We decided to give Stefan a call and ask him about the present situation in this new working relationship.

MXlarge: Stefan, there must be a lot happening at the moment with American building their empire over there. How is it progressing?

Everts: I can tell you that Andrew is pretty happy with the bike so far. Roger is trying to get everything sorted out, the testing program over there is starting up, and they are waiting for some parts to arrive. Roger has also been out riding with Marvin, and he is happy with the bike. Everything is slowly coming into place. Ken will be in America next week, he leaves next weekend. He will start riding in a week.

MXlarge: Is it what you expected working with Roger?

Everts: it is too early to say, but I have no doubt it will be good. Roger is a winner and he wants to win and even at his age you never lose it. It’s a big challenge what he is doing with KTM. He is very busy with sorting everything out and I am sure when everything is organized we will have more time to talk. I had him on the phone yesterday very briefly and he’s happy with how it’s going so far.

MXlarge: When will you head over there?

Everts: I will be back in Austria next week. I would like to be in America for the first Supercross, but I will only know at the last minute because Kelly (Stefan’s partner) is expecting the baby around that time and you never know how that will go. I would really like to be there for the first and second Supercross.

MXlarge: What about going to Spain in January with the team again like you have done the last five years, will that happen again?

Everts: It’s on the plan, for sure it will be later, we would like the whole team there, and Ken won’t be back in Europe until after the San Diego Supercross and that will be the February 19, so it’s going to be later than the other years.

MXlarge: So Ken does what the first seven rounds of the West Coast?

Everts: He will do until San Diego and then they go East Coast. We will see how that goes depending on his position in the Championship. He will then come back and ride Motocross until the first Grand Prix in Bulgaria and then the last West Coast is between Bulgaria and Holland and we will see if he goes to that last round or not.

MXlarge: So he will only return if he looks like he can win it?

Everts: Only if he is in a really good spot and that means winning the Championship.

MXlarge: What about the other riders in the team, how are they all doing?

Everts: I haven’t spoken to Tony, but I will go to Bercy and see him and Marvin there. I know that Antonio is doing a lot of the European Supercross races. As for Max he is doing a lot of testing with the 350 and he has decided to race the 350 next year. He is happy and pumped to race the 350. He is back from holidays now and he will work on his physical condition around the middle of November and as far as Jeffrey he is doing really well with his shoulder. He has been going with Jan Sporer in Lommel three times a week for more than a month now and hopefully he will start riding at the end of November again. Jeremy had this operation on his thumb and that is going well. He will be ready to start riding at the end of November.

MXlarge: So nobody will be racing the 450cc for KTM? Is that good for the promotion of the 450?

Everts: Not from us, not from the factory team. At the moment the 350 is everything but the 450 won’t die for sure not. The production line continues for the 450 for Enduro and Paris Dakar, but the 350 is such a big success now and we will continue with two riders on the 350. Maybe in 2012 we will look at the 450 again.