NGK Spark Plugs Australia

KRT is proud to announce its extremely talented line up of riders to contest the Australian Motocross Championships and Australasian SuperX Championships in 2009. Current Australian Motocross Lites Champion, Luke George, is joined by two new team mates in 12 time Australian Champion, Craig Anderson and 16 year old multiple Australian Champion, Luke Arbon. Craig Anderson will compete on board the all new fuel injected KX450F in the Open class, Luke George will compete in the Pro Lites class on board the all new ‘09 KX250F, while Luke Arbon will also contest an all new KX250F in the Under 19s class. Brett Whale continues in his successful role as team manger.

Craig Anderson is one of Australia's most impressive and decorated MX riders. Along with his #100 plate, Craig brings a huge amount of experience and talent to KRT in 2009. Craig has won no less that 12 Australian titles during his racing career and is looking to add to that in 2009. Not only enjoying success on home soil (where, amongst other titles, he won the '06 Australian MX Championships), Craig is one of the few Australian riders to earn success and respect in the USA where he took out a round win in the Lites class at the 2003 AMA MX Championships. He ended up finishing that series well inside the top ten, taking 7^th place.

Craig is excited to ride the all new fuel injected KX450F for KRT in 2009, saying, “I'm really looking forward to this year. Kawasaki has always had really good bikes and been the one to beat in Championships, so I'm really excited to be with KRT in '09. Hopefully I'll be at the front!”

“I've only had the KX450F for a couple of weeks but already it feels really good. We're currently testing suspension and power curves and we're well on our way to finding a really good set up for me. I can't wait to race it!”

KRT rider, Luke George‘s star not only rose in 2008, it rocketed to a whole different stratosphere. After winning the Pro Lites class at the '08 Australian Motocross Championships in his first year with a factory team, Luke George is now a household name in Australian Motocross thanks to consistently strong results on board his KX250F throughout 2008. Discovered by Chad Reed as a youngster, Luke raced with Chad Reed Racing in his lead up to joining KRT in 2008. Luke's KX250F will wear Luke's well earned #1 plate throughout the Australian Motocross Championships in 2009. For all other racing, Luke will wear his trademark #101.

Luke says, “I can't wait for the season to start. I had a good year in 2008 and I'm looking to top that in '09. The new KX250F feels really good. I can't wait to race!”

South Australian Luke Arbon rounds out KRT's 2009 rider line up. He's only 16 years old but he's already amassed an impressive haul of Australian Titles. In 2007, Luke was the Australian Junior Motocross Champion in the 250cc class, 85cc class and 85-150cc class. He also won the SA Stadiumcross Championships 250cc class in '07 and was the Australian Junior Motocross and Supercross Champion in the 85cc class in 2006. His achievements did not go unrecognised in his home state with Luke being a finalist in the 2008 SA Sports Star of the Year Award. Luke's all new KX250F will wear #121 plates as he races in the Under 19s class in the 2009 Australian Motocross Championships and the Pro Lites class at the Australasian SuperX Championships.

Luke is looking forward to racing, saying, “I'm excited to be a part of KRT. They've been such a good team in the past, winning a Championship last year so I'm looking forward to getting on the best bike out there and hopefully winning a Championship in ‘09.”

“The new KX250F is unbelievable. I've been riding my practise bike which is basically stock and it's so smooth with so much bottom end. Plus it's so skinny and handles so well. You just point the front wheel where you want to go and it takes you there. I can't wait to race it.”

KRT manager, Brett Whale, knows how to groom Champions, fostering the career of Australian MX & SX Champion Daniel Reardon who now races in the USA. With that rider's departure from KRT at the end of ‘07, Brett immediately found a new Australian Kawasaki Champion in Luke George. Brett has now gathered what insiders are already touting as “a great mix of riders that boast both fresh talent and seasoned experience.”

Is Brett happy with his 2009 rider line up?

Brett says, “With this line up of riders, I'm gunning for 3 Championships! I'm stoked to have Ando on board. He's a 12 time Australian Champion and the experience and knowledge he brings to the team will be extremely beneficial to both Luke George and Luke Arbon. “

“All 3 riders are good, relaxed boys and so easy to work with. I know we can push forward this year and I'm confident we'll get the results.”

Brett Whale, Craig Anderson, Luke George, Luke Arbon and all the crew at KRT will be out in force at the first round of the 2009 Australian Motocross Championships at Wodonga, Victoria on 5 April. You may also be able to catch some of the KRT riders in action at selected State rounds leading up to the Nationals.

With an extremely impressive line up of riders on board the all new fuel injected KX450F and multiple 250F Shootout winning KX250F, 2009 looks to be a very promising year for Kawasaki.