PICKERINGTON, Ohio — American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) member Rod Overstreet of Campbellsville, Ky., received an unexpected reward for his participation in last year’s AMA KTM National Dual Sport Trail Riding Series: a 2010 KTM 530 EXC from series sponsor KTM North America. The annual drawing included participants in all of the AMA events on the national calendar.

“This dual-sport program that the AMA has is great,” Overstreet said. “Not only with this KTM giveaway, but also the turnout is unreal and the rides are exciting. It’s a whole lot of fun and probably the most grassroots form of off-road riding that we have going now.”

KTM North America Inc. President Jon-Erik Burleson said he’s pleased to see the 530 EXC go to a die-hard KTM rider, many of whom participate in the series.

“KTM is excited to continue the sponsorship of the AMA KTM National Dual Sport Trail Riding Series and is proud to give away a KTM 530 EXC to a true orange-bleeder,” Burleson said. “The orange-bleeders are KTM’s true customers, and the primary reason we are a proud sponsor of the series.”

Overstreet, a long-time off-road rider, says the people who ride and organize the individual events in the AMA KTM National Dual Sport Trail Riding Series are a big part of the series’ success.

“Looking at this year’s schedule, I was really glad to see the Renfro Valley [Ky.] event back this year,” Overstreet said. “As long as this series has guys like John Strange and Jesse Thomas down in Kentucky, Bill Kaeppner in Ohio — these guys are true enthusiasts — it will do well.

“These rides are the best bang for the buck going today,” he continued. “They really breathe fresh air into motorcycling. When the economy is down and the industry is hurting, you can go to an AMA KTM Dual Sport and see the enthusiasm of the riders, and you know the sport is alive and well. When I see that, I think that motorcycling in general owes a lot to [KTM Ride Manager and long-time dual-sport series proponent] Mark Hyde’s influence and KTM’s dedication to the EXC line.”

Events on the AMA KTM National Dual Sport Trail Riding Series calendar are one of the best programs in off-road riding. For a reasonable entry fee, participants can ride hundreds of miles of trail and backroads in some of the most breathtaking areas of the United States, all supplemented by the local knowledge of long-time clubs and riders. The series features weekend events, with one-day rides optional, that include riding on everything from gravel backroads to enduro-level singletrack that challenges riders of all skill levels.

Overstreet’s new 530 EXC is one of KTM’s competition-oriented dual-sport motorcycles. Sharing parts and design with the off-road and motocross competition models, the EXC line is engineered to withstand the rigors of the toughest off-road motorcycle competition in the world. However, the 530 EXC is also 50-state legal in the United States, making it one of the most versatile off-road bikes on any showroom floor. For more on KTM’s line of off-road, dual-sport and street motorcycles, see www.ktmusa.com.

The 2011 AMA KTM National Dual Sport Trail Riding Series, which will award another KTM dual-sport motorcycle to one lucky rider, kicks off on May 7-8 in Renfro Valley, Ky. There are events scheduled in Ohio, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Indiana, California, Virginia, New Jersey, Arizona and Texas. For the full schedule, see the Dirt Riding section of AmericanMotorcyclist.com.