Penton Future Project / KTM Off-Road Team

[Gary Roach]

Since he was 12 years old, Cory Buttrick had been going to Vintage Days as a spectator. For four years, he's sat along side of the fence of the track. He's raced plenty of modern events, but he couldn't wait until he was old enough to race Vintage Motocross! So, at the 2007 Mid Ohio event, he finally got his dream - he had turned 16 just a few weeks before.

Kent Knudson was kind enough to allow Cory, or Cory B. as he's better known as, to race his '74 250 in the Open Age Expert class, and his '74 400 in the Sportsman 500 Expert class. To see him ride the bikes, you'd sworn he'd been riding them for years. He won all four of his Motos, and in 2008, he backed those results up with another four Moto wins. For years, he's known John and Jack Penton, and also about the whole Penton/KTM story, and he couldn't wait to finally get a chance to race a Penton Motorcycle! After each Vintage Days, he's given one of his trophies to Kent, and the other ones he said he'll always keep because those are the ones that he won racing a Penton. For the '09 Vintage Days Kent has found a KTM 495 for Cory B. to race in the Post Vintage Motocross.

For 2009, the 17-year-old from Logan, Ohio will start his Professional racing career riding for the Red Bull KTM Off-Road Team. He will be concentrating on the Grand National Cross Country series in the XC2 Pro Lites class aboard a 250XC-F Four Stroke. He will also ride selected National Enduro, National and District 11 Hare Scrambles, and Endurocross. He has already been asked by the AMA to compete at the ISDE in Portugal this year as a USA Junior Team member. He has not made up his mind about that event yet, but he's getting a lot of pressure from fellow Red Bull KTM Team members, Kurt Caselli and Nate Kanney, to make a commitment to the ISDE Team. But he told me that one thing is for sure, Mid Ohio Vintage Days is already on his calender! So if you see Cory B. on the #12 KTM at any of those events, grab one of his autographed posters and be sure to tell him you ride a Penton.  

In the Febuary 2009 issue of Dirt Bike Magazine, there's a few photos of Cory B. testing a modified KTM 250XC-F. And Cory B's girlfriend is also pictured in the same issue. That's her on page 22, and yeah, she rides a KTM.


Cory B. at the 2008 Mid Ohio Vintage Days

Moto Lenz Photography photo



These photos are from the 2005 John Penton GNCC.






These photos are from the 2008 GNCC series.







Jason Hooper photos



Cory B. helping with getting John Penton's mini truck ready to paint.



Gary

[Larry Perkins]

Thanks for the report Gary.  What a great young rider with so much potential Cory is.  I hope he chooses to go to the ISDE as we could use him and the experience will do nothing but prepare him for the future.  It looks brighter with riders like Caselli and himself on our side.  We are fortunate as a sport to have a young guy like him interested in Vintage.  It is even cooler that he understands and knows the heritage of the motorcycle he is riding.  So many KTM guys that adore the brand are clueless of it's past and beginnings.  Our local KTM dealer did not even know what KTM stood for.

Hats off to Cory and I look forward to seeing him ride "The Great White"(495) at Mid-Ohio.  I raced one of those in the 1983 World Championship Hare & Hound put on by Casey Folks and it was by far the fastest off-road motorcycle I ever rode.  It will be a blast to watch one in Cory's capable hands.

Larry P

[Jeff D]

Tell Cory to say YES to the Six Days.  Ask anyone who's been there (especially those who've ridden it)...it is an experience like no other.  


Jeff DeBell

[Gary Roach]

Cory has had his heart set on riding the Six Days for years, but he says that when he does decide to finally go, he wants to be sure that he's 100% ready, both physically and mentally. This is going to be his first year in the Pro ranks, and I would have to say a few months of seat time riding with the Big Boys will do Cory a lot of good, and I think he would be ready by Fall.

Cory says that if he starts making the "Big Bucks", he'd like to have his own Penton someday, and he also wants to buy one of these.

[Mike Burgess]

Congrats to Cory on his first National Enduro event and placing a very highly repsected 3rd overall. Keep up the good work Cory!!!

[Ernie Phillips]

Well done Cory!!!

http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=13404

Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN

[Gary Roach]

Here's a 5 minute video featuring the top 5 Overall riders from the National Enduro in Sumter:

http://www.adrenalinevision.com/video/2009/enduro/nepg01/09211000h.html

Cory can't wait until the next event! He said that going into the event, he just wasn't sure how hard he should be pushing it in each section without tiring himself out before the finish. Knowing what he knows now, he felt that he was riding way too convervative the first half of the race. He doesn't think he had anything for Russell Bobbit, but thinks that he could have finished in 2nd Overall.


Kenny King photo
     

[vmxracer]

WAY TO GO CORY! It is so great to hear about how well cory is doing, and at how successful he is! I remember how amazing he was at ohio, and i was in awe! Just watching him makes me feel faster! i have a few photos i will put on here when i get the chance. but for now, keep it up!

Ambr Milakovic
"Black Beauty"

[Gary Roach]

Cory B. finished 3rd Overall today at the Cherokee National Enduro in Greensboro, GA. Fellow Team KTM riders Russell Bobbitt and Michael Lafferty finished first and second, respectfully.

Cory B. currently sits 2nd in points after 2 the first rounds. He's under contract to ride the GNCC series, and I know that some of the National Enduros are on the same day as the GNCC's, so it's going to be tough for him to stay in the points chase when he can't make it to every round.
 
http://www.nationalenduro.com/Home.html