Kalle Rovanperä is aiming for his third world championship in the World Rally Championship, but during the season he will also follow the motorcycle enduro World Championship even more closely.
Rovanperä has founded his own team called KR69 World Enduro Team, whose driver is the current number one name in the sport in Finland Roni Kytönen.
Jämsäläinen Kytönen competes in the enduro World Series in the E1 class. Rovanperä says that he is on the move primarily for the sake of friendship and love for the sport. He was already one of Kytönen’s supporters last season, but now a new step was taken in cooperation.
– The idea came from the fact that I started to support Ron in the enduro World Championship last season and I went to the games a little to watch on the spot. There was a good mood there and it was a cool looking job.
– The sport is tough, and it occurred to me that how could I be involved in it a little more and more meaningfully and do something for Finnish enduro and the results, says Rovanperä.
According to him, it’s all about love for the sport, although it’s interesting for his own brand to be involved in the motorcycle side.
– However, that business cannot be completed, at least not yet, Rovanperä laughs good-naturedly.
Only one driver
According to Rovanperä, at least this season, there are no other drivers in the team than 25-year-old Kytönen, who at the beginning of the decade won Junior World Championship silver and bronze in enduro.
However, his first two seasons at the adult level have been plagued by injuries. Last season, Kytönen, who competed on the Swedish private team Yamaha, was seventh in the E1 class World Championship.
In the new team, Husqvarna will be used as competition equipment.
– Roni starts riding Husqvarna’s two-and-a-half (250cc) four-stroke bike. There are good partners involved and you will definitely get a fast bike.
– My own thought was to get Ron good equipment and all the conditions for a good performance, then all the driver has to do is drive. Such a package had to be put together, and I would say that we have one, Rovanperä explains.
Roni Kytönen, whose father Vesa Kytönen won the enduro world championship in the 1999 season, does not hide his enthusiasm for his new team.
– It’s a damn cool thing that Kalle went along with this. I also get the kind of equipment I’ve been hoping to drive.
– The previous two seasons have been challenging due to injuries, and the pace has honestly not been at the level I have set my goals for. My goal is to achieve an E1 class World Cup medal.
According to Kytönen, this is a great opportunity for him, for which he is grateful.
– I last rode the same bike in the 2019 season and I got a certain kind of homecoming feeling when I jumped on the bike for the first time, says Kytönen.
Kytönen’s mechanic is a five-time enduro world champion from previous years Samuli Arowho started as Kytönen’s mechanic already last season.
In addition to maintaining the bike, Aro also plays the role of a mentor if necessary. Based on last season’s experiences, Kytönen’s driving training will be fine-tuned, according to Aro.
– The purpose is to train in more diverse conditions and terrains than before. The goal is also to be able to train in that country before the World Championships, says Aro.
Kytönen and Aro are currently at a training camp in southern Spain. The World Enduro World Series, which includes eight race weekends, starts at the beginning of April with the Portuguese competition.
Rovanperä tries to follow his protégé’s excerpts from the scene as much as possible.
– I will certainly follow closely. I’ll try to get to a few races depending on how my calendar allows. Of course, I try to help with my own knowledge in matters where I can. The goal is to bring as much good as possible into the activity.
Both Rovanperä’s and Kytönen’s voices show sincere enthusiasm when talking about the new team. The rally champion is on the brink of a new one, and the enduro promise is getting a boost to his World Cup career.
– Yes, I think that the driver is most excited about this, but it seems to be the back pie (Rovanperä), Kytönen laughs.