Rene Hofer Signs With Red Bull KTM For MX2 Debut

September 26, 2019

Red Bull KTM’s recent trend of signing teenage talent to an MX2 ride continues, as the Austrian team announced the signing of Rene Hofer for the 2020 Monster Energy FIM Motocross World Championship. Hofer, an soon to be 18 year old from Austria, has claimed moto wins in the EMX125 division and finished fourth in points in the EMX250 standings. The team brought him up to the MX2 class for three events in 2019, with a seventh-place overall finish at the MXGP of Imola being the best result. He will be a part of Team Austria this weekend at the 2019 Motocross of Nations.

This signing comes via Jorge Prado’s advancement to the MXGP class in 2020 and will put Hofer alongside Tom Vialle on a factory KTM 250 SX-F bike. KTM’s excitement in signing a native Austrian rider was very clear in their official announcement, as he will be the first Austrian to ride for the modern era of Red Bull KTM, the first in MX2, and the third native in the factory team after Heinz Kinigadner and current VP of Offroad Robert Jonas.

Hofer’s age and eligibility are much more important than the native son riding for the Austrian factory storyline. He’ll be 18 years old when the gate drops at round one in 2020, so he’ll have up to five years in the class. But KTM likely have hopes of a championship being in hand well before then, as they have done with Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado. Tom Vialle is regarded as a favorite to fill the void at the top of MX2 from Prado’s move up in just his second year on the squad.

Red Bull KTM’s press release for the signing, including quotes from the rider and KTM executive Robert Jonas, is posted in full below…

The teenager (who will turn 18 in the first days of 2020) is a former FIM Junior and European Champion and has risen through the ranks. He won EMX125 European Championship races in 2018 and was a contender for the title until a mid-season injury. Hofer claimed a podium finish and classified fourth in the EMX250 standings at his first attempt with the KTM 250 SX-F in 2019.

The rider from Linz joined the Grand Prix team for three appearances this summer; taking his first FIM world championship points in the Czech Republic and then scoring 7th place overall at the Grand Prix of Italy at Imola. This weekend he will represent Team Austria as one of the three best racers from his country for the 73rd Motocross of Nations at the TT Circuit Assen.

Hofer will be the first Austrian to represent the modern incarnation of Red Bull KTM, the first in MX2 and the third native in the factory team after Heinz Kinigadner and current VP of Offroad Robert Jonas.

Rene Hofer: “I’m super-excited. We’ve really worked for this over the last couple of years and my dreams are coming true right now. We were not sure if it would happen for 2020 but I showed some good speed in the second half of the season and also that I could compete in good positions in MX2. I felt confident in the class from the very first time, even if the weekend routine is pretty different from EMX. I’m so grateful to be able to have the chance to ride for the most successful team in the GP paddock and to have the best racing people around me as well as being able to learn from Tom. I’ve trained with him a few times now and he’s a really nice guy. He had an unbelievable rookie season and I think we can put in some solid preparation work over the winter to be ready for 2020. I turn 18 next year and I know I am ready for this step. For sure the result in Imola was very good but I will be hungry for more and I will bring in the very best effort from my side. I cannot forget to thank all the people who have helped me reach this stage of my career and who have helped shape me as a rider and as a human. I cannot wait to start work for 2020 but first I need to focus on this weekend!”

Robert Jonas, VP of Offroad: “Rene has quickly moved up through the levels of the sport and he made sure that it was hard to ignore his progress in 2019 and his first with the 250 SX-F. After two seasons in the 125s and just one in EMX250 he was already pushing for a Grand Prix opportunity and showed us what he can do. We really like the mentality and the determination of this kid and we’re proud to be able to bring another rookie into our factory team for 2020. He’s Austrian and some might think this would be an advantage but it also comes with pressure, and we wanted to make sure that Rene would be able to handle this chance. I can remember this situation from my own experience and we have no doubts about Rene. 2020 will be a learning year but, together with Tom, it means we have exciting and youthful talent behind an amazing strong MXGP line-up.”