The Joy of Sxf

THE JOY OF SXF

KTM has a new 250cc four-stroke with which to take on the Japanese in the 125cc motocross class. Based on the prototype that 20-year-old New Zealander Ben Townley rode to the 2004 MX2 World Championship, the 250 SXF boasts a dohc cylinder head, its four valves opened via Formula 1-style finger followers and shim-over-bucket tappets. The bike shown here was displayed at a Team Red Bull KTM press introduction in Southern

California last November, and featured sand-cast center cases, but production examples were expected to arrive no later than February. Veteran Nathan Ramsey and Australian Jay Marmont will race it in the AMA 125cc West Supercrosses, Ryan Mills and Josh Hansen in the East, joined by 16-year-old sensation Mike Alessi in the outdoor nationals later in the year. -Brian Catterson