On The Pegs April 2020 - Volume 5 - Issue 4 | Page 28

On The Pegs
28
The FMF KTM Fac-
tory Racing Team an-
nounced today that
2019 NE Pro 2 Cham-
pion Liam Draper will
fill-in for the injured
Ben Kelley in the 2020
AMA National Enduro
Championship’s NE Pro
1 class, beginning with
the upcoming Round 2
in Texas.
The New Zealand
native will race aboard
Kelley’s factory-
prepped KTM 350 XC-F
until Kelley makes his
expected return to rac-
ing in July. From there,
the team will make a
decision concerning
Draper’s role for the
remaining rounds. Furthermore, Draper will continue to race under his KTM-
supported Tely Energy Racing Team in the complete 2020 Grand National Cross
Country (GNCC) and Full Gas Sprint Enduro (FGSE) series.
Antti Kallonen: “I’m happy to be able to give one of our support riders this
opportunity to race the National Enduro Series under our Factory program. We
expect Liam to do well even with the short notice and preparation. He raced and
won the NE Pro 2 class last year in the series and now jumping into the NE Pro 1
class, he should adapt just fine.”
Ben Kelley recently underwent shoulder surgery to repair injuries sustained dur-
ing a routine practice session the week leading up to the opening round of the
GNCC Series and he is expected to return by the end of July.
LIAM DRAPER TO FACTORY KTM