AS3 Performance Sponsor Jonny Walker For The 2021 Enduro Season
We are pleased to announce that Jonny Walker will be running our parts on his Beta 300 RR for the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro and SuperEnduro World Championships.
In November 2020, KTM announced that their agreement with extreme enduro star Jonny Walker ended, following a mutual agreement. According to the Austrian manufacturer, a restructuring within the team, which was linked to the changes in the enduro program over recent seasons, left them without an option to keep him for 2021.
He joined the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team in 2011 and flew out of the blocks, getting two Erzbergrodeo wins in a row in 2012 and 2013, before claiming the win at the renowned Red Bull Romaniacs (the Iron gate) in 2015. As well as winning that again, he claimed further victories at Hell’s Gate, the Red Bull 111 Megawatt and The Tough One.
Fabio Farioli Race Team Manager: "Firstly, we'd like to say a big thank you to Jonny for everything he has achieved with KTM Factory Racing. We had some good times over the years and some incredible results, including wins at some of the toughest events on the hard enduro calendar as well as in the SuperEnduro World Championship. He has been an important part of our team and has been integral to our ongoing success. Despite our best efforts we were unable to negotiate a deal to keep Jonny on the team. We wish him all the very best for the future".
Jonny Walker's 2021 Beta 300 RR (photo: Red Bull)
Beta Factory Racing and the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship
Fast forward a couple of months and it was officially announced on the 1st January that Jonny Walker will race the new FIM Hard Enduro World Championship and SuperEnduro World Championship with his own team, riding the Beta 300 RR two-stroke, supported by Beta Factory Racing.
"It is really exciting for me to undertake this new adventure", says Walker of his new team. "Seeing the success that Beta has had in the World Enduro Championship over the years made my decision easy".
As a multi-time winner of the Romaniacs and Erzbergrodeo (among other events) and a contender for the newly created FIM Hard Enduro World Championship, Walker’s move will see the Italian manufacturer’s motorcycles back up the sharp end of results again in the major extreme and hard enduro races.
Jonny Walker's Beta 300 RR set-up for XL Lagares SuperEnduro 2021
Jonny's move from a factory rider to running his own team is a big step, but it won't be without official Beta Factory Racing support. Fabrizio Dini, factory Beta's Team Manager said, "Beta are extremely happy to support Jonny, he is for sure a very professional and strong world class rider. We are excited to work with him as we know he is serious and professional about business and the great results will surely follow".
The deal with Beta has been a source of much speculation since Walker and KTM officially went separate ways towards the end of 2020. Walker will retain his other sponsors. He said, "Being able to carry on with my existing loyal sponsors like Red Bull, GoPro, Leatt and POD Active is amazing and a credit to their vision and direction".
Athlete Manager at Leatt, Dave King, explains Jonny has played an important role in the clothing manufacturer's product development: "Over the last four years Jonny has become a real part of the Leatt family and is a pleasure to work alongside. His race results and personality speak for themselves but product testing and development has also helped take our brand to the next level. When Jonny first told us of his plans to run his own team for the coming year, we didn't think twice about continuing to support him. Leatt is excited to see Jonny get back to his winning ways and are looking forward to working with him for many years to come".
Walker said, "I am also really looking forward to working with new brands and helping them grow". One of those new brands he mentioned is ourselves; AS3 Performance. Jonny approached us, came round to our HQ, met the team and looked at our Beta products. He has been testing some out in Spain on his Beta 300 RR, including the parts: AS3 Performance Beta Water Pump Cover, Clutch Cover, Rear Brake Disc Guard, as well as our Rear Axle Blocks and our Reservoir Covers. We are pleased to say that he likes what we have to offer and thus are now one of his official sponsors.
AS3 Performance Beta 300 RR Clutch Cover (Photo: Red Bull)
