Could Keeno be about to make a late MXGP season comeback?
Red Bull KTM could suddenly be back to full strength by the end of the 2015 season. With Tony Cairoli returning to the saddle of his 450SX-F machine only yesterday after a six week break to fix his fractured left arm the Sicilian is looking good to appear at the Monster Energy U.S. Grand Prix at Glen Helen in three weeks time. If he laps well in the coming days then he is also an outside bet for the Mexican round at Leon in 10 days.
Tommy Searle also fired up his 350SX-F last week after recovering from damaged ribs. The Englishman, who has missed out on selection for the British Motocross of Nations team at Ernee after a disrupted term in KTM colours, has allegedly signed to return to Kawasaki with the Monster Energy DRT squad for 2016. Some news on this move could arrive in the coming weeks as his replacement in the Red Bull awning, Glenn Coldenhoff, has already been publicly confirmed.
With Searle and Cairoli likely for appearances at Glen Helen (an event with a lot of visibility and coverage in terms of industry exposure) the big surprise is that Ken De Dycker could make a KTM swansong. The Belgian’s future in Grand Prix is allegedly very much undecided with even some gossip that the 31 year old could consider retirement after two injury plagued campaigns.
De Dycker has been convalescing from shoulder surgery after a crash at the German Grand Prix in June. With the recent injury to Kevin Strijbos there was a small window of opportunity for De Dycker to make potentially a last outing for Team Belgium at the Nations and a request was made to the KTM crew for material to allow the former GP winner to start riding again in the coming days.
Red Bull KTM have more or less set their staff roster for 2016 with Cairoli, Herlings, Coldenhoff, Jonass and Pootjes to fill the awning. Herlings has still not publicly spoken of his destination for next season – MXGP or MX2.
