KTM SETS NEW PIKE’S PEAK RECORD

Courtesy of KTM

Chris Fillmore pilots the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R into the record books

The 2017 KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R claimed a new outright motorcycle record on June 26 for the demanding and iconic Broadmoor Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb with racer Chris Fillmore at the controls. 

Riding on a Super Duke prepared with readily available KTM PowerParts in the Two Wheel and Heavyweight Division – the top motorcycle class, Fillmore posted a time of nine minutes 49.625s on the winding 4302-meter high, 19.99km closed road in Colorado Springs, USA. 

What made this feat more impressive is that Fillmore, a former AMA Superbike racer for HMC KTM, was a rookie at the event. Describing his high-speed climb on the KTM as ‘awesome’, Chris had successfully negotiated 156 turns in record time to the highest summit on the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. He was also quick to acknowledge that riding Pikes Peak was an emotional and even humbling experience. The preparation had been tough, and he praised the Race Smart program that helps riders prepare to ride safely in a very special race.

Chris Fillmore: "I set myself the goal of breaking the record as a rookie, but as the practice weeks started I realized how limited time you get on each of the three sections. Then on race day, it's the first time you actually see the whole mountain. There's no warm-up, no sighting lap, just line up and go, and give it everything you’ve got. I wasn’t sure that it was going to be possible to break the record on this 14,000ft mountain. A lot of things were unpredictable, like the conditions and the elements. 

"There are places where it's very bumpy now, so it felt really good to get the record because a lot of people said the road conditions on the hill would mean it wasn’t possible. I had the best motorcycle and the best infrastructure to get the job done, and I'm very happy to have the opportunity to showcase the Super Duke and put my, and KTM’s names in the record books for the fastest rider and motorcycle up the mountain. And I’m also very excited to see the progress of our brand, the KTM Customer Racing program.” 

The KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R is meaner than ever and heavily updated for 2017. Immediately distinguished by its new LED headlight, the bike has more focus on engine, electronics and chassis performance. 

With a mountain of torque and peak power now at 177 hp, the 1,301 cc LC8 V-twin engine is the benchmark for naked sportsters. Titanium inlet valves and new combustion chambers make for an increased compression ratio, while shortened intake funnels and an exhaust flap with a smart actuator system result in the smoothest, widest power band ever on a KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R. 

Looking at the chassis, the torsionally rigid WP split forks with separate damping circuits receive stiffer springs and a sportier setup. At the rear, the WP shock absorber also gets a stiffer fork spring and a setup set for high speed excellence. From the rider’s seat, the cutting-edge TFT display and illuminated menu switch on the handlebar are among the most distinctive innovations. The goal? To get the required information at every speed. For example, a variety of visualizations support the rider with information on an implicit level, and operating the electronic systems becomes more intuitive than ever. 

Also new and optional, the “Track Pack” takes care of a scorching take-off via launch control. It also includes the new MTC spin adjuster, which is finely adjustable in nine stages to allow the rider for example to instantly respond to fading tires during a race and stay at the top of the time sheets. The freely configurable engine maps of the integrated ‘Track’ ride mode include an additional, even more aggressive mapping, and the anti-wheelie mode may be disengaged. 

Watch the video of the record-breaking Pike’s Peak performance here and discover more about the new KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R at www.ktm.com 



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