Article by: Marcia Hill

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Photo: Simon Cudby – KTM Images

In the past three weeks, Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin has vaulted himself into contention for the US 250SX class title by taking three consecutive victories in the East Coast competition.
Marvin Musquin has proved he can torpedo out of the start gates faster than any of his opponents. He has shown he can fight his way back from near dead last to winner and he has made the US fans sit up and take note. All of these qualities are already wellknown to his fans on the other side of the Atlantic.

This French rider, double MX2 World Champion, has always loved Supercross and while his entry into the elite US competition had its setbacks, now he’s definitely on a roll. Pics of Marvin’s now trademark signature ‘heel clicker’ celebration as he crosses the line have circulated the world of MX media and he has appeared on the cover of the sport’s prominent magazines. Even American commentators have begun to recognize what the Red Bull KTM Factory team has known all along – Moose-kan, as his French name is often pronounced in the US – definitely CAN!

Pit Beirer, KTM’s Head of Motorsports: “Marvin had some injury setbacks when he first went to our US factory team but we never had any doubts about his quality as a rider. He has the right credentials and he’s a double MX2 World Champion. Now he’s had time to get used to a different racing climate and in the last three races he’s shown his will to win and the benefit of several seasons under Roger DeCoster.”

Musquin’s recent winning streak began in Daytona where he was out of the starting gate with the speed of lightning and demonstrated to all watching that it wasn’t just his KTM 250 SX-F that was running on high octane. The win was a career first and a massive confidence booster that he took with him to Indianapolis. This was a race that saw him get tangled at the start then come from the back of the field to snatch the win in the final lap. Luck was involved when podium rival Blake Wharton made a last lap error but his second win gave Musquin yet another confidence boost. Then can Toronto and with another rocket-propelled start under his wheels, Musquin led the race from gate drop to flag.

Photo: Simon Cudby - KTM Images
Photo: Simon Cudby – KTM Images

Musquin may be on a roll but he still stays grounded, admitting that the beginning of his season was just ‘so-so’. “My starts were not good and although I had a good speed in practice, I never showed it in the races,” he told reporters. “I knew I could do it but now I’m more confident.”

Born at the end of 1989 in La Reole, France, Musquin has been racing since he was four years old and is a multiple French national champion. He also has a simple philosophy. He works hard but believes in keeping things fun and staying happy. He missed a good part of his first season in AMA SX in 2011 due to injury but he came back to take third in the AMA SX Lites last season, when he competed alongside KTM factory teammate Ken Roczen in the West Coast division. This year he has clearly found his element in the East Coast where he likes the tracks and has settled well.

Musquin goes into the next event at Houston, Texas, on April 6, 2013 with a 6-3-4-1-1-1 record from the six races so far held. He also goes knowing he is a proven winner and a potential 250SX champion. He has narrowed the gap to East Coast leader Will Hahn to just six points and he knows there’s all to play for. “Now with a good start I’ll try to win every race or at least be on the podium and we’ll see what happens in Vegas,” he said.

Marvin’s West Coast counterpart Ken Roczen of Germany is currently in the lead of that competition so the stage is set for some mouth-watering final rounds, according to Beirer: “We can look forward to what’s going to be some great racing at the end of the season,” he commented.

Photo: Simon Cudby - KTM Images
Photo: Simon Cudby – KTM Images

Career highlights – Marvin Musquin
• 2012: third place AMA Supercross Lites, Las Vegas
• 2011: second place Motocross of Nations (Team France), Saint-Jean-d’Angély, France
• 2010: MX2 World Champion
• 2009: MX2 World Champion
• 2009: Individual MX2 winner Motocross of Nations & second place with Team France, Franciacorta, Italy

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