeremy Martin: 5
  2. Hardy Munoz: 2
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Jeremy Martin: 52.413
  2. Preston Boespflug: 53.150
  3. Gage Linville: 53.549
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Jeremy Martin: 53.655
  2. Preston Boespflug: 54.259
  3. Ryder Floyd: 54.373

Race 1

  • Top 3
  1. Cameron Mcadoo
  2. Haiden Deegan
  3. Seth Hammaker
  • Laps Led
  1. Cameron Mcadoo: 12
  2. Daxton Bennick: 1
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Haiden Deegan: 49.561
  2. Tom Vialle: 49.660
  3. Cameron Mcadoo: 49.854
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Cameron Mcadoo: 50.830
  2. Haiden Deegan: 51.086
  3. Seth Hammaker: 51.907
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Preston Boespflug: 2.970
  2. Cameron Mcadoo: 3.184
  3. Jalek Swoll: 3.287

Race 2

  • Top 3
  1. Haiden Deegan
  2. Cameron Mcadoo
  3. Tom Vialle
  • Laps Led
  1. Haiden Deegan: 12
  2. Jalek Swoll: 1
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Haiden Deegan: 49.493
  2. Tom Vialle: 50.690
  3. Pierce Brown: 50.868
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Haiden Deegan: 51.522
  2. Cameron Mcadoo: 52.214
  3. Tom Vialle: 52.580
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Jeremy Hand: 2.040
  2. Coty Schock: 2.315
  3. Max Anstie: 2.634

Race 3

  • Top 3
  1. Tom Vialle
  2. Pierce Brown
  3. Cameron Mcadoo
  • Laps Led
  1. Tom Vialle: 13
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Tom Vialle: 49.844
  2. Chance Hymas: 50.020
  3. Cameron Mcadoo: 50.175
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Tom Vialle: 51.493
  2. Pierce Brown: 51.563
  3. Haiden Deegan: 51.892
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Marshal Weltin: 1.984
  2. Seth Hammaker: 1.997
  3. Nick Romano: 2.233

Overall

  • Top 3
  1. Cameron Mcadoo; (1st win of the season, 80% podium rate this year)
  2. Tom Vialle; (80% podium rate this year)
  3. Haiden Deegan; (40% podium rate this season)
  • Laps Led
  1. Tom Vialle: 13; (Tom is now tied with Austin Forkner for most laps led this season at 37.  34% of total laps raced)
  2. Cameron Mcadoo: 12
  3. Haiden Deegan: 12
  4. Jalek Swoll: 1
  5. Daxton Bennick: 1
  • Best First Lap Position Average
  1. Tom Vialle: 3rd 
  2. Cameron Mcadoo: 3.333
  3. Jalek Swoll: 4th 

Points

  • Top 10
  1. Cameron Mcadoo: 98
  2. Tom Vialle: 96
  3. Pierce Brown: 87
  4. Haiden Deegan: 82
  5. Coty Schock: 79
  6. Seth Hammaker: 72
  7. Daxton Bennick: 71
  8. Max Anstie: 62
  9. Chance Hymas: 60
  10. Jalek Swoll: 58

450 Class

Qualifying

  • Top 3
  1. Jett Lawrence: 48.523
  2. Eli Tomac: 48.554
  3. Cooper Webb: 48.568; (The difference between 1st and 3rd was .045 seconds.)

LCQ

  • Top 3
  1. Kyle Chisholm
  2. Justin Starling
  3. Devin Simonson
  • Laps Led
  1. Kyle Chisholm: 7
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Ty Masterpool: 52.415
  2. Kyle Chisholm: 52.810
  3. Freddie Noren: 53.248
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Kyle Chisholm: 54.223
  2. Ryan Breece: 54.271
  3. Freddie Noren: 54.390

Race 1

  • Top 3
  1. Jett Lawrence
  2. Ken Roczen
  3. Chase Sexton
  • Laps Led
  1. Jett Lawrence: 10
  2. Ken Roczen: 6
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Jett Lawrence: 48.639
  2. Ken Roczen: 49.225
  3. Cooper Webb: 49.581
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Jett Lawrence: 51.023
  2. Cooper Webb: 51.383
  3. Ken Roczen: 51.402
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Aaron Plessinger: 2.774
  2. Eli Tomac: 3.095
  3. Chase Sexton: 3.785

Race 2

  • Top 3
  1. Jett Lawrence
  2. Ken Roczen
  3. Chase Sexton
  • Laps Led
  1. Jett Lawrence: 10
  2. Ken Roczen: 6
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Jett Lawrence: 49.499
  2. Ken Roczen: 49.713
  3. Chase Sexton: 49.849
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Jett Lawrence: 50.735
  2. Chase Sexton: 50.884
  3. Ken Roczen: 50.908 (That’s a difference of .173 in average lap times over 16 laps)
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Ken Roczen: 2.537
  2. Malcolm Stewart: 2.641
  3. Chase Sexton: 2.676

