15.01.2023

DEFENDING PRO CHAMPION OLIVEIRA EARNS PODIUM IN OPENING ROUND OF NGPC

Round 1 - AMA National Grand Prix Championship
This press release has: 6 Images
DELANO, Calif. – FMF KTM Factory Racing’s defending AMA National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) Pro class champion Dante Oliveira has claimed a podium result in the opening round of the 2023 season at the American MX venue in Delano, California, as teammate and brother Mateo Oliveira finished with a fifth-place result in muddy, technical conditions.
Number one plate-holder Dante Oliveira ran as high as second position in the race's mid-stages and challenged for the lead, only to drop to seventh on lap six following a fall in the hot pits. From there, he quickly charged back up the order in recording some of the quickest lap times of the race, eventually working his way to third overall aboard his KTM 450 XC-F in a strong start to the series as he targets a fourth-straight Pro class title.

Dante Oliveira: "I was a little anxious starting today with how much rain we were getting and, being a grass track, it was super-slippery! Once we went off it was all good, we had some fun with the bike sliding around and the track came around big-time towards the end of the race. We had a couple of problems mid-race, but dialed them in and charged to the finish. All-in-all it was a good day, not where I want to be, but on the podium and starting the year solid. Thanks to the FMF KTM Factory Racing team and we'll get ready for the next one!"

Last year's Pro 2 champion Mateo Oliveira made his full-time transition to the Pro ranks in today's opening round at the SoCal GP on debut with FMF KTM Factory Racing, also equipped with a KTM 450 XC-F. Mateo completed lap one in seventh position and set his sights forward from there, making his way into the top five with three laps remaining and that's where he would stay for an encouraging result at Round 1.

Mateo Oliveira: "It was super-nasty out there after it rained all week and it was a technical track! I got a good start, almost holeshot and then went down on the first lap, so had to claw my way back from there. It was a grueling race, but I pushed hard and felt amazing in my first race with FMF KTM Factory Racing. I'm stoked with P5 to start the year and there's plenty of room for improvement within myself, so I can't wait to get on the box in the coming rounds."

In addition, it was once again a commanding performance from defending Pro Women's champion Brandy Richards, the KTM-supported rider powering to victory in class and also earning 30th place overall.

Brandy Richards: "I felt great coming into the weekend and we knew it was going to be a mudder, but we lucked out with the conditions on race day. I got an okay start, passed into the lead, and stayed super-consistent for the rest of the race to come out with the win. It was a good time!"

Round 2: Taft, California – February 5, 2023

Results: Round 1

Pro Results
1. Ryan Surratt, HON
2. Dare Demartile, BET
3. Dante Oliveira, KTM
OTHER KTM
5. Mateo Oliveira, KTM

Pro Women Results
1. Brandy Richards, KTM
2. Ava Silvestri, GAS
3. Mikayla Nielsen, KTM

Pro Championship Standings
1. Ryan Surratt, 30 points
2. Dare Demartile, 25
3. Dante Oliveira, 21
OTHER KTM
5. Mateo Oliveira, 16
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Images (6)

DANTE OLIVEIRA - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
4 928 x 3 280 © Mark Kariya
MATEO OLIVEIRA - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
4 928 x 3 280 © Mark Kariya
DANTE OLIVEIRA 02 - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
5 568 x 3 712 © Mark Kariya
MATEO OLIVEIRA 02 - FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
5 568 x 3 712 © Mark Kariya
DANTE OLIVEIRA PODIUM
5 568 x 3 712 © Mark Kariya
FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
4 928 x 3 280 © Mark Kariya

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