After four years of planning and construction, Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM has opened the KTM Motohall in Mattighofen, the hometown of Europe’s biggest motorcycle brand.
400 guests attended the opening, including the regional governor Thomas Stelzer, the Mattighofen town mayor, and prominent Austrian industry leaders. The “RC16” area of the spectacular building was completely filled with guests, including many who have closely followed the activities of KTM. The very first KTM series motorcycle was produced back in 1953, close to where today’s new KTM Motohall is located.
Guests of honor from the world of motorsport included motocross legend Heinz Kinigadner, Dakar winners Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland, and MotoGP factory riders Pol Espargaro and Miguel Oliveira were present. They also became acquainted with their true-to-life hero doubles on the lavishly-staged Heroes level of the KTM Motohall.
“The KTM Motohall has an immense meaning for our entire company. Here in Mattighofen we are more than ever firmly committed to our roots, and we connect the past with our intensive presence through the strength of our brand,” said KTM CEO Stefan Pierer. “Together with all our employees, partners and friends, we are looking forward to an exciting future. KTM invites everyone to the Motohall to share our enthusiasm for innovation and racing.”
Heinz Kinigadner, who not only has a regular place in KTM’s history as a motorsport hero but who also played a decisive role in the company when Stefan Pierer and his team took it over at the beginning of 1992, commented on what was a very moving event: “Being here today in the center of Mattighofen, to open the Motohall in the company of hundreds of KTM’s friends, has a huge emotional dimension. We have all always believed in the power of the company. The success of a succession of new motorcycles, which have come about as a result of motorsports, is certainly unique. The intensive years of apprenticeship, especially in Rally Sport showed us that giving up is not an option. That’s what the KTM Motohall stands for.”
After the opening, the KTM Motohall will open to visitors for the first time on the weekend of May 11-12, where there will be a comprehensive program of side events. The KTM Motohall and the “Pit Box” then opens for regular business on May 14, 2019, with the adjoining restaurant “Garage” opening on May 15.
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