Race 3

  • Top 3
  1. Jett Lawrence
  2. Chase Sexton 
  3. Ken Roczen
  • Laps Led
  1. Ken Roczen: 10
  2. Jett Lawrence: 6
  • Fastest Lap Times
  1. Ken Roczen: 49.131
  2. Chase Sexton: 49.284
  3. Jett Lawrence: 49.314
  • Best Average Lap Times
  1. Jett Lawrence: 50.477
  2. Chase Sexton: 50.483
  3. Cooper Webb: 50.594; (That’s a difference of .117 in average lap times over 16 laps)
  • Most Consistent Lap Times (Least difference between fastest and slowest lap times)
  1. Chase Sexton: 2.528
  2. Cooper Webb: 2.885
  3. Jason Anderson: 3.079

Overall

  • Top 3
  1. Jett Lawrence; (The only other person to have a perfect sweep at a triple crown was Ken Roczen in 2020 also on a Honda.  Jett has now won 50% of the races this season, with a 60% podium rate)
  2. Ken Roczen; (Ken has a 50% podium rate this year)
  3. Chase Sexton; (Chase has a 50% podium rate this year)
  • Laps Led
  1. Jett Lawrence: 26; (Jett now has 130 laps led, 50.7% of total laps)
  2. Ken Roczen: 22; (Ken has the second most laps led at 49, Just 19% of total laps)
  • Best First Lap Position Average
  1. Ken Roczen: 1st 
  2. Jett Lawrence: 2nd 
  3. Jason Anderson: 4th 

Points

  • Top 10
  1. Jett Lawrence: 210
  2. Cooper Webb: 189
  3. Chase Sexton: 185
  4. Ken Roczen: 175
  5. Eli Tomac: 174
  6. Jason Anderson: 165
  7. Aaron Plessinger: 162
  8. Justin Cooper: 120
  9. Justin Barcia: 109
  10. Dylan Ferrandis: 107

Lead Image: HRC

Love what we do? Please read this article as we try to raise £30,000.

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British MX Nationals

Thank you. It’s been a hell of a ride.

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Since buying back MX Vice in November 2019, it has been challenging. One of those crystal balls would have been handy for navigating some problematic situations. Who would have thought COVID-19 would be a thing?

Those who follow MX Vice know we started from nothing but an idea. A fan who loved the sport created a Facebook page, website, and social media presence that would become disruptive. It has made numerous talented media people who were allowed to run with it for over thirteen years. Being in the UK/Europe has always been difficult; I’ve always believed that if we were a US media company, we would have been embraced and appreciated for our work ethic and the content we produce. We always cast one eye over the US in Europe, and you can’t blame the top European riders for doing the same.

MX Vice has always tried to give people a voice, especially the riders who are not in the limelight and the teams that put so much into the sport. We love people’s passion and sacrifice to improve and challenge themselves. That, for me, was the natural pull, not the money but the passion and sacrifice. We all know we would not be in motocross if it were about the money. I always considered MX Vice the media version of Steve Dixon’s team in MXGP (which I have a huge amount of respect for), where we have always tried to challenge without the factory budgets.

We knew it would be tough this year with so many businesses and brands cutting marketing budgets and reducing costs; this was never going to be good for us. We have just had two incredible months of stats, with January and February bringing in over 1 million people to the website, which is quite bittersweet. As much as the funds are low, so is my energy and health. COVID impacted me more than I could ever envisaged. My health has deteriorated ever since I caught COVID; my immune system is not in a great place, and when I try and work to the standard I set myself, my body breaks on me, and it takes me days to recover. Ed Stratmann has been a revelation since he took the editorial reigns and has pushed MX Vice to new heights, which is incredible given the lack of resources he has had to work with and support from myself. I have been missing from the podcast show to reduce my time, as I am now self-employed and working for two companies to pay the bills.

Every journey ends, and that’s not what we want. Over the past 13 years, we have given it everything, leaving no stone unturned. We’re proud of how we have disrupted, challenged decisions, held organisations accountable, and illuminated incredible stories.

We will have an auction for signed shirts donated by riders, podcast equipment, and memorabilia to pay off the invoices of some contributors. If, however, you want to see MX Vice continue, you can donate here: https://ko-fi.com/mxvice or purchase a shirt or memorabilia. If we meet our target of £25,000, which is currently outstanding to run this year, then Ed and I will continue. However, we fully expect this won’t happen due to the large sum required.

It’s hard out there at the moment. Take care of your health and family, and never lose your passion for the most fantastic sport in the world.

Burf.

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Features

Lit Kit Gallery: MXGP of Patagonia – Argentina

The best from round 1.

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Check out some of the freshest fits, helmets and more from the MXGP of Patagonia – Argentina. Lead Image: Nestaan Husqvarna – Full Spectrum.

Photo credits: Red Bull KTM – Ray Archer / Nestaan Husqvarna – Full Spectrum / Yamaha MXGP – Full Spectrum + Eva Szabadfi / JM Honda / Kawasaki MXGP / Fantic MXGP / Yamaha MX2 – Full Spectrum / HRC MXGP / GasGas – Juan Pablo Acevedo


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