THE NEW WORLD
THE INVITE
It was on a Wednesday that I received a message I really was not expecting: “With the KTM launch fast approaching and the unfortunate circumstances of our test rider, I (Damien) was wondering if you’d be interested in heading to Italy to test ride the new 2019 KTM range on Cairoli’s test track.”
I was right in the middle of a tool box meeting at work and just glanced at the message before returning the phone to my pocket. It was about 10 seconds later that what I had glanced at really sunk in. Wait, did I read this right? Was I just asked to go to Italy? Did he say Cairoli’s track? Talk about an opportunity presenting itself.
Then some reality hurdles started to set in. Did I even have a current passport? A mad rush to locate it when I arrived home revealed there was six months left on it. Check (only just). Then I thought, “You haven’t ridden for 14 months. Hmmm…”
Time was running out as it was only two weeks before the flight. I had to get on a bike, so I borrowed from a good mate — a 2018 model 250SXF — and quickly realised I was a little bit rusty. Maybe little wasn’t the correct word. It was my only ride, but the last time I did a KTM launch for the release of the 350SXF I hadn’t ridden in 15 months, so on paper, this time around I was more than prepared for it.
“A STRIPPED-DOWN 450 ENGINE LET US SEE ALL THE WORKING COMPONENTS INTERNALLY. THIS THING IS TINY.”
BEING TOURISTS
Including my trip to Sydney, I was looking at 56 hours of travel and only 72 hours in Italy, 24 hours of which would be sleeping. Was it me or did this trip seem kind of stacked? I was given my ticket and no other information. Never
