Both Pichon and Tortelli knew what it took to win a world title, both were double world championship winners, but both were injury prone. Then came the terrible pre-season races for KTM, when Tortelli was stranded on the start line in one race and in others DNFed with engine problems.

Pichon had been quiet in the pre-season, not doing that many International races and when he did arrive at the opening round of the GP season in Zolder, Belgium he didn't race due to a mistery virus.

Tortelli of course put KTM on the podium with a moto one win and a second place in moto two, but he did look a little wild at the following rounds in Spain and Portugal, and eventually ended his season with a big crash in Portugal.

The future for KTM is now with younger riders. Bring in David Philippaerts and Jonathan Barragan. Philippaerts is the total opposite of his Spanish team-mate Barragan. Rutheless on the track and always looking for a way to win, no matter what his rivals think. He has had a steeper learning curve than Barragan and his GP success is also much more impressive.

"In 2001 I was riding for Husqvarna and I did one race, then in 2002 I did five races, and qualified for two of them (Lierop and Valkenswaard), I was riding a Suzuki machine. I scored a point in Valkenswaard. In 2003, 2004 and 2005 I did Italian championship, winning three championships in a row."

The big change for Philippaerts came when he linked to the KTM factory, and more so when he began to train with five time world champion Georges Jobe. Winning the French GP last year was his first step, but this year he has stolen the limelight from many of he MX2 riders winning four GPs from five starts. Philippaerts knows that if he listens to the people around him he will only get better.

"I worked on the training better now, I am fit, but Georges helps me with training and learning the circuits. I was missing somebody lik Georges to help me, guiding me. For me it's important to have somebody who know what to do around the circuit, somebody who can tell me what I have to do, sometimes as a rider you don't see everything, and you need to have a person who has experience around the circuit. Georges is very good at giving me advice and I think I am good at listening. Also on the bike, it's also important. I believe what he tells me. I was expecting to win some races. Georges told me, if I win once, then I can win again, and again. He told me it does not matter what type of circuit, or what country we are in, but if I believe in myself, that is what is important."

Philippaerts has upset many of his rivals with his riding style. Some like Tyla Rattray, Antonio Cairoli and Christophe Pourcel have been outspoken about the way he rides. Philippaerts is not worried that he might be some pay-back throught the last part of the MX season, and he knows that he needs to be aggressive if he wants to run with the likes of Coppins, Strijbos and Ramon.

"This is motocross, it's a sport where you have to be aggressive. I know some riders don't like it, but I don't think I do anything too dangerous. I have done brake checks, or block passes, but nothing more. I ride hard, and I expect it will be like that next year in the MX1 class, it's not an easy class and if you get a bad start you have to push hard, it's that simple."

As for entering the MX1 class in 2007, it is not something that worries the Italian. He knows his speed is good enough, and he prefers to ride the bigger bikes. Often in Italian championship races of International events he has come up against the MX1 riders.

"I don't think the top MX1 riders are that strong, and I have the whole winter to work on some things, to prepare for next season. I will be ready. I am also better on the bigger bike, and with people like Georges helping me, that is really good for me, I don't know too many riders who have a former rider with his experience helping them, it's a huge advantage. If I look around the paddock I can see some riders are not pushing hard enough, I know I want to win, and that is important, some riders are not willing to push as hard as me."